The Memory Box Read Online Free PDF Page A

me. “What happened?”
    I finger my hair and mess it up so it falls on my face. I cup my chin in one hand and cross the other arm along my chest to support my elbow. “I fell, but it’s okay. It looks worse than it is. I’m fine, really. Really, I am.” My eyes find the floor. I become woozy. Then I inch my head up to look for Tessa and Lilly. I’ve got to get out of here.
    “ Fine? Caroline, my God … look at you.”
    I can tell this is not gonna be easy, and my emotions squirm and wrestle. Let go, and tell her everything is in a headlock with Beg her for help at the hands of Shut up and get the hell out of here.
    I practically vomit my explanation. “I slipped in the kitchen. There was food on the floor from dinner last night—Chinese—I ordered it steamed, but they put oil on it! Anyway, I slid and smacked into the stool by the island.”
    What should I have said? It was the truth. I was relieved not to lie. It’s always the truth that sounds made-up. Which would explain the look on her face.
    “What?!”
    Meg puts her hands on her hips but says nothing. She tilts her head and gapes at my bruise. It must occur to her that her mouth is hanging open because she shuts it emphatically. In her silence, I call out for the girls, who are in the kitchen past the archway.
    “What took you so long?” asks Lilly. I let it slide because she has her sneakers on, although not laced—just slid into with the back squashed down, but at least this will make for a quick exit. Their overnight bags are at the door.
    When the girls look at me, I sweep my hair in front of my face and head toward the door. Over my shoulder, I thank Meg and promise to have them for dinner real soon. It sounds canned and glib.
    “Did you call the doctor?” Meg asks again from her front door.
    “Yes,” I lie. “Thanks for having the girls!” I yell back to her without turning around, just a hand in the air. I’m the first in the car.
    Lilly opens the back door and throws her bag in, then slides across the seat.
    “Mom, what happened to you?” She grabs the front seat and pokes her head over. Tessa slinks into the car and melts into her seat; her eyes drop to the floor.
    Tessa covers her ears, “La, la, la …”
    Lilly smacks her on the arm. “Quiet, Tessa. What are you doing that for?”
    “Tessa, Lilly …” I turn around to look at them. Lilly’s face is only inches from mine since she’s still leaning on the front seat. Her honey-colored freckles form constellations across her cheeks. Once she gets a good look at my bruise, her nose crinkles, causing the Big Dipper’s handle to bludgeon Sagittarius.
    “Listen, I’m okay. Don’t worry. It’s just a little bruise. It’ll be gone by the time Daddy gets home. I did one of my klutz moves and slipped on a piece of broccoli in the kitchen and collided with the stools.” I’m talking with my hands. I never do that. One hand forms a stop sign, the other does this little-itty-bitty thing, then both of them crisscross, and with fingers splayed, they create big, flashy fireworks. “And you know the monkeys? Look—one of them is bruised into my cheek. See it?” I point at it. “Is that hysterical, or what? A bruise in the shape of a monkey?” Lilly keeps following my hands like she’s hypnotized. Tessa hasn’t looked my way the entire time. “Who would believe something so ridiculous?” Tessa’s eyelashes pop up finally for a quick look. Both of their mouths drop open, and this is one of those rare moments when neither of them has anything to say. For ten seconds.
    “Cute monkey!” Lilly nods like an old man. “Good story.” And pats me gently on the head.
    “That’s not funny, Lilly.” Tessa hits Lilly in the arm, then looks out the window.
    “Tess, it’s okay, I’m fine—don’t worry about me.” I reach out to rest my hand on her knee and give it a little squeeze. I wish she would look at me, but she’s staring out the window. The silhouette of her eyelashes