A Glimpse of Normalcy

Gabriel on her lap, Em is listening to Hanna chatter away about her day in school while unloading the food from the bags with a heavy heart. Placing food on a plate for Hanna, she stuffs a straw through the small hole in the juice box, setting it in front of Hanna. “Don’t squeeze the juice box, honey.”

Hanna rolls her eyes, “I know Auntie Em.”

A slight smile on her lips. Em jiggles Gabriel and watches Hanna eat when a hand touches her shoulder. Turning to the right, it’s Ruby.

Her eyes red and her face blotchy, Ruby asks, “May I join you?”

“Mommy,” Hanna cries then pats the space next to her. “There’s room here.”

Em reaches up and squeezes her sister’s hand. “You may always join me.”

Ruby sits next to Hanna and begins picking through the bags to pull out items to share as well as eat.

The afternoon moves quickly with lunch, feeding the geese, and playing on the park equipment. Em, for a change, is spending more time watching the play occur than participating. A smile on her lips. She is thankful the afternoon has turned around and Ruby is outside enjoying it with the kids. Her mind goes back to those brown eyes from Atlantic City. Is he on the boardwalk today handing out socks and food to the homeless?

Awoogah.

Em’s heart races. That’s her dad calling. She accepts the call. “What’s wrong?”

“I can’t find your mom. She was dozing on the screened-in porch with the door locked, and I thought I’d clean up from our lunch. I finish cleaning up then go to check on her and she’s gone.”

It’s always something. If it isn’t her sister, it’s her mom. She pulls in some air and then blows it out, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Let me pack up Ruby and the kids then I’ll start driving around.”

“I’m sorry Em. I know your plate is more than full.”

“It’s okay Dad. We’ll find her. I’ll call you as soon as drop them off.”

“Okay. I’m going to walk the block to see if she’s visiting with the neighbors.”

“Good idea. Keep me informed.”

“You know I will,” he says, then disconnects the call.

“Ruby, kids. C’mon, we gotta go,” Em yells, putting the containers with food in one bag and the empty containers in another.

Ruby jogs over with Gabriel on her hip and with one hand, helping to clean up. “What’s up?”

“Mom is missing. I want to get you guys home and help dad.

Mouth in a straight line, Ruby nods. “Okay. Let me throw our trash out. Grab the bag of food and Hanna. I’ll meet you at the van.”

Em throws the last juice boxes in another bag and grabs the bag with food in it. The pitch of her voice is up as she says, “Let’s go Hanna. We’ve got to get you in your car seat so I can head out and meet Grandpa.”

Hanna wordlessly grabs Em’s hand.

Reaching the van, Em lifts Hanna into her car seat and fastens all the buckles. She sets the two bags with left-over food and drink on the floor in front of her.

Ruby arrives and secures Gabriel in his car seat.

Em heads to the driver’s side. “Do you care if I drive and use the van to find mom?”

Ruby, shaking her head, walks to the passenger side. “Nope. It makes sense. She couldn’t have gone far though.”

“I hope you’re right.”

The ride home is quiet.

Em wills her phone to ring with her dad, advising that he’s found mom.

At the house, each sister unbuckles a child.

Hanna runs around and grabs her Mom’s free hand as they head inside.

Em, seeing all three disappear into the house, climbs back into the van and drives to her dad’s house keeping her eyes out for petite brunette wandering aimlessly.

Her finger clenching the steering wheel, she whispers, “Please help us find her.”

Reaching her parents’ home, she begins with one block out and then moves to two blocks out. Each block further away from the house increases the pounding and pace of her heartbeat. Each block out means more risk of her mother not being found or possibly hurt.

Awoogah.

“Did you find her?”

“Yep. She was at a neighbor’s house. They saw her on the sidewalk without me and invited her in for tea.”

Em sighs, “Thank goodness. We’re going to have to put locks up higher so she can’t slip out. Do you want to do that or do you want me to call the locksmith?”

“Call the locksmith. I can’t leave her unattended anymore, I guess. She was mad at me for getting her. Said she knew where she was.”

“Sorry Dad. You know they said this would happen. We’ll have glimpses of normalcy until we don’t.”

It’s her Dad’s turn to sigh.

“Yeah, I know.”