She decided to go directly to that subject. After Valerie took a chair opposite hers, Aline said, “Valerie, I know many of the girls are very upset by Kerry’s death, and I hear that you were very close to her.”
“I loved Kerry. She was my best friend in school.”
“Then I can understand why you feel so bad about her death.”
“No, you can’t.”
Aline paused, hoping Valerie would say more. But when she didn’t, Aline knew that there was no point in pressing her. Instead she said, “Valerie, I reviewed your records. Your marks at your former school were very good. They were strong after you arrived here last January. But then they fell off considerably. And this year your teachers are concerned that you seem distracted in class.”
I am distracted, Valerie thought, but I can’t tell why. Instead she said, “I miss my friends in Chicago. They’re all there. My stepfather changed jobs, and overnight they told me we were moving. I wanted to live with my grandmother in Chicago and stay in my former school, but they wouldn’t let me.”
“What about your biological father?” Aline asked.
Valerie smiled spontaneously. “He was wonderful. I was Daddy’s little girl. He found out he had brain cancer and was dead in two months.”
“How old were you when that happened?”
“He died on my eighth birthday.”
“I’m so sorry. I’m sure that was very difficult for you.”
“Whatever. My mother knows better than to have a celebration on my birthday. She remarried two years ago. Wayne,” she said derisively, “is twenty years older than my mother.”
There are multiple reasons Valerie is floundering, Aline thought. She misses her Chicago friends. She lost Kerry, her only friend here. She’s still grieving for her natural father, and she resents her stepfather.
Aline decided that the next thing to do was to arrange a meeting with both of Valerie’s parents and discuss with them Valerie’s obvious resentment about the move. And if that might be a factor in her lack of interest in her schoolwork.
“Valerie,” she said, “as you know, Kerry was my sister. I of all people can understand how sad you are to lose her. It’s hard to make friends in a new environment, especially when all the other students have known each other for a long time. I can only imagine how difficult it was for you to lose your best friend.”
“You have no idea how difficult it was,” Valerie said.
“Valerie, I know that Kerry would want you to make new friends and keep up with your schoolwork.”
“I’ll try,” Valerie said indifferently.
Then as she looked into Aline’s face and saw the sadness in her eyes, she wondered if someday she could tell Aline what was really going on.
46
June Crowley went to Mass every Sunday, but she was a practicing Catholic in the loosest definition of the phrase. It was just as important to her to be beautifully dressed as it was to attend the sacraments. Over the years it had never occurred to her to have a private conversation with Father Frank. But now, because she was frantic with worry about Alan, she decided to have a talk with him.
She called and asked if she could meet with him as soon as possible. He suggested that the next morning would be a good time for him.
When she arrived at his office, she was still framing in her mind how to tell him about her concerns. But when she was there, she simply blurted out the words.
“Father, I’m desperately worried that Alan may be suicidal.”
Father Frank was well aware that Alan Crowley had been arrested. He had been thinking of calling June and Doug to tell them how sorry he was for both them and Alan. Now he was deeply concerned that June might be right.
“What makes you think that, June?” he asked.
“It’s the way he’s acting. He sleeps most of the day and then takes off right after dinner. I don’t know where he goes, or if he’s even talking to anyone. And I doubt that. He swears that he was not the one who hurt Kerry, but he knows that everyone believes he did it and everybody expects that when he goes on trial, he’ll be found guilty and sent to prison for many years.”
“June, you’re a nurse, do you know any psychiatrists who could talk to him?”
“I’ve suggested that to him. He flat out refuses to go.”
“Do you think it would help if I had a talk with him?”
“It would be a great relief to me if you did.”
“It will be better if I can catch him alone. Are you and Doug working tomorrow afternoon?”
“Yes, we are.”
“Okay, I’ll drop by in the late afternoon and see if I can get him to speak to me.”
“Our housekeeper Brenda will be there. I’ll tell her to let you in.”
The next afternoon Father Frank drove to the Crowley home and rang the bell. It was answered immediately by a middle-aged woman he assumed was the housekeeper.
“You must be Brenda,” he said. “I’m Father Frank.”
“Mrs. Crowley told me you would be stopping by,” Brenda replied.
“Is Alan home?”
“Yes, he’s in the den watching TV. Should I tell him you’re here?”
“No, just show me the den, and I’ll take it from there.”
“Can I get you anything to drink?”
“No, thank you. I’m fine.”
As Father Frank stood at the door of the TV room, Brenda made a noisy retreat in the direction of the kitchen.
Alan was watching a movie. He didn’t look up when the priest opened the door and walked into the room.
Father Frank barely recognized Alan, whose appearance was quite different from the well-groomed young man he often saw in church. He was wearing an old T-shirt that looked like he had slept in it and gym shorts. A pair of scuffed sneakers was next to him on the floor. It was obvious
