by Susan Vance
“What is your big problem?” she screamed. “I keep seeing you everywhere and if this continues I will call the police. Why are you following me, anyway? Who are you? What do you want from me? Just leave me alone. Please, leave me alone.”
Emma realized she was shaking the broom in his face and put it to her side. She kept a hold of it just in case she needed to bop him on the head. The man looked puzzled, shocked that Emma would come from across the street and practically attack him with a broom.
“Look, I don’t know what you’re talking about. This is my bookstore and if I chose to stand out in front of my own store then that’s my prerogative. I don’t mean to come on so strong, but you come charging across the street accusing me of what? Stalking you? That’s crazy,” he yelled. “I’m Mr. Elliot. You know me. Have you been drinking? What in the world is the matter with you?”
Mrs. Elliot came out of the bookstore and asked her husband what was going on. Emma’s head hurt. She felt dizzy and everything was spinning just as it had the week before. She put her hand up to her head and felt her legs begin to tremble. Mrs. Elliot was speaking, but Emma couldn’t hear what she was saying. Suddenly her legs gave way and she slumped to the ground. Mr. Elliot reached out to break her fall and was able to catch her before her head hit the ground. He laid her gently down and asked his wife to call 911.
Just then Becky came around the corner on the delivery bike and looked over to see what was going on. There was Emma lying on the sidewalk. Mister Elliot was kneeling by her side. Becky jumped off the bike and let it fall to the ground as she ran across the street. “Emma, what happened?” Becky cried. “Mr. Elliot, what happened to Emma?”
* * *
When Emma finally opened her eyes she was in her apartment. Jody was sitting on the edge of the couch next to her. Howard and Marilyn were standing in front of the couch looking down at her.
Emma bolted up and Howard reached for her. “Sweetie, just lie down and rest. You’re okay. You tripped and fell again.”
“Dad, she didn’t trip. Why are you saying that? Just tell her what happened,” Jody cried.
“Jody,” Marilyn gave her daughter a shut-up-please look. “Emma tripped and fell, that’s what happened.”
“Don’t give me that look, Mom. Emma didn’t fall. It’s happening all over again and we need to help her. You can’t keep sweeping it under the rug. You think you’re protecting her and it’s only doing more harm. I’m going to help Emma even if you refuse to see what’s happening.”
“Jody, you’ll do nothing of the kind,” Marilyn snapped. She looked at her husband for support, but from the look he had on his face, Marilyn quieted down.
Jody started to cry and Emma looked at her with the most confused eyes. Jody wasn’t used to her mother using such a harsh tone with her. The doorbell rang and Howard went to answer it.
There stood Jason holding a box of Chinese food and looking surprised to see Howard. “Hi, Mr. Jenkins, how are you? Emma and I are having take-out dinner tonight. Would you like to have some with us?” he said, looking down at the box of food for two in his hands. Then he saw Marilyn and Jody and his curiosity grew into concern.
“Emma isn’t feeling well,” Howard said glancing over his shoulder at the couch. “If I knew you were coming I would have called you to let you know. I’m sorry, I’m sure she’ll call you when she’s feeling better.”
Jason stood there refusing to leave. He didn’t speak and fortunately Howard didn’t close the door. They just awkwardly stared at one another. Meanwhile, inside, Emma was still looking at Jody and didn’t even realize Jason was at the door.
“Jody,” she cried, “what is going on? I heard what you said to Mom. What did you mean it’s happening all over again? What’s happening all over again? Tell me.” When Jody didn’t say anything Emma looked to Marilyn, then Howard for answers. That’s when she realized Jason was standing at the door. “Jody,” she whispered, “please don’t say anything in front of Jason. You have to go let him in. Why is Dad blocking his way?” Emma’s head hurt and she didn’t understand any of this.
Jody went to the door. “Jason, Emma isn’t feeling well, but I’m sure she would like for you to be here. Come in and join the crowd.”
Looking slightly confused, Jason stepped into the room and shut the door.
Hey, Mom and Dad,” Jody continued, “why don’t you two go home? I’ll stay with Emma and make sure she’s feeling better. Jason’s here, too, so go on now. We’ll all be fine.”
Marilyn took Jody aside and whispered, “I mean it, Jody. You are not to say anything to Emma. You are not a professional and it could back fire on you. They told us we were not equipped to handle this on our own. Please, respect my wishes, don’t talk to Emma about this. She simply fell on the curb. That’s it.” She squeezed Jody’s arm tightly. “Do you understand me?”
Jody ripped her arm away and turned to Jason ushering him over to where Emma was on the couch.
Marilyn grabbed Howard’s hand and after kissing Emma and Jody, they left for home.
“What’s going on?” Jason inquired. “You were fine when I left today. Are you sick?”
Before Emma could reply, Jody spoke up. “My sister is such a klutz. Can you believe she tripped and fell off the curb?”
“Why is she lying on the couch? She doesn’t look sick to me.”
“Yeah, why am I lying on the couch, Jody?” Emma got up and slipped on her shoes. She gave her sister a look and hoped Jody got her drift. Emma wanted Jody to go home. She wanted to be alone with Jason. Jody was ignoring her looks. Emma felt frustrated and gave her another glance this time raising an eyebrow.
“Well, I better get home to Ryan and Louie. They have got to be starving by now. You two be good. I’ll be back over later this evening to check up on you.”
“We’ll finish our conversation another time, Jody. You don’t need to come back, okay?”
“Okay, but if you need me, just call.” Jody walked out the door and closed it behind her.
“So, are you hungry? I’m really starved. Wait a minute, are you really alright?” Jason asked.
“I’m fine. My family can be really weird sometimes. They overreact. I know they love me so much, but I’m a grown woman.”
“You sure are.” He smiled. “Okay, back to eating, do you have chopsticks? We have soup and the works.”
Emma went into the kitchen and brought back plates, bowls, napkins and, of course, the chopsticks. Her head was still hurting a bit, but she wasn’t about to ruin this evening whining over a little headache.
“I hope you can eat soup with chopsticks.” She giggled as she sat down across the table from Jason.
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 5th 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…
Chapter Eleven
“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.