Authors: Meg Gray
“Oh,” Emma said blind-sided. “That’s
great, congratulations.”
“Thanks,” Brittney said and pulled her
hand away.
“It’s about time for us to go back on,”
Alec said and Emma forced herself to look at him. “Why don’t you join the group
at the table over there? We’re all going to go out after this, you should come
along.”
“I wish I could,” Emma said, feigning
regret. “But I’ve got to get going in a few minutes. I’m meeting my roommate,
Seth.” She threw out his name, hoping to see a spark of jealousy or resentment
on Alec’s face that she had plans with another guy, but of course that didn’t
happen.
“That’s too bad,” Alec said instead. “Maybe
another time, then.”
“Yeah, maybe,” Emma said as he and
Brittney walked off.
Emma took the final swig of her rum and
coke and then against her better judgment ordered a shot. She threw it back,
feeling it burn all the way to her stomach and paid her tab. As she hopped from
the barstool, she stumbled slightly and grasped the tall counter for support.
“Need some help there?” the creepy loner
asked.
“Not at all,” she said, straightening
and stalked out of the bar trying not to look like a newborn lamb testing its
legs for the first time.
Emma found the bus line that would drop
her off a block from her apartment building. Slouching down in the old worn seat,
she felt the tears brimming in her eyes as she relived the shock of learning
about Alec’s fiancée. It was awful to be dumped especially from someone that
didn’t even know he was dumping you. Where had she gone so wrong in believing
that Alec was interested in her? Better yet what was so wrong with her that he wasn’t
interested in her?
At her stop, Emma stood and felt the
effects of the shot she drank. Her head spun, making her want to sit back down.
She reached for the seatback in front of her and pulled herself along the
aisle, stepping off onto the deserted street. As she walked, rain trickled down
her face, mixing with the tears that sprang from her eyes.
Her feet ached with the burn of new
blisters as she climbed the stairs to her apartment. Fumbling with the key she
finally wiggled the right one into the lock and turned the knob. Voices came
from the kitchen. Two voices. Was someone here with Seth? His deep voice became
subdued and she heard him say, “I love you too.”
Emma stepped inside and shed her coat
and boots, leaving everything—including her keys— in a pile at the door. She
found Seth at the table closing down his laptop.
“Were you talking to someone?” she asked,
stopping in the doorway and leaning against the wall for support.
“Yeah,” he replied as he closed the top
to his computer. “I was skyping with Kelly.” He turned to face her. “Oh my God
Emma, what’s wrong?” Her face broke and more tears fell.
“He’s getting married,” she wailed and
Seth stepped in to hold her.
“What? Who’s getting married?”
“Alec,” she sobbed into his shirt.
“Oh, wow,” Seth said and tightened his
hold on her. Emma melted into the comfort of his hug. Seth guided her to the
couch and reached for the box of tissues.
“Why does this always have to happen to
me?” Emma asked, wiping at her tears.
“What always happens to you?” Seth asked
as he gently pushed her plastered bangs from her forehead. She shivered at his
touch.
“I don’t know. Not ever finding the
right guy. Or finding the right guy but then having him not want to be with
me.”
“Was he really the right guy for you?
How well do really know him? I mean you didn’t even know he had a fiancée did
you?”
“Well, no I guess not. It was just nice
thinking that someone was interested in me. Did you know I’ve never dumped
anybody, always been the one to get dumped? Just once it would be nice to make
the decision for myself and not have it made for me.”
“Oh Emma, you’re just so pure of heart,
my girl. Guys can see that from a mile away and no one’s going to mess with
that unless they know they’re worthy. You aren’t like most other girls and not
just any guy is going to be good enough for you. Trust me your prince charming
is out there, he just hasn’t figured it out yet, so be patient and what’s yours
is coming. You’re going to make some guy very happy someday.”
Emma let out a shaky breath, her sobs
subsiding. “But I’m still your queen, aren’t I?” she asked and felt the rise of
his chest when he chuckled.
“Of course you are,” he replied and
rested his chin on the top of her head. Emma sighed, pressing her head into
Seth’s chest. On the coffee table was another new picture of Seth and Kelly
together, it must be his newest addition to the Kelly Shrine. The shelf in the
living room was filling up fast with new pictures of the two of them. Seeing
the frame reminded her that her reign would end sooner or later, she just hoped
it was later.
“Kelly’s awfully lucky to have landed a
great guy like you. It must be true what they say; all the good ones are either
already taken or gay, aren’t they?”
“I guess so,” Seth said, rubbing his
hand down her arm.
Emma avoided Alec like the plague on
Monday. Tuesday, at the staff meeting, he sat near her and they exchanged
pleasantries just like before. She was relieved to see he didn’t treat her any
differently, but then again why would he, he wasn’t the one who’d secretly been
fancying her. For the first time Emma noticed his friendly manner with
everyone. She hadn’t been special—she’d only wanted to be special.
A nasty flu bug was circulating through
the building. As the week dragged on Emma’s absent list grew. Mrs. Wolf preached
good hygiene and hand washing each day at the end of the morning announcements.
Susan, six months pregnant, had been out the last two days with the bug and
Mary Ellen was dropping immune boosting meds in her water bottle at lunch.
One
more day
, Emma told herself as she locked her door on Thursday evening.
After tomorrow, the entire district would be on Spring Break for a whole week.
The next morning Emma awoke to the
classic tone of a telephone ringing. It was Audrey and Emma fumbled with the
touch screen to answer it.
“Hello,” her sleep heavy voice croaked
out.
“Emma, it’s Audrey. Can you come over? I
need your help.” Audrey’s voice sounded desperate and choked with tears.
Emma sat up in bed feeling her stomach
flip with panic. “Of course, what is it? What’s happening?” Emma braced
herself, prepared to hear about some tragedy that had befallen one of the
members of her sister’s family. She could hear Lauren crying in the background.
“I’ve been up all night with the girls.
They’re sick and Finn’s gone on his golfing trip. I’m desperate, Em, please can
you come over?”
Emma felt the sudden impact of relief
and then began to think about what she needed to do to set up for a substitute.
It wasn’t a simple matter to call in sick for the day, it was like arranging
for a babysitter times twenty-eight, but the desperation in her sister’s voice
easily won out.
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll come. I’ve got to get
things ready for a sub and swing by the school, so I’ll be there as soon as I
can.”
“Okay,” Audrey breathed into the phone.
Emma immediately dialed the automated
substitute request line and punched the buttons to request a substitute for the
day. In a few minutes, someone else’s phone would be ringing and the automated
voice would greet them with a request to work in her classroom. Next, Emma
dialed for a cab.
Emma didn’t take time for a shower or
make up. She threw on a pair of yoga pants, a t-shirt and hooded sweatshirt.
The cab waited for her downstairs and she jumped in giving the driver the
address to Fitzpatrick Elementary. The driver waited for her while she ran into
the building, disarmed the alarm, and raced to her classroom. She didn’t know
if it was her sister’s desperate plea for help or the thought of the time
running up on the cab’s clock that inspired her quick movements.
She pulled out the work projects and
lesson plans for the day laying them neatly in the center of her desk before
racing back down the hall, punching in the alarm code and slipping back into
the cab. At Audrey’s she paid the cab driver and raced to the front door. Her
haggard looking sister opened it. The haphazard ponytail she wore had slipped
to the nape of her neck. Loose strands fell at her chin. Her skin was pale,
eyes bloodshot and teary.
Without a word, she heaved a sleeping
Lauren into Emma’s arms and motioned for her to follow her into the kitchen.
Two pieces of paper ripped from a yellow legal pad sat on the counter. Chelsea’s
name was at the top of one and Lauren’s on the other. A list was made out
tracking each one’s temperature and medications administered through the night.
A forehead thermometer was also on the counter and Audrey gave a brief, yet
silent demonstration of how to use it. A children’s chewable acetaminophen
bottle was next to Chelsea’s paper and a liquid dropper bottle with fever
reducing medication was next to Lauren’s. Again, in silence Audrey pointed out
the correct dosing for each child on the back of the bottles. Emma nodded
showing she understood as she bounced and swayed the sleeping baby.
“Neither of them has thrown
up in the last two hours, so when they wake up you can try giving them some mashed
banana or applesauce and little sips of water, but not too much or it might all
come up again.” Audrey’s voice was barely above a whisper and Emma nodded
again.
Pointing to Lauren, Audrey
continued her whispered instructions. “She’s only been asleep for about fifteen
minutes and anytime I try to put her in her crib she wakes up. Chelsea’s asleep
in her bed. Any questions?”
Emma shook her head. Audrey
reached into a cupboard above the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of cough
syrup before walking up the stairs. Emma followed slowly behind her and watched
her sister shut the bedroom door behind her. She carried the baby into the pink
princess room where she found Chelsea sleeping peacefully. The bedroom window
was cracked, letting a cool morning breeze waft away the lingering smells of
vomit.
Emma pressed her hand to
Chelsea’s forehead and felt the warmth of her fever. On a shelf in the closet,
Emma found a small blanket and carried it with her to the rocking chair next to
Chelsea’s bed. She settled into the rocking chair and nestled Lauren’s head
into the crook of her arm. Covering her niece Emma relaxed her shoulders and
let her head fall back against the upholstered seat, closing her eyes.
* * *
Emma drifted in and out of
sleep. She forced her eyes open and the glowing red numbers of the princess
clock told her an hour had passed. Emma looked down at Lauren who was still
peacefully resting in her arms, her lips parted as she breathed in and out.
Chelsea was in the same position as when Emma first came into the room.
Sounds came from outside as
the neighborhood woke up and people left for work. Emma listened for any sounds
coming from Audrey’s room, but there were none. She hoped her poor sister was
getting the rest she needed.
It was seven-thirty and Emma
wondered if her substitute had arrived yet. Was she reading over the lesson
plans now? Did everything make sense? Emma left her cell phone number, but her
phone was downstairs in her purse, so she wouldn’t be able to help if the sub
did call. Oh well, Emma told herself, its only one day. They’ll make it.
The girls finally roused and
they all went downstairs dragging blankets and teddy bears behind them. Emma
fed the girls banana slices and three sips of water before tucking them onto
the couch and turning on Sesame Street. On the yellow papers, Emma jotted down
what each girl ate and then went to take their temperatures. She dutifully
recorded Chelsea’s 99.5 and Lauren’s 101.2 on their pages. Every hour on the hour,
Emma fed them, and took their temperatures. She ushered Chelsea to and from the
bathroom and changed Lauren’s diarrhea filled diapers.
By mid-afternoon, the girl’s
temperatures were hovering around 99 degrees and they were all sitting at the
dining room table coloring pictures when the front door burst open. Finn’s dark
curls fell over his green eyes as he shot a fierce look around the empty living
room.
“Audrey,” he called. His
brusque voice boomed and both girls looked at Emma. She slid Lauren off her lap
and walked to the living room where Finn had dropped his golf bag and suitcase
at the foot of the stairs. His footsteps were heavy as he rushed up the stairs,
pounded through the rooms, and raced back down.
He stopped when he saw Emma
and slowed to a walk. The color slowly returned to his face, he dropped his
arms around her shoulders and fell into her. Emma stumbled backwards against
his weight.
“I’m so glad you’re here,”
he said. “Where are the girls?”
“They’re in the dining room.
We’re coloring pictures. Is everything okay? I didn’t think you were coming
back until tonight.”
“I wasn’t, but then I had
three messages from Audrey about some emergency and then she wouldn’t answer
her damn phone, so I caught an earlier flight.”
“I’m so sorry,” Emma said.
“Audrey called me too, and I called in a sub so I could help out. I’m sorry you
had to cut your trip short.”
He shook his head.
“How’s Audrey? Is she awake
yet?” Emma glanced up the stairs. “I’ve been down here with the girls, but
haven’t heard her make a sound up there.”
“She’s out cold,” he said tersely
and glanced at his hand. The cough syrup bottle he held was nearly empty. Emma
tried to recall how much was in the bottle when she first arrived. She thought
it was full, brand new with the seal still wrapped around the cap, but she
couldn’t be sure.
Finn pushed past her and
into the dining room where he placed a firm kiss atop each of his daughters’
heads. Emma followed him into the kitchen where she watched him pour the rest
of the cough syrup down the drain. She showed him each girl’s page.
“Is there anything else you
need from me?” Emma asked.
“No,” Finn said. “Just
thanks again.”
“No problem,” Emma said and
dialed for a cab. She kissed her nieces good-bye and met her cab in the
driveway.
The green and yellow car
dropped her in front of Fitzpatrick Elementary. The halls were deserted. Emma
was glad to be alone. She had a lot of work to do and wanted to get it all done
tonight instead of spending time over Spring Break in the classroom.
First, she picked up the
substitute’s report recounting the day’s activities. The fluent and neat cursive
handwriting was a little shaky, but the obvious mark of a former teacher. Emma
quickly glanced at the name at the bottom of the page, Mrs. Rodriguez. Yep, she
was a retired teacher that often subbed in the building. She was good, a little
frail, but stuck to the lesson plans and kept the children’s behavior in check.
The note was brief stating how the children were helpful. The only names listed
were Ivan and Marriah, because they didn’t finish the art project, but not Brayden’s
name as she’d expected. Emma checked the attendance sheet, thinking maybe he
had been absent, but he was listed as present and his name was also on the cold
lunch list. Six other children were absent, probably sick with the same bug
that was traveling through the classroom.
Tucking the notes inside her
lesson plan book Emma turned on her CD player, inserted a Classical collection
of Mozart then got straight to work. She started by taking down her March
calendar pieces. When school resumed it would be April and they would start a
new round of math concepts in their calendar routine. The hours passed quickly
and Emma was startled when she heard footsteps behind her.
* * *
Marcus’s eyes searched the
classroom, grazing over Ms. Hewitt sitting at one of the child-sized rectangle
tables. “Have you seen Brayden?” he asked abruptly.
“No,” she said. “He should
be in the gym with the other kids.”
“Well, he’s not. I thought
he might still be in here with you,” Marcus said, spinning on his heel. He
marched back down the hall, the soles of his shoes clicked hastily beneath him.
Where could he be?
Marcus thought.
How could nobody in this God
forsaken place know where Brayden is?
Panic was setting in and his mind
clouded with fear. He had to stay calm, he had to keep his head and find
Brayden.
There were soft, hurried
footsteps behind him.
Brayden?
He spun around to see Ms. Hewitt trailing
him. Her face mirrored the panic he felt inside. Together they walked into the
gymnasium and a herd of children swarmed them. They flocked to Ms. Hewitt like
the paparazzi to a movie star. One little girl shamelessly threw herself at Ms.
Hewitt and wrapped her arms around her teacher’s legs.
“Ms. Hewitt,” the little
girl wailed. “I missed you sooooo much.”
“I missed you too, Naomi,”
Ms. Hewitt replied, gently prying the girl’s arms from her legs. “We’re looking
for Brayden. Have you seen him?”
The girl shook her head.
“Was he at school today?”
“Yes,” the little girl said
and bobbed her head up and down.
“Where is he then?” Marcus
barked, pushing his suit jacket back and planting his hands on his hips.
The little girl and her
flock of friends stared up at him, embers of fear burned in their eyes, and not
one of them offered an answer.
Ms. Hewitt took the girl’s
hands in her own, “Did Mrs. Rodriguez walk you all down here today?”
Naomi nodded.
Who the hell was Mrs.
Rodriguez
? Marcus wondered.
“And was Brayden with you
then?”
Again, a nod and Marcus felt
a grain of relief. Brayden had been gone no more than three hours, according to
this five-year old girl. Still a lot could happen in three hours. He ran his
hand over his head, the urgency of finding Brayden made him restless. He didn’t
want to stand here and drag answers out of a little girl. He wanted to find his
son.
“Have any of you played with
him?” Ms. Hewitt asked the entire group and they all shook their heads. “Did
any of you see him leave with anyone?” Again, heads shook.