Reaching her house, Em heads in on unsteady legs.
The door flies open.
Her brow wrinkled, Ruby asks, “Well?”
Em walks in and collapses on the wooden step of the staircase that leads to the second floor, slumped against the railing. “A neighbor saw her and invited her in for tea. Mom is mad at Dad for getting her. Claims she knew where she was the entire time. Dad is going to have a locksmith in to place a lock higher on the door to help keep her inside.”
“Will that work?”
Em shrugs. “I don’t know, but it’s worth a shot if it avoids her having to go into a facility. I don’t think Dad could live with himself in that scenario. He believes he should be her caretaker.”
Ruby shakes her head. “While I understand where he’s coming from, this is going to get harder before it gets easier. If she was in a facility, she’d be safer.”
“I think we need to let him do this for as long as he can so he doesn’t hate himself when we have to place her somewhere. It just stinks. I never imagined either of our parents dealing with anything like this as they aged.”
Ruby plops on the step beside Em. “Me either. I figured they’d be out traveling and we’d see them on major holidays. You know, living the life they talked about.”
Em nods her head and leans into Ruby.
Ruby wraps her left arm around Em. “The last year or so for this family has been brutal. We need a break.”
Those kind brown eyes pop into Em’s mind. Maybe she should call him. He gave her his card. Patting Ruby’s hand on her arm she says, “It could be worse. At least we have each other.”
“Yeah, you’re right. I love you Em.”
“I love you too Ruby.”
“Momma,” Hanna yells. “Momma, the movie is over.”
Em chuckles, “I wondered why it was so quiet when I came in.”
“I needed peace while I waited on the outcome of Mom. A movie keeps them in the same place and quiet.”
“I know. It is a wonderful thing. If you’ve got this, I’m going to go up to my room for a bit.”
“Yeah, I’ve got this,” Ruby says, pushing herself up from the step. “Momma’s coming Hanna.”
Em reaches her room and instantly relaxes in the peach color environment. She pulls out a velvet drawer in her glass jewelry box, rummaging for the business card from Preach. It isn’t there. She checks each drawer, and it isn’t in any of them. Her heart pounding and hands on her hips, she mutters, “Think. Where did you put it?”
She grabs the yellow and white color block leather handbag she took to Atlantic City, digging through her inside pockets. Her fingers feel the corners of cardboard and she pulls on it. Her breath comes out in a rush. It’s his card. Grabbing her cell phone, she dials the number on the card.
“Hello?” answers a male voice.
“Uhm, yeah. Is Noah er, Preacher there?” she stutters.
“This is Preacher. Who is this?”
“It’s Em, from the boardwalk.”
“The Em with long blonde hair and brown eyes?”
“Yeah, that’s me.”
“How are you? Are you back in town?”
“I’m okay. No, I’m not back in town. Never mind. I’m not sure why I called.”
“Hey, don’t hang up. Your name has been heavy on my heart, so I’ve added you to my prayer list. Are you in trouble?”
“I’m not in trouble, but I am troubled. My heart feels heavy. Everything is just so weird in my life.”
Silence.
“Can you share with me what’s going on, Em?”
Em hears whispering. “I’m fine. Never mind. Forget I called.” She disconnects the call and falls back on her bed. What was she thinking, calling a man she’d met twice? What’s wrong with her? He’s praying for her? That’s weird. He doesn’t even know her.
Her phone trills and the number appearing belongs to Preach.