Emma's Deliverance (8 page)

Halfway through dinner Emma got up from the table and asked Jason if he would like to hear a new CD she had bought a few weeks ago. After they ate they plopped on the sofa and propped their feet on the coffee table. Jason reached for her hand and held it softly while they listened to the music. Emma had no idea what was going on with her. She wondered if it had been obvious to Jason that there was a problem, but if it did, he never mentioned it. She was trying so hard to make light of the situation.

“I know you’re wondering what was going on when you got here, but honestly it isn’t any big deal. My parents were worried I was having a relapse from my fall and the bump on my head. They tend to overreact as I said, but what can I do?” She shrugged. “Anyway, how was your day?” She moved closer to him and he put his arm around her. He moved her. She hoped he knew that.

“
My day was great. I had lunch with the most incredible woman I have ever met. Maybe you know her? She owns the flower shop on the corner of 5
th
and Madison,” he teased.

“
So, what’s she like?” Emma asked, playing along.

“
She’s beautiful. She has long strawberry blonde hair and the softest ivory skin. Her eyes are the most gorgeous blue you have ever seen. She’s about five foot two and her smile could melt your heart. She has a great butt, too.”

Emma slapped his arm. Then, with a serious look on her face, she turned to look him in the eyes.
“That’s how you see me?” She purred.

“
I think you’re beautiful. I liked the way you looked the first time we met at the shop. I loved your voice and even when you got a little testy about the flowers being fresh, I loved it.” He leaned over and kissed her. “I want to spend more time with you. I want to spend a lot more time with you.” He kissed her again. He pulled her up and planted her on his lap. He kissed her again and again. She felt his hand reach under her sweatshirt. He touched her bare skin…

“
Hello, Dr. Williams, this is Marilyn Jenkins. Yes, I’m fine, but it’s Emma. It’s happening again. What should we do? Jody, my daughter thinks we should deal with this at home and just talk with Emma. You told us to call if this day should come. I’m very frightened for her. Please, help us…”

* * *

Labor Day was soon approaching. Emma was busy at the flower shop and it was only Thursday. There were still three days to go. She and Jason managed to have dinner a few times that week, but he was going out of town over the weekend to see his grandmother. Jason was taking his mother who was still not on her feet or off her crutches. They would be gone until late Monday. Emma knew she was going to miss him terribly and she wouldn’t be seeing him until Tuesday for dinner.

There were so many phone orders and Emma was surprised so many people wanted flowers for this holiday. Becky was making arrangements as fast as she could with Emma and Marie working just as hard. Jody and Teri came in to help and Marilyn was busy on the phone taking orders while balancing Louie on her knee. Even Sam came to help between deliveries. Emma was grateful for the extra help and she knew this was a huge success for her business. Not one complaint and nothing got broken. Finally it was over and Emma gave both Becky and Marie a bonus for their hard work.

She tried to give Jody a check, but Jody got mad saying, “Really, Emma, you’re too much. We’re family, but if you really want to pay me, then take Louie for the weekend for our anniversary.”

“
Sure, but your anniversary isn’t until March. You’ll have to remind me that I owe you.” She laughed and turned to Marilyn. “Mom, what can I do for you?”

Before Marilyn could answer Becky rushed over and gave Emma a hug.
“This will buy some cool school clothes. Thanks. Wow, school will be starting in another week. I’m going to miss not being here so much,” she whined.

“
You have no idea how much I will miss you not being here all day. Between you and Marie everything runs like clockwork around here. I don’t know what I would do without either of you.”

Teri was standing by the door and Emma walked over to thank her for all her hard work.
“What can I do for you, Teri?” she asked. As she glanced out the window Emma noticed the man across the street standing there and Emma went wild inside. She tried to hide it. She took some deep breaths and closed her eyes. She couldn’t stop what happened next. She opened the door and hollered at him. “Get away from here. Go away. Stop bothering me. I see you watching me. You think I don’t see you staring in at me, but I do. Mom, call Dad. Call Dad, please.” Emma’s heart was beating so fast she could hardly breathe.

Marilyn ran to her and shut the front door.
“Emma, stop it. Calm down. It’s just your neighbor across the street from the bookstore. What’s the matter with you? Can’t you see it’s just Mr. Elliot?”

“
Mom, that isn’t Mr. Elliot. Didn’t you see him? I know what Mr. Elliot looks like.”

Marilyn looked across the street, but there was no one there. She took Emma by the hand and walked her into her office. Jody handed Louie to Teri and ran into the office to help.

“Mom, let me be with Emma. Please, go take care of Louie. Don’t worry, I just want to talk with her. Go on now, just take Louie and give him the dry cereal in the diaper bag.”

Marilyn hesitated, but finally gave in.

Jody put her arm around Emma, but she pulled away. Emma was positive it was the same man that was looking for work and was bothering her. Emma was confused because they kept saying when she saw him again to tell them and now no one believed her. She felt the panic building up within her and her heart began to race wildly. She worried that he would be coming in the door at any minute and she became very afraid. She wanted her dad and the police to come there to protect them. She started to panic and began pacing the floor. Jody tried to calm her down, but to no avail. Emma could feel herself losing control. She hated that feeling, but she felt she had crossed over the line and there was no stopping what was to come next. Her throat began to tighten and she felt as if her heart would beat so fast it would just climb up her throat and out her mouth and flop out onto the floor. She held her chest, but she couldn’t calm down. She heard the words coming from her lips, but it was as if someone else was speaking. “Jody, call the police. He’s out there. Oh, God, he’s going to kill us all. Where’s Louie? Hide the baby. Oh, God, hide the baby.”

Emma was screaming and there was nothing Jody could do to stop her. Emma
’s eyes rolled back and Jody guided her to the chair. The room began to spin and then Emma was out cold. Jody tried to waken her, but Emma only murmured, “Please, don’t hurt Mommy. Please, don’t hurt them.”

Jody wasn
’t sure what to do this time. Emma was more out of control than ever before. She did what she always did and prayed it would work. She put her arms around her and softly whispered, “Shhh, Emma, Shhh. No one will hurt you while I am around. Shhh, Mommy is coming to save you.”

Emma continued to softly whisper the same words over and over. Jody was doing what she had always done, but Emma was not coming around. It just wasn
’t working this time. Jody continued to hold her as she tried to comfort her, but it still wasn’t working. Jody was crying and barely above a whisper she cried out, “Oh, God, how can I help her? Shhh, Emma, Shhh. No one will hurt you while I am around. Shhh, Mommy is coming to save you.” She said it over and over until Emma began to quiet down and then she became very still.

Marilyn came in and looked saddened to see her daughter sitting in the chair so quietly, not responding.
“I called your father. He’s on his way. We need to get Emma to the hospital. I called Dr. Williams last week and he said he will admit her if this happens again. I just got off the phone with him. He will meet us there.”

“
Mom…”

“
Jody, we have to do this. Your dad is coming and we are going to take her to the hospital. Don’t argue with me. You know we have to do this,” she said crying.

Mom, did you actually see Mr. Elliot? When I looked out I didn
’t see anyone.”

“
Jody, it had to be Mr. Elliot. Ask Teri, she was at the door when this all happened,” Marilyn said looking puzzled.

Emma was beginning to come around. Jody took her hand and smiled.

“Emma, you need to go see Dr. Williams. He wants to help you get through this,” Jody said looking at her mother for help.

“
Get through what?” Emma asked Jody. “I’m fine. I don’t like Dr. Williams. You know that. I won’t go. Forget it, Mom, I won’t go. I’m not a child anymore. You can’t make me see him. No way, I’m not going.”

Howard came into the office
in time to hear Emma. He knelt in front of her and whispered, “Sweetie, you have to go. You know I would never ask you to do anything that would hurt you. I love you more than you know. You are my daughter and I only want what is best for you. Please, let me drive you. Just you and me, okay?”

Marilyn pleaded,
“I want to go with you, please, Howard.”

Emma was frightened. She didn
’t know what was going on and why everyone was so excited. She remembered nothing of what had happened. “Dad, I’m fine, really. We’ll close up the shop and go have some dinner, okay?” she pleaded with him.

“
I insist, Sweetheart. Just come with me and everything will be okay. You trust me, don’t you?” her father asked.

Howard reached for her hand
and helped her stand up. Emma began to cry as they walked out the door to his car. Howard drove to a small private hospital where Dr. William’s nurse met them just inside the door. She asked Emma to sit in the wheelchair, then she wheeled her down a long hall and into the elevator. From there things looked a lot different. The nurse pushed her into her room and said she would be right back. It was a terrible room that was under decorated and drab looking. There was a bed and a nightstand and a bathroom. That was it. There was a mirror in the bathroom, but it wasn’t made of glass. The window didn’t open and there was a wire weaved through the glass. This was not a regular hospital room.

Emma
turned to Howard, who was right by her side. “Don’t leave me here, Dad. I don’t want to stay here. Please, I’m afraid to stay here. Please don’t leave me here,” she begged.

Howard took a deep breath and without further hesitation he grabbed
her hand. “Come on, Emma, stand up. You’re not staying here. Let’s get the hell out of here right now. This place is for crazy people of which you are not.” He took her arm and walked her right out passed the nurse. They headed for the elevator and jumped in.

“
Sir, wait, wait a minute. You can’t just bring her here and then take her back out. Please wait for Dr. Williams. Sir, the doctor is on his way. Please Sir, take her back to her room right now,” the nurse commanded.

The elevator door shut and down to the lobby they went. They rushed out the door and Howard drove Emma to her apartment and called his wife.

“Marilyn, call Dr. Williams and tell him that if he is to treat Emma he can do it on an outpatient basis. That place was unbearable. Call him right away. I will not allow anyone to take her there and that is final.”

Marilyn had never heard her husband sound so unwavering and she knew he was very serious. Later, Marilyn called back and told them that Emma had an appointment with the doctor first thing in the morning.
Howard stayed with Emma all night. They talked until late and Emma fell asleep in his arms. Emma knew she was in trouble. There were too many blank areas that she had no memory of.

* * *

Howard spent most of that evening explaining to Emma that the man she had been seeing was most likely the same man she had seen as a child. She had conjured him up in her mind. He explained that he was probably the man from her nightmares as well. For whatever reason, she was now seeing him again. He wasn’t real and it was her imagination that was causing her to see him everywhere.

“
Emma,” he had said, “when you see him, sometimes you see his face in someone else. He is very real to you and I know you are frightened. Do you remember when you were younger sometimes you thought you saw him, but it always turned out to either be someone else like what you’re doing with Mr. Elliot or you simply conjured him up in your mind.” He had no answers for her as to why this was happening now. Especially now when she was so happy.

The man convicted of murdering her family had been arrested just weeks after the murders and was serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. There was one thing for certain and that was, there was at least one monster that came into the Taylor home that night and murdered that family. He was behind bars and could not hurt his daughter. Howard told Emma how she had accused the bookstore owner across the street of stalking her and how she had fainted a few times over this. Emma argued that even though she might have mistaken the man across the street for being the same man she has been seeing around town there really was someone following her. She was sure of it.

“Dad, I don’t remember yelling at my neighbor across the street. I don’t know why I would do that. I’ve known Mr. Elliot for years. I know what he looks like, it wasn’t him. That wasn’t Mr. Elliot I went out to see. It was the other man. I remember going across the street, but I don’t remember anything after that. Are you telling me that I mistook Mr. Elliot for someone else? Oh my God, I’m so sorry about that. He must think I’m insane. I do remember seeing the man at my shop and at the restaurant and I did see him across the street a few times. Honest, Dad, I saw him. I know I made a mistake with Mr. Elliot, but this other man is real, I swear.”
Or is he?
she wondered.