Free Once Upon a Day by Lisa Tucker Page B

doors that led to the ward. He asked Nancy to give them a minute, then he led Dorothea a few feet away and told her not to bolt again or they might not get to see Jimmy.
    She whispered, “My brother is not a case.”
    “A ‘case’ just means he’s a patient.”
    “Why would I want to hear the history of anything about Jimmy from someone who has known him for a few weeks?”
    “Because she’s a trained specialist in psychiatric disorders.”
    “Which Jimmy does not have.”
    Nancy moved over to them. “We’ll just go to my office, Dorothea. It won’t take long. You can come too, Steve.”
    Dorothea finally agreed and they all headed down the hall with Nancy leading. At one point when Nancy was answering a page on one of the hospital phones, Dorothea whispered, “Why does she keep calling you Steve? Would you like me to tell her you prefer Stephen?”
    He laughed softly. “Not necessary.”
    “What did I miss?” Nancy said, when she returned. “What’s the joke?”
    “Nothing,” Stephen said, glancing at Dorothea.
    The three of them sat down in chairs around a small table. The window shades were closed, and one of the fluorescent ceiling bulbs was buzzing and cracking, probably about to go out. Nancy opened Jimmy’s chart and took out her pen. She said she had a few questions first.
    Stephen was surprised by what she meant by a few. He felt bad for Dorothea, especially as most of the questions were the type he knew she would think of as intrusive. He was ready to jump in and help if she needed it, but she seemed to be doing all right on her own. He was glad again that she had taken the pill.
    “Jimmy has repeatedly said your father is a millionaire. Is this true?”
    Dorothea sat up straighter. “Father’s financial affairs are his business, I’m afraid. But if you are asking if he will settle the bills here for Jimmy, the answer is yes.”
    A millionaire? Stephen certainly didn’t expect this. He was just wondering how Dorothea’s father made his money when Nancy asked the same thing.
    “Do you know his occupation before he moved you to New Mexico?”
    “No,” Dorothea said. “I’ve never asked him.”
    “But Jimmy asked him several times, is that right?”
    “Yes, and Father’s response was always that he would rather not talk about the past. This seemed fair to me.”
    Stephen was still thinking about New Mexico. Dorothea was so pale; he’d assumed she was from somewhere much colder and gloomier.
    “Do you know how your mother died?”
    “No. I’ve never asked because I knew it would hurt Father to talk about it.”
    Nancy sighed, but Stephen gave Dorothea an encouraging glance. This he understood perfectly.
    “Why do you think your father refused to let you leave your home?”
    “Obviously he didn’t refuse or Jimmy and I wouldn’t both be here in your hospital.”
    Stephen tried not to smile.
    “When you were children,” Nancy said, her tone not hiding her exasperation.
    “He wanted to protect us.” Dorothea took a breath. “I was sickly and mother had died. Grandma used to say it was natural that Father was afraid something would happen to us.”
    Nancy nodded, but she was still looking down at the chart. So far, she’d made very little eye contact with Dorothea, which annoyed the hell out of Stephen. Shrinks should have better bedside manners than regular docs, not worse.
    “Jimmy said your grandmother told him your mother’s family lived in Missouri. Did you know this was why he came here? To try to locate them?”
    “No,” Dorothea said slowly. “He didn’t share with me his reasons for going to Missouri.”
    “Has Jimmy ever intentionally hurt himself before?”
    “No.”
    “He has very vivid nightmares. Do you remember if he had these as a child?”
    “Yes.”
    “Did he ever tell you the content of any of these nightmares?” It was then that Stephen saw Dorothea hesitate for the first time. He knew she was opposed to lying, but he also saw on her face a real