Divining Elise

by Jody A. Kessler

  “Sort of. I have a credit card reader plugged into the USB port of my laptop. I need to either drop off the old computer at the repair shop or buy a new one.”

  “I’m glad I’ll be there to help with that. You don’t need this on your shoulders while your baby is recovering.”

  “I’m glad you’re going to be here, too. Brenna is fantastic, but I don’t think she can handle this by herself and be available to the customers.”

  “And she shouldn’t have to,” Autumn said. “Since I’m arriving late, I booked a room in Sacramento. I’ll meet you at the doctor’s office in the morning. Sorry. I know we were supposed to ride together, but if I drive to Granite Lake after my plane lands, I’ll get about two hours of sleep before we have to drive back to the city.”

  Elise felt the disappointment weighing on her shoulders, but she said, “No problem. It’s not your fault the flight is delayed. We’ll see you in the morning.”

  “Try to get some rest tonight. I’ll message you if anything changes,” Autumn said.

  They disconnected the call. Rob knocked on the door as Elise gathered her things. She told Colton it was time to leave and they drove to Rob’s house. Elise took her car so she could leave straight from Rob’s house for the audiology center in the morning. Rob followed behind in his truck ensuring that Elise and Colton arrived safely to his house. She didn’t care for all the extra safety measures. It’d been four days without any sign of Javier, and she was tired of everyone walking on eggshells because of her problems.

  * * *

  With everything on her mind, she barely registered what was going on around her. They were in the living room with Colton and Maisie, attempting to relax as Bodie finished cooking dinner. The savory smells of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and gravy wafted through the air from the direction of the kitchen. Rob asked about her day and she was reluctant to share the misery. The endearing look on his handsome face shouldn’t be troubled by her crappy afternoon.

  “We’re having computer problems, but I worked most of it out,” she said.

  “Just what you didn’t need,” he said with understanding.

  “Computer troubleshooting is about as pleasant as a lobotomy with a rusty saw,” she said.

  “I agree. I’d much rather mix and brew and taste test new recipes. I crafted a new Belgium farmhouse saison today. I think it’s going to be worthy of production. We’ll see.”

  “Really?” she said absently.

  “I think so. Shane keeps pushing for us to have a really good saison available to our customers, but this is the first one I’ve ever made.”

  Rob must have picked up on her lackluster mood because he dropped the topic. She couldn’t get her mind off the sudden change in tomorrow’s agenda. Elise decided not to tell Rob about Autumn’s delayed flight. Overall, it didn’t make that much difference. Autumn would be in Sacramento and meet her at the audiology center. It was no big deal, she kept telling herself.

  Rob’s phone rang. He checked the screen then answered.

  “Hey. Bodie’s cooking tonight. You going to be here?” he asked.

  It must be Shane, Elise thought.

  Rob listened for a couple of minutes then said, “She’s right here. I’ll tell her. Thanks for letting us know.” He ended the call, then focused his gaze on Elise.

  “Shane just got off the phone with Javier’s parole officer. Javier checked in with his parole officer yesterday. The P.O. apologized for not getting back to him sooner. Said he’s been really busy and distracted.”

  “What about Javier leaving the state? Is he back in jail?”

  “He is not,” Rob said. “The officer said he didn’t know about your report until after Javier’s appointment. Although he’s taking it seriously, Javier showed up in person and there’s no other evidence of Javier absconding. For now, Javier is receiving the benefit of the doubt. The P.O. will increase the number of random checks on him.”

  Elise turned inward, speechless, relieved, emotional. She stared at Colton, who was busy coloring a picture at the coffee table.

  Rob spoke when she said nothing. “Shane isn’t too happy with the parole officer. The claim that he didn’t receive the message about Javier visiting California until after he saw him in person sounded like bullcrap to Shane. I don’t like how this is being handled, either, but at least we know Javier is in Arizona.”

  “Yeah,” Elise agreed.

  “You okay?” Rob asked when she didn’t elaborate.

  She nodded. “I’m... fine. Excuse me a minute.” Elise stood and went to the master bathroom on the far side of the house. She closed the door and covered her face with her hands. Silent sobs wracked her body as the week’s stress began to pour out of her.

  When Elise left the bathroom, she walked into the main room with red eyes but determined to hold herself together. The mini breakdown helped release some of the tension running rampant within her bones, but she still had to get through the next couple of weeks while Colton recovered and healed. If she’d known how much inner strength she’d need to be a mom, she wasn’t sure she would have volunteered for the position.

  Rob took one look at her face and knew how upset she was. She could sense his empathy and compassion. He gave her a half smile that said everything without using words.

  “Dinner’s ready. Bodie’s actually a half-decent cook. If you’re hungry, you probably won’t die from eating his food.”

  “Hey, butt wad. Watch your mouth or you don’t get any,” Bodie said as he served himself a plate.

  Rob winked at Elise, then turned to Maisie, who was fussing in the swing.

  “She’s not very happy,” Elise stepped in the baby’s direction.

  Rob beat Elise to the swing. “You and Colton eat something while it’s hot. I’ll hold Maisie. The babysitter mentioned she’s been like this most of the afternoon. She said Maisie might be teething.”

  Elise placed the back of her hand to the baby’s cheek then forehead. “She looks and feels a little warm. Have you checked her temperature?”

  “Not yet. I’ll do that now. You two grab plates and eat. I think Colton’s going to like Bodie’s chicken.”

  Elise turned around to see Bodie helping Colton fill a plate with food. Bodie wore the hockey helmet again to match Colton’s fashion sense. The Everett brothers were incredible with her son. She could hardly believe how lucky she was to find such caring and thoughtful men that had so effortlessly inserted themselves into her life. They accepted her and Colton without questions or judgments. Immediate guilt and doubt that she fit in with Rob and his brothers brought back the dread she’d tried to leave behind in the bathroom. She tried to breathe through her insecurity, but her ribcage felt tight and constricting.

  Elise nibbled her dinner while Maisie cried in Rob’s arms. Rob stepped outside to pace back and forth on the deck. The movement and fresh air settled Maisie’s discomfort, but as soon as Rob returned indoors, she began crying again. He shrugged and went back out.

  “I hear tomorrows a pretty big day,” Bodie said.

  They sat around the kitchen island. Colton definitely liked the chicken and ate without noticing there were people around him.

  “We’ve been waiting for this surgery for two years,” she said and smiled at her kid.

  “I’ve had patients with the implants and different types of hearing aids, but I don’t know anything about them.”

  “His doctor will make an incision behind his ears. He will go through the bone to Colton’s middle ear. Then they insert the implant electrode into the cochlea. He’ll need to heal for about four to six weeks. Then we go back and the doctor will turn on his implants. That will be the day we find out if they are successful.”

  “You’re both braver than I am. I’ll be thinking about you tomorrow and I want to see this little man as soon as he’s up for having visitors,” Bodie said.

  “Thanks, Bodie. Colton loves hanging out with you and Shane. You’re welcome to stop by anytime.”


  “Does that mean you’re going back to your apartment?”

  “Javier is in Arizona, so there’s no reason for me to keep coming over,” she said and took a bite of mashed potatoes.

  “No reason?” he asked.

  Bodie didn’t look at Rob pacing back and forth on the deck, but she could feel his energy directed that way.

  “Well not every night like we have been,” she said, adjusting her answer.

  He nodded then took a long swill from his beer.

  The rest of the evening passed with a fussy baby, a clingy child, and a tired mom. After tucking Colton in for the night, Elise made sure everything was ready for the early morning drive to the city. She showered and turned all alerts and sounds off on her phone.

  Rob curled his body around her and they slept until Maisie woke them up again. Maisie fussed and cried through most of the night. Elise volunteered to take one shift with the baby, but Rob was up multiple times.

  Morning arrived in a blur and Elise had somehow overslept by thirty minutes. There was a mad rush to get ready and out the door.

  Rob walked them to the car. “Are you picking up Autumn on the way?”

  “We’re meeting up.” Elise said, skirting around the actual story, because she didn’t have time to explain it all. And because she didn’t want Rob to cancel his day for her.

  Rob kissed her goodbye, hugged Colton, and reminded her to call or text him as soon as Colton went in for the surgery. He wanted to be kept in the loop as the day progressed. She buckled Colton in his booster seat, then took her place behind the wheel.

  “If I don’t hear from you first, then I’ll call you when I know how my morning’s going, and whether I’ll be joining you. Answer your phone, okay?” he asked.

  “I will,” she said, and meant it.

  He leaned inside the car and kissed her again. “It’s going to be a good day.” Rob gave Colton a thumbs up, then closed the door.

  Elise and Colton arrived on time only because she planned ahead and gave herself a two-hour window of extra time in case of bad traffic. Traffic had been bad, but not abysmal.

  When she pulled into the parking lot, she realized her phone was still on silent mode. Text and voice messages waited for her. The ones from her mom she expected and was the reason her phone had been in silent mode during the night, but there were also messages from Autumn.

  The first voice message: “Hey, Elise. It’s me again. You should answer your phone. Anyway, my freaking flight had an emergency landing in Dallas because of some ridiculous mechanical problem. I’m stuck here. They can’t get me on another flight until tomorrow. I’m searching for another airline, but it’s the same story. There are no flights to Sac. until midday tomorrow. Sorry, mamacita. Take Rob up on his offer and have him sit with you. I think he wants to be there anyway. Call me.”

  The second voice message: “I’m in a hotel room in Dallas. This really sucks. Sorry I’m not there. Did you ask Rob to take my place? Call me back, bitch.”

  Elise smiled at Autumn’s use of “mamacita” in the first message and how fast she escalated to “bitch” by the second message. She felt terrible that Autumn was having such horrible travel problems, but she didn’t have time to dwell on it. She had to get Colton inside. She sighed. If she made it this far by herself, she could definitely keep going. And she’d take Autumn’s advice and call Rob. Once again, she needed her best friend’s voice of reason to put her stubbornness and pride aside and let Rob into her life.

  After letting the receptionist know they had arrived, she dialed Rob’s phone. He’d probably be shocked that she actually called. The phone rang until his voicemail picked up. She left a message and wondered why he didn’t answer. She waited a couple minutes then sent a text. He never called back.

  Twenty-four

  “YOU’RE UP?” Rob asked as Bodie appeared at the top of the basement stairs.

  “I guess,” Bodie said, looking more tired than Rob felt.

  “I could use a run. I slept like hell and I need to get my blood moving before we get our delivery at the brewery today. Maisie’s finally asleep. Can you keep an ear out for her? I’ll be back in about thirty-five minutes.” Rob set his empty coffee mug on the counter.

  Shane appeared from the hallway, yawned, then stretched his arms over his head.

  “I didn’t hear you come in last night,” Rob said.

  “It was around one in the morning. I heard you all night long. What’s up with your kid?”

  “Rough night, I guess. I don’t think she’s feeling well,” Rob said.

  “I’ll watch her,” Shane said. “As long as there’s coffee, I’ll hang out.”

  “Good, because I need a run, too,” Bodie said.

  “Health freaks,” Shane muttered and did a good impression of a zombie walk to the coffeemaker.

  “Shut up,” Bodie said and joined in the yawn fest. “You’re going out for a run when we get back.”

  Shane grunted.

  Rob and Bodie laced up their shoes and were on the trail a few minutes later. Rob thought he heard Maisie’s cry as he shut the door, but he wasn’t sure. The sound of her fussing may be permanently infused inside his eardrums at this point. He kept moving. Uncle Shane could have thirty minutes with his niece whether she slept or cried. Rob needed a physical and mental break.

  “Three point four miles. Not bad. I could have gone faster without your old sac of bones slowing me down,” Bodie said, checking his fitness watch.

  Rob’s breaths came hard and fast. Filling his lungs with oxygen held priority over a smart comeback to Bodie’s dig about his age. He gave Bodie’s shoulder a shove instead. Working out had taken a backseat over the last few months, but the burn in his lungs and the blood pumping through his veins felt amazing. He needed to ask his brothers to watch Maisie more often so he could run the trail around the lake, especially before the snow arrived.

  He and Bodie entered through the basement door and they heard Maisie crying upstairs.

  “I’m going to do a few sets with the weights. Do you want to join me?” Bodie asked, walking over to the weight bench. Bodie moved the fitness equipment in right after Rob bought the house. They all used the weights, so Rob didn’t mind that the benches and weights occupied a large portion of the lower level.

  “I need to check on Maisie. I can’t spot right now.”

  Bodie glanced at the stairs. “She sounds more upset than last night.”

  “Yeah,” Rob said as he took the stairs two at a time.

  “Man. Dude. I’m sorry,” Shane said. He cradled Maisie in his arms and rocked her the way Rob usually did when she cried.

  Rob reached for his daughter, not liking the beginning of Shane’s sentence or the concern creasing his brow.

  “She rolled off the couch, dude. I don’t know how she moved so fast. I swear I was sitting right next to her, then she was on the floor. God, I’m glad you’re back. Shit. I’m sorry. She didn’t hit the table leg or anything, but she won’t stop crying. She may have hit her head a little hard. Christ, I’m a jerk. I’m sorry,” he said again.

  Rob’s heart lurched in his chest and the sweat from his run turned to ice on his back. Rob moved to the couch, sat, and looked his daughter over carefully. He found a red mark on her head where she must have hit the floor. Maisie’s diaper leaked on her pajamas.

  “Shit, you couldn’t even change her for me,” Rob muttered.

  “Man, I don’t know anything. I bet you won’t ask me to watch her again, though,” Shane said, keeping a safe distance from Rob, but watching his administrations.

  “You’re a fucking turd,” Rob said. “Bring me a diaper and the wipes, will you? Can you at least handle that?”

  Shane’s guilt and worry were clear. He grabbed the clean diaper and handed it over.

  “Look at that! What the hell is the matter with her skin?” Shane said, leaning back with disgust but eyes steady on Maisie’s diaper area.

  “Damn it,” Rob said under his breath. H
is daughter had a blazing and angry rash. It didn’t look anything like the minor diaper rashes she occasionally had.

  Rob cleaned the area, let her skin air dry for a few seconds, and then wrapped her in a clean diaper. He removed the soiled pajamas and her onesie.

  “Can you ask Bodie to come up here?”

  Shane was willing to do anything to ease his guilt over letting his tiny and fragile niece fall off the couch. He ran to the stairs and called to his brother.

  Bodie looked at the rash then took Maisie’s temperature. “I’m not sure what that is. I’d like to say it’s simple contact dermatitis, but she’s running a low temperature, too. Call her doctor and see if they want you to come in.”

  Rob glanced at the clock in the kitchen. He didn’t know if Maisie’s pediatrician’s office was open yet.

  “I’ll get her dressed while you call.” Bodie picked up Maisie and took her to the other room so Rob could call the pediatrician.

  Shane said, “Her crying wasn’t just because of rolling off the couch. That’s one hell of a rash. I didn’t even know she could roll over.”

  “You’re still in deep shit. And she’s never done it before. Great way to find out,” Rob said with no enthusiasm and a healthy dose of sarcasm.

  Rob called the doctor’s office. They told him the pediatrician could see her at nine-fifteen.

  He breathed deep as Bodie brought his crying daughter to his arms. “I’m not going be there for our tank installation this morning.”

  “Don’t sweat it,” Bodie said. “Shane and I can handle it.”

  “Do you want me to go with you to the appointment?” Shane asked. “We can ask the shippers to reschedule due to an emergency.”

  Rob’s eyebrows rose. His brother was feeling seriously guilty about his babysitting error. The three of them had anticipated receiving their industrial brewing equipment since before they bought a building. “No, thanks. I need you both to get our tanks in place and do whatever you can to get them hooked up.”

  They nodded in agreement. Talking over Maisie’s fussing gave Rob a headache.