by Sharon Sala
“Utility Department, this is Rita.”
“Rita, this is Chief Pittman. I need a favor.”
“Yes, sir, what can I do?”
“I need the utilities turned on at 440 Milway ASAP.”
“Just a moment while I check the—”
“No,” Lon said. “I know they were turned off because the family owed money, and I’m asking you to turn them back on now. I will be down to pay what’s owed before the day is over.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll get the order written up right now.”
“I need them on before noon. A woman and two kids are living there without power. She’s sick, and they’re cold and hungry. Understand?”
“Yes, sir. Right away.”
“Thank you,” Lon said, and then finally called Peanut.
Peanut had been waiting for news. When his phone rang and he saw it was from the chief, he answered abruptly, hoping the news wasn’t bad.
“Peanut, it’s me. Thanks for the heads-up about the bloodhound. That kid and his dog found Miss Gertie more than a mile up in the trees behind the park.”
Peanut frowned. “Please tell me she was alive,” he said.
“She had a pulse. She also had a big gash on her head when she fell against a tree. She’s definitely suffering from exposure. Can’t say what the outcome will be, but that’s not why I’m calling. I need your help.”
“Yes, sure, what do you need?” Peanut asked.
“That kid, Charlie Conroy…he and his mother and little sister are in the old house behind the Blue Ivy Bar. Their utilities got cut off days ago. They’re cold and mostly out of food, and his mother is sick. I’ve already dealt with getting the utilities turned back on, but I need some help with DHS, and I know you work with them often.”
“Yes, there are people I could call,” Peanut said.
“I know this is clearly not protocol, but is there any way you can get someone to their house to help them sign up for assistance and whatever else that welfare can do for a situation like this?”
“I’ll make it happen,” Peanut said.
Ruby walked in and slid onto the side of Peanut’s desk. “Is it Gertie?”
“They found her,” he whispered. “We’re talking about Charlie and his family. Hang on, Chief. I’m putting this on speaker phone so Ruby can hear too. Is there anything else you need?”
“I need people willing to donate groceries and cold or flu meds—particularly cough medicine—and get them to the Conroy house. Alice Conroy is sick with either the cold from hell or a case of the flu. They have a single skillet to cook in and next to no clothes. God only knows what else they’re doing without since everything they owned burned up with their house.”
“I can tend to all that,” Ruby said. “Where do they live?”
“The old house behind the Blue Ivy bar. It’s 440 Milway.”
“I know which one you’re talking about,” Ruby said.
“The utilities are off, but I’m having them turned on. Hopefully they’ll be back on by the time the groceries arrive.”
“Okay, Chief. If you need anything further, you can call my cell. I can make this happen. Talk to you later,” Ruby said, and bolted out of the office.
Peanut grinned. “Well, she’s gone. You gave her a mission, and you know Ruby. She’ll get the food there. In the meantime, I’m calling County. I’ll let you know how it goes later.”
“Thanks, Peanut. Your help is much appreciated. I need to go check on Miss Gertie. Call if you need me.”
“Will do,” Peanut said, as the chief disconnected. He searched his contacts for the number to DHS, then made the call.
* * *
Ruby was on her phone on her way to the Piggly Wiggly. She’d already called Lovey, who was donating cooked food from Granny’s along with money, and she was talking to Rachel Goodhope as she drove.
“Yes, it’s a terrible situation they’re in, and I’m upset I didn’t know about this sooner.”
“I’ll do anything you ask,” Rachel said. “Do you just need money donated, or can I come help you shop?”
“Come help me shop,” Ruby said. “I’m going to call Mabel Jean. If she doesn’t have any appointments scheduled, she can help too. Oh…if you have any old kitchen pots and pans you don’t use anymore, or one or two you can spare, they have a skillet and that’s all. Everything they owned burned up in a fire.”
“I’ll go through my stuff and bring enough for them to cook a meal in. As for the groceries, I’ll call you once I’m inside,” Rachel said. “You come find me and tell me what to do.”
“I will, and thanks,” Ruby said, then put in a call to the shop. Within minutes, Mabel Jean was headed to the Piggly Wiggly to meet her.
* * *
Alice Conroy had no idea what was coming as she crawled back into bed and tucked Pitty-Pat in beside her. All she knew was that because an elderly lady had wandered away from the nursing home, their own lives were about to change for the better.
“I’m still hungry, Mama,” Pitty-Pat whispered.
“More food is coming, honey. We ate our peanut butter sandwich, remember? Just close your eyes and help Mama rest.”
“I’ll help,” Pitty-Pat said as she backed into the curve of her mother’s body and closed her eyes.
Charlie went to the cabinet to see what food was on hand. There were four slices of bread, a half jar of peanut butter, and one can of dog food.
He opened the dog food and dumped it in Booger’s feeding bowl, then scratched him behind the ears as he gulped it down in two bites.
“I’m sorry there’s not more,” Charlie said.
As soon as the bowl was empty, he took it outside, filled it with water from the hydrant on the outer wall of the bar, and then ran back.
Booger lapped at the water until he had quenched his thirst and then plopped down near the cold stove.
Charlie took one slice of bread, spread a very thin layer of peanut butter on it, then ate it slowly to make it last. He knew the chief had said groceries would come, but until they were here, he trusted nothing.
Once he finished eating, he got their broom and began to sweep. He closed the door to his mother’s bedroom so stirring the dust wouldn’t make her cough more, and then got to work. The longer he swept, the better he felt—like he was sweeping away their troubles along with the dust. When he was finished, he put the broom away and then began dusting the house, because sweeping had left a thin layer of dust on top of the dust that was already there.
He was straightening up in the living room when someone knocked. He hurried to the door, and when he opened it, a man from the gas company was on the step.
“I just turned the gas back on, so I need to relight the pilot lights in your cook stove, heating unit, and water heater.”
“Thank you,” Charlie said, and led him to the kitchen and then into the short, dark hall where the water heater and heating unit were housed. “Sorry it’s dark. I don’t have a flashlight.”
“Don’t worry, I have one,” the man said.
Within minutes, both of the pilots were lit.
“Oh…the water is on too,” the man said. “A guy left here in a city truck as I was pulling up. Now all you need is your electric and—”
At that very moment, the lights came on. The gas man grinned. “Ask and ye shall receive, right, son?”
Charlie nodded, so grateful for power he couldn’t speak as he followed the man back to the front door.
“Now then, you guys are all set up. Have a good day, okay?”
Charlie nodded again, then closed the door and sat down and cried.
The central heat was on. The lights worked, and they had both hot and cold water. It was a miracle. He was so excited about the water that he got the mop and mop bucket and began cleaning the floors, starting from the kitchen, working all the way thro
ugh the living room, then down the hall and into his bedroom.
He tossed the mop water out the back door and was coming inside when he heard another knock at the door.
He ran to answer.
The three women standing on the doorstep with their arms full of groceries were strangers, and one of them, a small blonde with stitches in her lip and two black eyes, seemed to be in charge. He tried not to stare.
“Hello, Charlie. I’m Ruby Dye. I own the hair salon down on Main Street. This is Mabel Jean Doolittle, she works there with me, and this other lady is Rachel Goodhope, who runs the bed-and-breakfast. We have some groceries for you. May we come in?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Charlie said. He stepped aside as they walked in, then led them to the kitchen.
“There are more bags in the cars, Charlie. If you don’t mind, it would be a big help if you started bringing them in too,” Ruby said.
He looked out, saw three cars, and paused. “Which car, ma’am?”
Ruby grinned. “Oh, all of them. Trust me, there’s a lot to carry in here.”
Before Charlie could get out the door, his mother emerged from her bedroom, saw all the women, and grabbed at her sleep-tousled hair. “I thought I heard voices,” she said.
“Yes, ma’am, you sure did, and I’ll bet it sounded like a henhouse full of chickens,” Ruby said, then went through the introductions again, then began to explain. “We brought food. Charlie, get busy carrying sacks. Alice, this is your house and your kitchen. We’ll bring things in, and then you put it all where you want it to go. How’s that?”
Alice nodded, too wide-eyed to speak. It wasn’t until they all went back for more that she realized the power was on and the house was clean. It even smelled clean, although all Charlie would have had to clean with was water. It was the most wonderful thing in the world to feel heat and have water and light.
She began emptying sacks and putting away food, some in the refrigerator humming near the kitchen counter, and the rest in her very empty pantry. They’d even brought a big bag of dog food for Booger. When the sacks kept coming, and she saw what they’d brought, she was in shock. How did they know? God in heaven, how did they know? And Charlie. She hadn’t seen him smile in months, and now he was grinning and talking with the ladies as if he’d known them all his life.
Finally, all the sacks were inside, and Mabel Jean and Rachel had said their goodbyes and left to go back to work. Ruby brought in the last sack, which was the food Lovey had donated from Granny’s Country Kitchen. Ruby set it on their kitchen table and then turned around.
“This is already cooked. Lovey Cooper sent it. She owns Granny’s Country Kitchen. And before you dig in, take the medicine we brought.”
“Yes, yes, I should do that,” Alice said, and went to get a glass of water.
The bedroom door opened again as Alice was swallowing pills.
Pitty-Pat saw a strange woman standing beside her mother and was too scared to come in. “Mama?”
“Hi, baby. Come meet Miss Ruby.”
The little girl came in and then scooted behind her mother’s leg. “Her face is funny,” she said.
Alice gasped. “Patricia, that’s not a nice thing to say!”
Before the little girl could burst into the tears Ruby saw coming, she laughed.
“No, it’s okay, and I totally agree with you. Right now my face is a mess, but it will heal and then I’ll be myself again.”
Alice sighed. “I’m sorry. Kids are so brutally honest.”
“No, it’s fine,” Ruby said.
“Were you in an accident?” Alice asked.
Ruby shook her head. “I’m the woman who was kidnapped last Sunday.”
Alice gasped. “I didn’t know about that. Really kidnapped?”
“Yes, but I’m alive and home, and he’s in jail—forever, I hope.”
Alice was in shock, trying to imagine the horror of such a thing happening to her. “That’s wonderful. I’m so glad you’re okay,” she said.
“Yes, it is wonderful,” Ruby said. “And I need to let you and your family sit down to a meal. Enjoy, get well, and the first time you’re downtown, stop by the Curl Up and Dye and say hello. First family haircuts will be on me.”
“I will, oh, I will,” Alice said. “I can’t thank you enough. People are so good here. I’m grateful. Very, very grateful.”
“It’s our pleasure,” Ruby said. “You and Patricia take care.” And then she glanced at Charlie. “It has been a true honor to meet you, Charlie. You and Booger rock.”
Charlie smiled. “Thank you, Miss Ruby. Thank you!”
“You’re welcome, Charlie. Give Booger an extra scoop of dog food for the fine job he did finding Miss Gertie.”
“Yes, ma’am, I sure will,” Charlie said, and let Ruby out before locking the door behind her. When he turned around, his mother was already taking out the food from Granny’s.
“It’s fried chicken,” Alice said. “And biscuits, and mashed potatoes, and green beans. Oh my lord! And pie! There’s a whole fruit pie.”
Charlie took down the three plates from the cabinet that May from the Blue Ivy Bar had given them, and got out the mismatched forks and spoons he’d pulled out of the ashes of their old home.
“Fill ’em up, Mama, and let’s eat. I’m starved.”
“I’m starved too,” Pitty-Pat said.
Alice sat down, too shaky to stand, but she was more than able to fill her children’s plates. Coming to Blessings had been the smartest thing she’d done in years. There were angels in this town—real angels masquerading as humans. Of that she was convinced.
Chapter 10
Peanut had known Jewel Easley since grade school and had worked with her whenever a case involved a family with underage children. She was a by-the-book caseworker for the County Department of Human Services and a woman with a good heart. He wasn’t sure how she’d react to what he was going to ask, but he’d soon find out.
He called her cell, hoping she was in the office and not out on a visitation somewhere.
“Hello, this is Jewel.”
“Hi, Jewel. Peanut Butterman here. Are you busy, or can we talk?”
“I’m just leaving a visitation, so talk away.”
“Good. I need a favor.”
She chuckled. “When do you not?”
“Yes, well…this is a big one.”
She sighed. “I’m listening.”
“How do you handle emergency services for a family in dire need?”
“How dire?”
“A widow and two kids here in Blessings have been living in a house with no utilities, no food, and she’s sick.”
“Oh good grief, Peanut. It’s winter. Are you serious?”
“Unfortunately, yes,” Peanut said.
“Where’s the husband?”
“Blew himself up making meth and burned their house down in the process. I don’t know how they got to Blessings, but they’re here and destitute.”
Jewel cursed softly. “Drugs. Drugs. Drugs. If this epidemic did not exist, my job would be so much simpler.”
“Yeah,” Peanut said. “Just so you know…we just found out about them today. The chief has already had their utilities turned back on. Knowing him, he’s paid whatever it took to make that happen, but that won’t help next month when payment is due again.”
“And food?”
“That’s being taken care of as well, but again, when it’s gone, they have no money for more.”
“You said the mother is sick. Do you know what with?”
“The chief just said she was sick. I’m sorry, I don’t know details.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Jewel said. “You already know I won’t be able to sleep tonight. I will consider your phone call an official report of a family in need, which I will write up, and since
I am less than an hour away from Blessings, I will put on my caseworker hat and make the necessary official interview happen. That way I can get them in the system and get the ball rolling on how to help them.”
“Thank you, Jewel. I really owe you for this.”
“What’s the woman’s name and address?” she asked.
“Alice Conroy, living at 440 Milway in Blessings. It’s at the far end of town on the street behind the Blue Ivy Bar. The power should be on by the time you get there, and if I know my girl, there will be food on their shelves.”
Jewel gasped. “Oh my God! You have a girl? When did all that happen?”
“Not so long ago.”
“Do I know her?”
“Ever been to the hair salon here in Blessings?”
“Well, who hasn’t? Oh wait! Is it Ruby? It’s Ruby Dye, isn’t it? She is a cutie. I’ve wondered for years why she was still single. Way to go, Peanut.”
He grinned. “Thanks. Please let me know if there’s a problem getting Alice Conroy and kids into the system. I need to know they’re going to be okay.”
“Yes, I will,” Jewel said. “Now I have to get off the phone so I can turn my car around, because at the moment I am going the wrong way.”
Peanut laughed. “You rock,” he said.
“Yes, I do, and don’t forget it.” She disconnected.
He was still grinning as he sent the chief a text to let him know what was happening.
* * *
Gertie Lafferty had stitches in her head and a spreading bruise across the top of her face. They were treating her for hypothermia and mild frostbite on her fingers and ears—and hoping nothing turned into pneumonia. She had yet to regain consciousness, but she was hanging on, and that’s all Lon Pittman could ask of someone her age who’d undergone such physical trauma. They still didn’t know why she’d left the nursing home, but in the long run, it didn’t matter. She had been lost, and now she was found.
Lon was on his way to deal with unpaid utilities when he got Peanut’s text. Knowing that was being taken care of was one more burden off his shoulders.
* * *
Ruby left the Conroy home full of purpose. She wanted to get back to work, to be useful in the world again. Helping them had been the best medicine she could have taken to heal the emotional damage Jarrod had caused. She was driving without thought when she realized how close she was to her home. Before she could talk herself out of it, she turned down the street toward home and pulled up in the drive.