Free A Cure for Madness by Jodi McIsaac Page B

conclusive. But they did give us some surprising numbers. Intake at the psych ward is up fifty-seven percent this week alone, and they think the number of unreported cases could be much higher.”
    “That’s a pretty huge jump, isn’t it?”
    He nodded. “Then they gave us their theories. It could be an environmental issue, like tainted meat or something in the water supply. They’re testing that out now. They’ve already ruled out rabies. But what worries me most is the third possibility.”
    “And that is . . . ?”
    “Well, it seems unlikely, but it’s possible that a virus or bacteria is causing these symptoms.”
    I gaped at him. “What?”
    He held up his hand. “I know; it sounds crazy. And it’s just a theory.”
    “Who knows about this?”
    “Right now just the CDC and the senior medical officials at the hospital. And you.” He raised his eyebrows significantly.
    “I’ll keep it quiet, I promise. But aren’t you freaking out?”
    “No, because the likelihood of it being contagious is extremely low.” He paused and wiped his hands with a brown paper napkin. “I shouldn’t have told you; I really don’t want you to worry.”
    “When will they know for sure?”
    “A couple of days, hopefully. But seriously, Clare, I don’t want you to worry about it. You have enough on your plate. How are you feeling about . . . everything?”
    “I’ll be fine,” I said. “I don’t want to dump all my stuff on you.”
    “Fair enough. But what about Wes? Will he be okay without your parents?”
    Isn’t that the million-dollar question? “I hope so.”
    We spent the next hour getting caught up, swapping stories about the last several years of our lives. I felt myself slipping back into the familiar, easy rhythm of being with Kenneth. It felt . . . normal. Like the way things should be.
    He talked a lot about his daughter, Maisie, but said very little about his ex-wife. Finally I asked, “So what happened with your marriage? If you don’t mind . . .”
    He shook his head. “I should have seen it coming. Like I said, it was my fault. For the most part, anyway.”
    I found that hard to believe, but then again, I’d known Kenneth when we were young and carefree. I had no idea what he was like as a husband, as a father.
    “It’s simple, really,” he continued. “I was so focused on my goals and career that I forgot Rachel had ambitions of her own—or maybe I just thought mine were more important. I learned that one the hard way. She said she needed to focus on herself for a while. After she left, Maisie and I were on our own. I had to get my priorities straight in a hurry.”
    “I’m sure you’re a great dad,” I said.
    “I’m trying to be. She’s worth it. How about you? Anyone special back in Seattle?”
    “Nah. No one serious. Unless you count Latasha. We’re just roommates,” I added hurriedly when he raised his eyebrows.
    He smirked. “I always wondered about you two. Well, tell her I said hi. But I should get going—it’s one of my few free evenings to spend with Maisie.”
    “Okay.” We said good-bye, and I watched as the brief sense of normalcy I’d felt drove away with him.
    My phone rang on the drive back to Rob’s. Latasha. I turned on the speakerphone.
    “Hey, Latasha.”
    “Hey there. How you holding up?”
    “As well as can be expected.” I filled her in on Wes and the chaos of the hospital.
    “Are you kidding me? What’s going on there?”
    “I don’t know.” I wanted to tell her everything, but I’d given Kenneth my word. “I saw Kenneth. He says hi.”
    “You saw him? Where?”
    “He works at the hospital. And then I just ran into him at Rosa’s.”
    “Oh God, Rosa’s. Was it . . . incredibly awkward? You guys haven’t seen each other since you left, right?”
    “It was awkward. But we’re both adults. I told him I was sorry. He said he was over it. That’s about it.”
    “Damn. Well, tell him hi back if you see him again. What are