A Kiss for Emily (Emily Stokes Series)

by J. P. Galuska

  Kat slapped her notebook shut with the same dramatic flair and placed the objects back into her purse. Once again, she searched for her next landmark. Kat continued this process two more times until she reached the stream.

  Reaching for another ribbon to tie onto a shrub near the water’s edge, the call of a hawk caused Kat to look upward.

  “Oh my gosh!” she gasped in astonishment.

  However, it was not the hawk that seized her attention.

  Her hand opened and the ribbon fell to the ground unnoticed. Her fingers traced the words carved in the tree. She read the message aloud, “This way to Sam’s.” Kat’s eyes drifted north, following the arrow below the message. After a brief moment of silence, Kat burst into a celebration dance.

  “Oh yeah, oh yeah,” Kat sang and jumped and spun around. Then she did what seemed most logical.

  “Ssaaaaamm!” she yelled as loud as she could, then looked around for an approaching person. Much to her disappointment, no one came forward. At least she had the arrow to follow.

  As Kat continued on her mission, she enjoyed splashing through the creek, and delighted in seeing some new species of birds. It was fascinating that the feathered creatures didn’t seem to be bothered very much by her occasional calling; she only regretted not bringing her bird book along.

  She knew her brilliance of the ribbon idea far outweighed the neglect of a book, so with determination in her heart, she made her way up the stream, tying brightly colored ribbons as she went. Unfortunately, with Kat’s focus on so many different things, she didn’t have time to notice that the sun was gliding across the sky much quicker than she could tie ribbons.

  Meanwhile, back at the house, Elizabeth kept busy. This was her chance to pull out every last sorry-ass weed and reclaim her flower garden. She never wore gloves while gardening; she liked getting her hands dirty with the dark soil. She believed it strengthened the bond between her and the flowers. Maybe this idea was a little weird, but she didn’t care.

  She found it hard to ignore the knots in her stomach and the sense of dread and urgency. She tried to convince herself that everything was fine, and to enjoy the beauty unfolding in crisp shades of red, delicate pinks, stunning yellow, deep purples, and bold orange, but somehow her tears still managed to fall upon the ground that held budding flowers. With a firm grip around the handle of her spade, she stabbed at the weeds even harder.

  As Kat meandered the countryside and Elizabeth contemplated perennials, John had long since arrived at the hospital and was now sitting next to his daughter, who remained motionless. The steady rise and fall of Emily’s chest pulled John into a trace-like state to the day he took the training wheels off Emily’s bike. He wondered how the years passed by so quickly; although much taller, she was still his little girl.

  John felt such a pain in his heart that he could no longer look at his daughter. It was like a form of torture in a living hell. Why did this have to happen?

  Diverting his eyes, John looked at the book he’d brought along. He stared at its cover for a long time before finally speaking.

  “I’m sure you’ve already read this one, but I found it in your room, so I’m pretty sure you like it.” John opened the book cover and flipped to the first page of the first chapter and began reading aloud.

  About the time John reached the middle of chapter nine, a lady dressed in a brown uniform entered the room holding a kitchen tray. He glanced at his watch. It was half past noon. He gave the nurse a puzzled look as she carried it in. She simply shrugged and set the tray and its contents down on the bedside table.

  Removing the dented metal lid covering the main entrée, John picked at the vegetables intended for Emily with the fork.

  “She hates cooked carrots,” he called out after the woman, already gone. Hungry, he took a mouthful.

  Continuing to read aloud and chew at the same time, the phone rang and interrupted him mid-sentence.

  “Hello?” John answered, then swallowed.

  “I can’t find Kathryn,” a distraught voice responded from the other end of the line.

  “What?” John asked, unsure he understood his wife’s words correctly.

  “Kathryn. I can’t find her.”

  “She’s missing?”

  “I made lunch over an hour ago. I’ve been calling for her, but she’s nowhere to be found!” Elizabeth’s voice trembled.

  A heavy sigh filled the airwaves as John thought about his next move. His stomach churned as he dare not ask aloud, what next?

  “Tell me what to do, John. I, I just can’t–”

  John quickly went through a mental list of things his wife did to relax. To suggest a bubble bath would warrant a divorce. “Pour yourself a glass of wine. Just one! Then keep calling out to Kat in case she can hear you. In fact, get a radio and play it, loud, out on the deck.”

  “I can do that,” Elizabeth responded in a tone that still sounded stressed.

  “I’ll be home as soon as possible.” In his rush, John almost hung up the phone but changed his mind. “Izzy?”

  “Yes?” she answered.

  “I love you!”

  “Hurry home, man.”

  John slammed the phone back into the cradle. He didn’t know why all this crap was happening to his family, but he was going to do his best to protect them.

  With his thoughts already out the door, John leaned over the bedrail and kissed his eldest daughter’s pale cheek good-bye.

  Emily moaned at his touch. Her eyes batted, trying to open. “Daddy—” her voice whispered.

  John froze as he heard her voice. Feelings of intense happiness turned to panic as her words continued.

  “Help me.”

  A giant vice grip wrapped around John’s heart and squeezed. Pain darted outward like the venom from a giant widow spider poisoning his system. He stood there, immobilized–and hoped he wasn’t having a heart attack. He looked at one daughter, laying there. He thought of his other, lost somewhere in the woods. He imagined his wife, crying. The mash of words and faces racing through his head fell hard upon his shoulders.

  Desperate, he bowed his head. God, protect my family!

  A tremendous urge to grab his daughter’s body and run like hell darted through John’s mind. John leaned back over the metal bedrail. “Stay strong, Em! It will get better.”

  Emily moaned and her head fell to the other side. No matter how hard John tried to convince himself, it seemed wrong to leave his daughter after she asked for his help.

  But what was a man to do? What else could he do in this circumstance? Emily was safe, here, in the hospital, wasn’t she?

  The contents of his stomach rose abruptly. He swallowed hard. Bile burned the back of his throat and left a sour coating in his mouth. John turned the faucet on in the bathroom. Not waiting for the water to turn cool, he cupped up a few sips of water in his hand and swished out his mouth.

  Returning to his daughter’s bedside, John gave his daughter a second kiss. “I love you, Emily. I’m sorry, but I have to go.”

  Emily did not stir this time. Her eyelids remained closed.

  “I’ll be back!” he promised.

  Chapter Thirty-two

  THE RESCUE

  HOW COULD I HAVE BEEN SO FOOLISH? Kat sat in the tall grass, scolding herself. I’m nothing more than a complete idiot!

  Kat buried her face in her hands and broke down into uncontrollable sobs. Why didn’t I turn back around when I ran out of ribbons?

  Already weary from the miles of travel, Kat crumpled under the exertion from crying. Fretfully make-shifting a grassy pillow, she laid her head down to rest. She thought it might also be a good time to say a little prayer.

  “Dear God—”

  A distinct noise in the grass caught Kat’s attention and her eyes shot open as she listened.

  Silence.

  She heard the sound again. It sounded almost like…maracas, like she used in music class.

  Pushing herself up with her hands, she couldn�
��t tell which direction it came from. Slowly twisting around, Kat eyed what was making the sounds a few feet behind her. Before she could consciously think the word, her small frame started shaking violently.

  Rattlesnake!

  Coiled in the grass, Kat saw the unmistakable rattles sound its warning. Its jaw was set wide and the sharp venomous fangs were fully exposed. Ready to strike, Kat knew an escape was impossible.

  As she began mentally preparing for her death, a shrill call sounded out of the bright blue sky. Outstretched wings drew back and a rusty-red blaze dive-bombed the reptile. Large, sharp talons snatched the reptile in its return to the sky. In awe, Kat looked on at the wriggling snake dangling from the hawk’s grip, both shrinking in the distance.

  When the figures were no longer visible, she looked around the tall brown and green grass and wondered how many more snakes were in the area. An internal ache reminded Kat of her mother and father. She was such an idiot! A second round of tears began to fall.

  “Excuse me,” a deep, gentle voice glided down upon her broken spirit.

  Looking up towards the cloudless sky in the direction of the unfamiliar voice, Kat hushed her sobs and wiped her nose on her shirt. A large man stood over her, looking down, partially blocking the sun.

  “May I help you?” A residual sob marred her unwarranted question.

  The man laughed. “No, but thank you. I was actually wondering if I could be of service to you.”

  “I doubt it,” Kat answered with a sigh.

  “Oh? And why is that?”

  “I’m looking for somebody.”

  The man stroked his chin. “And I had the silly notion that you might be lost.”

  “Actually, I’m lost, too.” Kat’s slumped over in discouragement.

  “Well then,” the man spoke, “I’m glad to have stumbled upon you.”

  Kat looked up to see his hand extended in front of her face.

  “I happen to know this area better than anyone else. This was my playground when I was a youngster.”

  She grabbed the man’s hand and stood up, taking a second look around the field. “Where’s the swing set?”

  “I’m old,” he said. “We swung from tires when I was little.”

  As the two set out across the prairie, Kat asked, “Do you know where I live?”

  “No, but I know it’s not here. The only things that live out here are rattlesnakes and field mice. There isn’t a house around for miles.”

  “Oh,” Kat muttered; her past encounter still fresh in her mind.

  “So, how is it that a lovely young lady such as yourself has gone and wondered off so far from home?”

  “I was looking at birds.”

  “Birds! I thought you said you were looking for a somebody.”

  “I did,” Kat insisted. “I don’t know where the person lives exactly, so while I was walking, I was also looking for birds.”

  “Naturally!” the man exclaimed. “You remind me of my little sister.”

  “I do?” Kat asked enthusiastically.

  “She had a lot of spunk.”

  “But she doesn’t now?”

  “Doesn’t what?” the man asked.

  “You said, ‘had,’” Kat pointed out.

  The man stopped abruptly and looked down at Kat. “Little girls ask too many questions.”

  Kat looked the man square in the eyes. “And you’re immature for your age.”

  The man chuckled and began walking again. “Tell me. Who is this person you are looking for?”

  “My sister’s boyfriend.”

  Once again the man stopped abruptly. He eyed her up and down. “Boyfriends! Birds! This all sounds mighty fishy to me. Hold out your arms. Do you have a suitcase?”

  With her arms outstretched like a tiny scarecrow, Kat giggled and shook her heard no. “I didn’t run away, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

  The man took her purse and looked inside. He handed it back to her after zipping it shut. “Look here, Missy. I think it’s time for a little heart-to-heart.” The man crouched down on his knee to be at eye level with the little girl.

  Kat examined his face carefully. “You’re not as old as I thought you were.”

  “I’ll take that as a compliment, but enough of me. Why are you out here in the middle of nowhere?”

  Kat hesitated for a moment. “They say my sister is sick. That is why I’m looking for her boyfriend.”

  His eyes narrowed.

  “They put her in the hospital.” Kat’s eyes begin to burn as a prelude to tears.

  “Who did?”

  Giant drops fell from Kat’s eyes. “They say that Sam is not real.”

  With a shocked look on his face, the man nearly tipped over. After hastily recovering, he took hold of Kat’s small hands in his own. Looking her squarely in the eye, he said, “You must be Kitty.”

  Looking up under wet eyelashes, she gave him a puzzled look. “How did you know that?”

  “I’m Sam.”

  Kat’s face became void of expression. Then with a burst of laughter, Kat lunged toward Sam to give him a giant hug, “I knew you were real!”

  “Stop!” Sam yelled.

  Kat’s bony frame landed with a thud, flattening the tall prairie grass. “Hey! Why did you do that?”

  “It wasn’t on purpose, Kitty,” Sam tried not to laugh. “Let me show you something.” Sam looked around and picked up a small rock. Crouching, he held it in his hand, palm side up.

  Kat looked at him, unimpressed. The next thing Kat witnessed made her eyes bug. “Whoa! Do that again!”

  Sam picked up the same rock, held it in his hand, palm side up. Then magically, the rock fell through Sam’s hand.

  “How did you do that?” Kat was astounded.

  “So, you think it’s cool? You’re not creeped out by it?”

  “Not at all. Can you teach me how to do that?”

  Sam chuckled, “I hope not.”

  “Seriously, how did you do that?” Her eyes beamed with curiosity.

  “Kitty, do you believe in ghosts?”

  Kat’s expression turned to confusion, followed by a shade of white that erased all the lines in her face. Goosebumps rose on her skin. Her heart beat faster.

  “Hold on there, little lady,” Sam’s gentle voice soothed. “You had the courage to find me—”

  Keeping her eyes fixed upon the figure in front of her, she managed to gain control of her erratic breathing. Slowly, she extended her arm to touch his body. She tapped her finger against his white shirt. She swallowed. Kat pressed harder and her fingers entered into his chest cavity. “Does it hurt?” she asked as she continued to shove her entire hand into Sam’s chest.

  “Not at all.”

  Kat wiggled her fingers. “You feel like a cloud.”

  “That’s ‘cause I’m made out of water. Now stop that, it tickles.”

  Kat pulled out her hand and examined it for any sign of change. Seeing none, she stepped back in order to view Sam in entirety. Finally, without warning, a huge smile spread across her face as she lunged toward him a second time. “You’re real enough for me!” Kat laughed out loud as she threw her arms around Sam’s wide shoulders, careful not to crash through him a second time.

  Sam returned the hug.

  “Enough, already,” she spoke with a fake I’m-getting-crushed accent.

  Apologetically, he released his prisoner. “You don’t seem to be allergic to me.”

  Kat gave him her best you-are-weird look, “No–”

  “Never mind,” he replied, standing upright. “Now let’s get you back home.”

  “How can you be made out of water?” she asked, securing her purse over her shoulder, preparing for the long walk.

  “You’re mostly water,” he replied.

  “You don’t have skin to keep it all together,” Kat noted.

  Sam scratched his head. “I’m like a glass of ice water. My skin, so to speak, is like the ice cubes floating on the top.”

&n
bsp; “But you’re not cold.”

  “Besides temperature, another difference between ice, water, and steam is how fast the atoms move inside each molecule. I slow the atomic movement to achieve ‘skin,’ but since I’m not really frozen, I won’t crack like ice.”

  “Oh,” Kat replied, still processing this information. After a moment, the shimmer in her eyes turned dark. “Sam, we have to hurry. They think she’s crazy.” Her lip began to quiver.

  A sad smile swept across Sam’s face and he reached for her hand. “Fear not, little lady. We’ll save your sister.”

  Kat managed a hopeful smile, and the two new friends started off across the countryside.

  “So, how long have you been birding?” Sam asked.

  “Since I’ve been at the new house. There aren’t many city birds.”

  “How about I teach you some bird calls? You know how to whistle, don’t you?”

  “Gosh, I’d love that!” she said, imagining calling in all sorts of birds. “How many do you know?”

  His eyes whisked the sky in thought. “About fifty.”

  Time passed and the scenery changed from grassy fields to woodland. Kat’s legs had moved past the point of rubber and she was sure they would never feel normal again.

  “You were a long way from home.” Sam noted.

  Kat looked up at Sam. “I’d do anything for my sister.” Just then, she pointed to a red bow. “That’s mine.”

  “The ribbon?”

  “Yes, I tied them around the tree so I wouldn’t get lost.”

  “I see you get your skills from your sister.”

  “I can tell we’ve returned from a different direction. There should have been blue and green ones first.”

  “So you know where we are?”

  Kat unzipped her bag and took out her notepad. “This is one of ten red ribbons.” She continued to study her notes and her surroundings. “I think there will be four more red ribbons followed by a slew of yellow ones. We’re getting close to home.”

  “Your tracking system is a little more impressive than Emily’s…” Sam’s head dipped low. He fell silent.