"Who says I can't have a beer?" Ian winked at me. "It's fair time. I'll nurse one for a little while." He nudged Shawn's arm. "Just don't tell Danielle."
I was pretty sure Ian really wouldn't have any more than one drink. I don't think I know anyone who's more responsible. Besides, if he did, my sister would find out one way or another and kill him.
I was about to ask whether he was taking Haley, his youngest, to the carnival tonight, but that's when Ian's phone rang.
The gruff, semi-garbled voice on the speakerphone must have been a hospital dispatcher, but I couldn't make out who it was. "Ian, you there at the school?" the voice asked.
"Just left," Ian said.
"I guess someone had a fall in the girl's locker room, or something. Probably nothing, but could you check it out? Ambulance is still stuck here at the hospital."
Ian switched off the speaker and brought the phone to his ear. "Yeah, I'll be there in a couple minutes."
He hung up.
"You don't mind if we make a little detour, do you? It's probably nothing, but I gotta check it out."
"That's alright," I said.
But in truth I was feeling selfish and a little disappointed that Ian couldn't just drop us at the fairgrounds. What kind of town only had one ambulance? I guess Ian's SUV was the sole backup.
Ian pulled right up to the door of the girl's locker room. The second half of the football game had already started. I could hear the hum of the crowd over at the field, but the gym was deserted. Shawn stepped from the pickup, but in an old high-school habit he was hesitant about going into the girls' locker room, which I thought was kind of sadly funny, as if he were still just a kid.
Ian was in a hurry. "Come on in, if you want," he told us. "We're a little understaffed." He laughed. "Maybe you could give me a hand, if I need it."
I hadn't stepped into the locker room for years. Bernice Whipple, my old P.E. teacher, was even there. It was like she lived there.
"Hey, Mrs. Whipple." I gave her my best version of a friendly wave. But she didn't even register my presence.
She was distraught, expressionless. She went right for Ian. She grabbed his jacket, then she led him toward the showers.
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