by Kathy Krevat
Lani didn’t answer her phone, so I left her a long message about the meeting with Quincy. Then I spent some time evaluating his spreadsheets and making some changes to my proposal for Twomey’s.
Picking up Elliott from his musical theater programs had always been a fun part of my day. I knew he’d fit right in with all the theater kids, and that he’d love the backstage interactions. He generally avoided the drama that occurred in any group, let alone drama kids, but he liked to report it all to me.
“We learned all the way through ‘All the Things You Can Think’.” He pulled his notebook out of his Wicked backpack and paged through it. “And tomorrow, we’re practicing ‘Alone in the Universe’ with the voice coach.”
“Nice!” I pulled into What’s the Scoop? Ice Cream.
Elliott looked up to see why we’d stopped. “Awesome! Can I get two scoops?”
I laughed. “Don’t you always?”
Lani called me back, and I handed Elliott money. “Can you get me my usual?”
“Sure,” he said with pretend exasperation. Then he changed his tune. “Chocolate dipped in a cherry shell coming right up.”
“Hi, Lani.” I watched Elliott walk up to the outside window and turned around to focus.
“I got your message,” she said. “I told you Quincy was awesome.”
“He seems to be,” I said. We talked more about the meeting. “I’m making the changes he suggested to the Twomey’s proposal and will send it in. Maybe even tonight.” I turned around to check on Elliott. A tall, bald man was looming over him. “Shit. Gotta go.”
I hung up the phone and ran over to them, dodging a dad leaving with his son on his shoulders. Elliott clutched his two ice cream cones, looking up with wide eyes. When he saw me coming, he looked even more scared.
“What are you doing?” I demanded of the man.
“No problem here,” the man said. His face was expressionless behind his mirrored sunglasses but still seemed menacing.
“Are you okay?” I grabbed Elliott by the shoulders and he appeared unhurt, just frightened. I turned back to the man and got in his face. “Why are you scaring my kid?”
The man took a step back and gave a scoffing laugh. He tossed his ice cream in the garbage can. Somehow that was even more intimidating. “I think we understand each other.” He walked toward the street.
I moved to follow him and Elliott yelled, “No, Mom!” He waited for the jerk to jog across the street and disappear down an alley.
“What happened?” I asked.
“He said…” Elliott started and stopped, his voice rising with worry. “He said that I had a nosy mom and that if she doesn’t stop asking questions…” He stared after him.
“What?” I felt my insides quiver.
“If she doesn’t stop asking questions, she’s going to be in big trouble!”
* * * *
Annie was pulling her car into her driveway just as we arrived at the house. My dad got out slowly with a pained expression on his face. Maybe visiting the pub had been too much for him.
“Don’t say anything to Grandpa,” I told Elliott. We had taken the time to calm down and eat our dripping cones in the car before heading home. Then I saw my dad almost stumble. “Why don’t you go see the chicks and I’ll figure out what to tell him.”
Elliott’s face brightened and he hurried toward the farm. I watched him go, wondering if I had to worry about him in our own neighborhood.
“Colbie!” Annie seemed delighted to see me. She wore a sleeveless flowered shirt and green baseball cap with “Seize the Day” in pink crystals. “We had the nicest lunch at Pico’s. He said to say ‘hi’, of course.”
My dad handed me a to-go package. “Got a bunch of chicken tacos for dinner.” His smile was forced. “The bartender at the pub put ‘em in the fridge for you.”
“Yum!” I said, taking the package and holding his arm. “Thanks so much, Annie. I’ll see you later.” I steered my dad down the short driveway. The fact that he didn’t try to pull away was alarming, especially the way he started wheezing as we walked up our porch steps. A coughing spell caused him to stop on the second step.
“How are those lungs?” I asked.
He just shook his head. Inside, he held onto the wall until he made it to his chair. I got him a whiskey and he sipped it, then took a hit of his inhaler. His breathing eased.
“Overdid it a bit, I see.” I sat down on the couch. Trouble watched from the doorway before jumping on to the couch. She stared at my dad, her tail twitching.
He nodded, still not trusting his voice.
“So I get to do all the talking,” I joked, my voice a little unsteady with worry. I told him about my meeting with Quincy while keeping an eye on him.
“Sounds good,” he said. “Where’s that kitchen again?”
“Kearny Mesa,” I said. “A little closer to here.” My cell phone rang again. Shoot! I’d forgotten to call Lani back after Elliott’s run in with the nasty guy. “Is it okay if I update Lani? I know she’s dying of curiosity.”
“Sure,” he said, waving me away.
I took the phone into the kitchen to tell Lani what happened to Elliott, keeping my voice low so my dad couldn’t hear.
“Oh my God,” she said. “Someone knows you’re investigating.”
“Obviously the wrong person,” I said.
“He must have followed you to the ice cream shop,” she said. “Did you notice anyone behind you?”
“No. But I wasn’t really looking.”
“Who have you talked to lately?” she asked. “Who knows that you’re looking into this?”
I told her about Fawn and Mona.
“I know it’s not Fawn,” she said, and I didn’t call her on her blind faith in her friend. “But maybe she told someone.”
We were both silent. She was probably going through all the different possibilities, like I’d been doing since it happened.
“You have to tell your detective about him,” she said finally. “Maybe she can figure out who he is. From security cameras or something.”
I didn’t say anything.
“Colbie.” Her voice was serious. “Keeping Elliott and you safe is the most important thing.”
“I’m sure Norma’s not going to be happy about me asking questions,” I said.
“She also won’t be happy if she hears it from me first,” she threatened.
“Okay, fine,” I said. “I’ll call her. But first, is Piper home from her conference?”
“Yes,” she said. “She’s right here.”
“Any chance you guys can stop by?” My throat closed up with worry and I had to grab a glass of water from the sink.
“Both of us?” she asked. “What’s up?”
I took a sip before answering. “My dad’s cough was getting better, but today it seems much worse. He has a doctor’s visit scheduled for Thursday. I think he’s trying to hold out until then, but…”
“We’ll be right over,” Lani said.
“That’d be great.” I felt the tension in my neck subside, just a bit. My dad really liked Piper. Maybe he’d listen to her if she told him to go to the doctor before Thursday.
I peeked in on my dad, and saw him sleeping, with Trouble continuing to keep watch over him. I busied myself in the kitchen until I heard a knock on the door. Lani knew how much I disliked the “Yankee Doodle” doorbell so it had to be her.
Piper came in with Lani, her long black hair pulled back into a thick braid. She towered over me and had to bend down to give me a hug. “Where’s my favorite cat in the whole wide world?”
Trouble came to meet her, meowing. I’m everyone’s favorite cat. Then she stuck her butt in the air and stretched before jumping down to wind around Piper’s ankle. Piper picked her up and held her like a baby, just the way Trouble liked, smoochi
ng the cat’s face with noisy kisses.
“What can I get you?” I asked. “We have wine, beer, and all kinds of soda.”
“Tea would be great,” Piper said.
“Me too,” Lani said. They headed into the living room.
“How’s it going, Hank?” Lani asked.
“Can’t complain,” he said, but started a bout of coughing.
By the time I delivered their tea, they’d been brought up to date on Elliott’s play and were talking about my new opportunity.
“Elliott will be back soon,” I said. “Do you guys want to stay for dinner?”
“We can’t,” Lani said. “I have to get my project out. But thanks.”
My dad took a sip of whiskey, but the cough still wracked his body.
Piper moved to sit closer to my dad. “Ooh, that sounds bad, Mr. Summers.” Her dark eyes showed her concern.
“Hank,” he said, in between coughs.
“Hank,” she corrected herself. “I have my bag in the car. How about if I take a listen to those lungs?”
“That’s a great idea,” I said, ignoring my dad’s head shake.
He frowned at me, and then Lani helped me to tag-team him. “Oh you know Piper, Hank,” she said. “She won’t take no for an answer. Hey, what is going on with that Red Sox bench?”
He snorted in disgust. “They’re really losing it lately.”
Piper was back in a few minutes.
“Hey, Lani,” I said. “I wanted to show you Quincy’s spreadsheets.” We went into the kitchen to give Piper and my dad some privacy.
“Can you hear anything?” Lani whispered, neither one of us pretending to look at the laptop.
I shook my head. Even on the side of the kitchen closest to the living room, I could only hear Piper’s professional murmurs.
“Where’s Elliott?” she asked, still whispering.
“At Joss’s,” I said, wondering if, or when, I should tell her about the flirting. And the kiss. It didn’t seem appropriate now.
Piper stuck her head out of the living room, catching us in the kitchen doorway. “Colbie? I’m kidnapping your dad for a bit, okay?”
“Um, okay,” I said.
“I’m going to ask a favor of a friend and get him a breathing treatment this afternoon,” she said. “Should do the trick.” She paused. “I hope that’s okay.”
“That’s great,” I said. “Right, Dad? No waiting.”
He didn’t even argue. That combined with the concern on Piper’s face had my heart quivering.
Piper and Lani did some kind of silent couple communication and Lani said, “Why don’t I take my favorite twelve-year-old to our house for a while? That way you can tag along with your dad.”
I took a moment to think of anything I had to tell her, and she insisted. “Elliott will be fine. You go along with Piper, and I’ll spoil your kid rotten before you both get home.”
I did as I was told, gathering up my purse, and at the last minute, my laptop and charger. I had a feeling it was going to be a long night.
Chapter 14
Piper stayed with us while the emergency room doctor explained that my dad’s x-rays showed an infection that was triggering his asthma, and that he’d be admitted to the hospital as soon as they arranged for a room.
Piper must have known that would happen, which was why she’d pushed my dad to come in.
He wasn’t even mad, just exhausted. Maybe even relieved. He was given a breathing treatment and put on oxygen. As soon as he started breathing easier, he fell into a fitful sleep, even with all the noise going on around our little curtained off area. I sat in the chair beside the bed, feeling terrible. I’d thought he was doing better, but I must have missed something.
Soon, they were transferring him to another bed where they were going to transport him to his room. I was asked to leave so they could settle him in, so I called Lani from the sitting lounge to tell her what was happening. She’d already been texting with Piper and had arranged for Elliott to stay overnight with Annie. And she was happy to take him to camp the next morning.
Piper came to tell me that I could go up to my dad’s room. “He’ll be well taken care of.” She had early morning rounds the next day so she headed home.
My dad was propped up with the bed angled high and a bunch of supporting pillows to help his breathing. He was attached by wires to beeping machines and had an oxygen mask over his nose and mouth. The nurse bustled about and let me know that his lungs were already improving.
I put the TV on for him, but he kept dozing off. He didn’t seem up for talking.
A wave of deep remorse washed over me. What if he didn’t get better? I regretted how much I’d rebelled against him when I was eighteen. I couldn’t imagine if Elliott dropped out of my life like I’d done to my dad. Now I could admit that deep down I always knew I could go home. I was just too stubborn to admit I was wrong.
Was it too late to make up for those years? And did Elliott’s father have any of the same regrets?
* * * *
After dinner, Lani brought Elliott to visit but my dad was sleeping again. I stepped out into the hallway.
“He’s doing better,” I assured Elliott.
His face was pinched with worry. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure.” I held up my little finger. “Pinky swear.”
He held up his pinky to shake and gave me a brief smile, but it was for my benefit.
“He’ll be sad he missed you,” I said. “You’re okay with staying at Annie’s tonight, right? I’m sure Lani will bring you something gooey for breakfast if I can’t take you to camp.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t go,” he said.
I paused. “That’s really nice of you to offer, but if Grandpa needs anything, I’m here for him. He’s already improving. Pretty soon, he’ll be home and playing guitar with you.”
* * * *
My dad and I were both bleary-eyed and cranky the next morning when a new nurse cheerfully bustled in. “You should get some breakfast, dear, while I take care of my patient.”
I stumbled down to the surprisingly nice cafeteria and poured myself a vat of coffee. It must have been some special kind of high octane because it jolted me awake enough to figure out that I was starving. I devoured a cheese omelet, hash browns, and a warm orange-cranberry muffin before grabbing another cup of coffee to go.
My dad was sitting up when I arrived, still attached to a bunch of machines. He’d been pushing around some scrambled eggs, but put down his fork and leaned back against the pillows when he saw me.
“Not hungry?” I asked.
He shook his head. “You don’t have to stay with me.”
I tried not to feel hurt. “I’m good. Unless you…” Don’t want me here… “Want to be alone.”
He cleared his throat. “I’m just…”
I waited.
“I never wanted you to see me like this,” he admitted, keeping his eyes down.
I took a minute to catch my breath. “How many times did you take care of me when I was sick?”
“That’s different,” he said.
“I have Elliott,” I said. “I know how that feels. But someday he’s going to need to take care of me. That’s just the way the world works.”
His hands moved restlessly on the white sheets. “I’m really sick of being sick,” he admitted.
“I know.” I had to blink back tears. “That’s why you’re here. To get better.”
His shoulders relaxed a little and he closed his eyes.
“Hey,” I said. “They have salt water taffy in the gift shop. I know it’s your favorite. How about I get us some?”
He opened his eyes and smiled.
* * * *
Annie came to visit my dad as soon as Lani picked up Elliott for camp. “He’s fine
,” she told me. “He slept really well and had a good breakfast. Such a wonderful young man.”
Which of course made me smile.
“You go on home and take care of what you need to take care of,” she said. “I cleared my morning so don’t rush back.”
I took her advice and went home to shower and change. Trouble yowled at me the second I walked in the door. Where were you? I was here all night by myself! I picked her up and cradled her until she calmed down. Elliott had given her food—Seafood Surprise—and fresh water. He really was a wonderful young man.
I sat at the kitchen table and pulled out my phone. I’d received texts galore from Lani. How’s your dad? How are you? Make sure you call the detective! And lock your doors! I couldn’t sleep last night worrying about that big bald man. You don’t know what he’s really up to.
She was going to make someone a great mother someday. Even though the texts made me feel a little rebellious (was that what my nagging did to Elliott?), I dialed Norma’s number.
“Detective Chiron,” she said in an I’m busy so this better be important tone.
“Hi, Detective,” I said. “Colbie Summers here.”
“What can I do for you?”
I could hear a lot of voices in the background and imagined her in a police station like on TV. “I had an incident yesterday that I think I should tell you about.” I told her what the tall bald man had said to Elliott.
“Can you describe him?” she asked.
I closed my eyes to jog my memory. “Um, over six feet. Bald. Wearing a brown short sleeved shirt and beige khakis.” Should I add surly and mean?
“What questions was he talking about?” she asked.
Uh-oh. I was too tired to think of a good excuse. “I have no idea.” I sounded defensive even to myself.
She didn’t say anything, employing that old police trick of leaving room for the guilty party to speak and hang themselves.
“I may have asked one of the SPM moms a question about Twila,” I admitted, beginning to sweat. If I was in an interrogation room, I’d have folded like a cheap suit. Or an accordion. Or one of those origami swans.
She stayed silent.
“Or two.” I held my breath to stop myself from saying more.