Free My Sister's Keeper by Brenda Chapman Page A

towns like Kermit, Texas.”
    “You know what I think about that.”
    “It would be hard not to,” I replied.
    We got into the truck and Dad drove out of the lot onto the parkway. The sun was beating down on the windshield. No clouds could be seen in the clear blue sky. We were halfway to the city when Dad said, “Your sister isn’t herself these days.”
    And that’s a bad thing? “What’s going on?”
    “She’s always been high strung. Lately, she’s gotten nutty. She thinks somebody’s out to get her.”
    “What about her accident?”
    He shrugged. “Accidents happen. Brakes fail all the time.”
    “Jimmy must be worried.”
    Dad shot me a sideways look. “He appears to be.”
    “Aren’t we going to their house in Manotick?”
    “Your sister refuses to leave the hospital with anyone but you. I’m going home. You can take the truck to get her.”
    “This truck?” I looked at him to see if he was joking. Dad never used to let anyone drive his truck—and this one was brand new.
    “I got another one just like it at home.”
    I sat quietly for a minute. Dad turned onto his street in the south end and I saw our family home halfway down. I’d been away for five years.
    “It’s good to see you, Dad.” I said.
    Dad nodded once and turned his face away. But not before I saw a smile twitch at the corners of his mouth.

CHAPTER THREE
    C heri was dressed in jeans and a white T-shirt, her long blonde hair loose around her pale face. An angry purple and black bruise spread from a lump on her forehead. She was sitting in a chair at the foot of her hospital bed, staring at nothing, when I walked into the room. It took her a few seconds to notice me.
    “Anna,” she said. She opened her arms.
    I walked over to her and reached down to give her a hug. I was shocked by the changes in her appearance, even though it had been five years since I’d last seen her. Her skin was dry and her eyes were listless. Even her hair had lost its shine.
    I pulled over another chair and sat close to her.
    “What’s going on, Cheri?” I asked.
    “Sometimes, I think I’m losing my mind.” Her blue eyes filled with tears. “I can’t sleep. Crazy things have been happening to me. I’m so scared.”
    “Where is Jimmy? Shouldn’t he be here with you?”
    The tears began to slide in twin rivers down her cheeks. “Jimmy moved out two months ago. We were fighting all the time. He had to take Evan because I’m such a mess.”
    Their five-year-old son, Evan—I’d seen him once as a newborn. The news of Cheri and Jimmy’s marriage troubles might have given me pleasure once, but not now.
    “Dad could have driven you home.”
    “Dad doesn’t believe me. He thinks I’m making it all up, and I can’t . . .” Her voice trailed away.
    “Are you still working?” I asked.
    She shook her head. “I’m on stress leave. I was going to be made partner in the law firm, but now... I’ll be lucky if they keep me on.”
    So whatever was wrong with her had been going on for a while. Cheri had always liked drama but never to this degree. I slapped my knees with both hands and stood up.
    “Let’s get you home and settled before someone shows up with a needle and a bedpan.” I used the same cheery voice to clear drunks out of the bar at closing time.
    I helped Cheri to her feet. She leaned against me and we started for the door.
    I thought about how she was lucky to only have suffered a bump and a headache when her car hit that tree. “We’ll get through this,” I said to her. Even though I hadn’t wanted to come home, I added, “Whatever you need, I’m here until we sort it out.”
    Cheri pulled me back and made me face her. “I’m sorry,” she said, wiping away more tears.
    “For what?”
    “For picking Jimmy over you. You won’t believe how many times I’ve wanted to say that to you. You deserved better from both of us.”
    I stood stock still. I’d die for my sister, but she’d strained our bond to breaking many