by Rita Kano
Nash raised his eyebrows and laughed.
“What’s that about?” asked Shirley.
“Best save that for another time, too,” answered Nash.
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday near sunset:
“Hello.”
“Nash, it’s Shirley.”
“Shirley. Thank the Lord. I hope this means you’ve got a darn good idea in your head. I’m going out of my mind here. Darn near walked a hole in the floor over the past few days.”
“Yes. Yes. I do have an idea, but Nash… it’s not going to be easy. In fact, it could get us both into a lot of trouble, if it doesn’t work.”
“Can’t be no trouble worse than what we’ve already got. I’ll try anything at this point. What is it?”
“Before we get to that, you’ve got to do something for me.”
“Just tell me and I’ll do it.”
“It’ll be dark in another half hour. I need for you to call Arlene and ask her to send Lizzie over there to your house to spend the night. Make up any story you like just as long as you’re absolutely positive it will work. And make sure Arlene sends Lizzie on foot. That’s the most important thing right now. Can you do that?”
“That ain’t as easy as it sounds if Arlene’s got something stuck in her craw, which is most of the time these days. But, let’s see… they should be finishing supper about now. That means Arlene is busy washing dishes and Joe’s doing evening chores. The timing’s good. It ought to work. I think it could. So, what’s the idea?”
“There’s no time for explanations. Just call me back quick and tell me Lizzie’s on her way over.”
“Can’t do nothing but try.”
“Nash. Don’t take no for an answer. This… Nash, this could be our last chance. You cannot take no for an answer.”
“Then I won’t,” he said.
Shirley leaned back in her recliner, clutching the phone. Grandma lay curled up on her lap purring.
“Can I take that to be a good sign, Grandma?”
The cat looked up.
“Yeah,” said Shirley, “I agree. It’s not about winning or losing anymore. It’s not even about right or wrong. We’re going to do what we have to do. We don’t need anybody’s permission.” Shirley scratched Grandma’s head.
A hollow rush swept through Shirley when the phone rang. It seemed way too soon for anything other than a crash of failure.
“Hello,” she answered.
“She’s on her way over, Shirley. I was right. Couldn’t have been better timing. Lizzie ain’t in school ‘cause of the Christmas holiday and had been acting up all day long. Arlene was so eager to get her out of her hair, you’d of thought Lizzie was a bed bug.”
“Thank God.” Two ragged breaths accompanied her words.
“So, Miss Shirley, you going to tell me now what it is we’re doing? It’d be nice to know how deep a mud hole I’ve stepped into.”
“I can’t. Not just yet. I’m on my way over. I’ll tell you when I get there. Oh… Nash… are you still there?”
“I’m here.”
“One thing… getting there is going to take me longer than usual. I’m going the long way around, down the other end of Jenkins road, so Arlene and Joe won’t happen to see my car pass by.”
“I swear you’re going to wear me bald, missy. It ain’t like me to jump into something in the dark. Only reason I am is that I know where your heart is. So, whatever it is you’re up to, I’m with you. You can count on that. Did you work today?”
“Yes, I did. Why?”
“Cause if you did, you couldn’t have had time to put nourishment in your body. I’ll have a ham sandwich ready for you, if that sounds to your liking.”
“Yes, thank you. I haven’t even thought about eating.”
“It’s as good as done, then,” said Nash. “See you in about 45 minutes.”
“Nash, wait. Um, sorry, one other thing… if you’ve been saving a bottle of hard liquor for a special occasion, this will be it.”
“It’s like that, is it? Okay, I’ll pull out a bottle and dust it off,” said Nash. “And just to be on the safe side of Arlene and Joe, drive your car around back out of sight.”
“I will.”
“And… and I just gotta say, Miss Shirley,” added Nash, “you sure know how to show an old coot a good time… even in the darkest of days.”
Chapter 15
A Desperate Plan
Shirley arrived in Hog Swamp at the estimated time. The house door opened before she reached the top step of the porch. Nash practically snatched her inside. At the same time, Lizzie ran from the kitchen holding a ragdoll in her arms.
“Miss Shirley! Miss Shirley! Grandpa told me you were coming. This is Abigail.” Lizzie held the doll out with both hands at arm’s length. “Can we have a party?”
“Abigail is beautiful.” Shirley leaned over and kissed Lizzie on the forehead. “Sure we can have a party. But I have to talk to your Grandpa first. Can you wait a little bit?”
“Can I have ice cream? Mama says it’s bad for my teeth and won’t give me any except on my birthday. Can I? Please? Can I please have ice cream?”
“Ice cream only on your birthday? Well, I don’t think twice a year would do any harm. Do you, Mr. Nash?”
Nash shook his head. “Twice a year? Ain’t no way that’ll do any harm. It’s fine and dandy with me.”
“There you have it then, Miss Prissy.” Shirley tickled the tip of Lizzie’s nose. “We’ll have a party with ice cream.”
Lizzie grinned and skipped out of the room.
“I’ll holler for you when we’ve finished here,” Nash called out to his granddaughter. “You stay put until then.”
Shirley sat down on the couch and covered her face with both hands.
“And you… sit tight. I’ll be right back,” said Nash.
He returned with a sandwich on a saucer and sat down beside her. “I ain’t liking the feeling of this, Miss Shirley. I think something’s inside that pretty head of yours that might not be pretty in and of itself. Truth of the matter is I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut. It’s about time you tell me why.”
Shirley took a bite of the sandwich. “I… I’ve ah… I’ve decided to take some time off from work, Nash. Oh, this is delicious. So-o-o good. Didn’t realize how hungry I was. Thank you. Anyway, like I was saying… I’m off tomorrow and all next week. It’s not something I usually do. Even though the state is generous with vacation leave, I don’t have much use for it. Most of my leave days are lost at the end of the year and…”
Nash placed his hand on Shirley’s knee. “I know why you’re taking time off, Shirley. And there ain’t nothing to feel guilty about. It’s your time, bought and paid for, so to speak. Ain’t nothing to feel bad about. We don’t have much time left… only next week. I thank you for what you’re doing, especially knowing how hard it is for you. Now…” Nash stroked Shirley’s cheek, “just tell me why.”
“If we don’t come up with something by Christmas Eve… oh Lord, Nash… we’ve got to… we’ve got to…” Shirley couldn’t find the end to her words. Tears welled up and rolled down her face.
Nash wrapped his arms around her. “Don’t, Miss Shirley. Please don’t cry. Not as long as there’s a chance left we can find Martha Ann and save Lizzie’s life. Whatever it is needs doing, we’ll do it. With no regrets.” He kissed her on the cheek. When he pulled away, his lips glistened with her tears. “Come on. I know how strong you are. And… and that ain’t all I know. I know you’re sick and tired of being strong. So am I. But it’s only for a little while longer now. Just a little while longer. When this is all over, things will be different. I promise you.” Nash pushed up on Shirley’s chin with one finger. “Now, breathe in real easy like and relax. There you go. That’s good. We’re going to get through this, Miss Shirley Foster. Together.”
Shirley sniffed and pulled a tissue out of her pocket. “Do you… do
you,” she dried her tears, “have that liquor I mentioned over the phone?”
“Already dusted off,” said Nash. “I’ll get us both a swig.”
Nash returned to the couch with a bottle and two shot glasses.
Shirley coughed after the first swallow, but took another. “Lizzie’s got to disappear,” she said in a voice scraped dry with desperation.
Nash’s forehead furrowed. His eyes searched Shirley’s face for an answer he couldn’t find. “What do you mean… disappear?”
“I want to take Lizzie home with me. That’s why I took so much time off from work.”
“Take Lizzie home with you? Take Lizzie home? There ain’t no way. Arlene won’t let that happen,” stammered Nash. “She…” and then he got it. “Hold on. You don’t mean… do you mean you want to take Lizzie without Arlene and Joe knowing? Is that it?”
“I told you it wouldn’t be easy. Listen to me, Nash. You’ve got to stick with me on this. I have nothing else to offer. It’s the only chance we’ve got to save Lizzie.”
Nash stared at Shirley in disbelief. “No. You… No. Now, you’ve lost your mind. Arlene is a pain in my butt most of the time, but I can’t do that to her. I won’t do this, Shirley. No. Forget that. Besides, what good would come out of it? It makes no sense.”
“So, it’s happened. You think I’ve lost my mind. Well, I’m beginning to think you haven’t been listening. None of this makes sense. Does it matter? Are you going to stop now? You could lose Lizzie and look back with nothing but the excuse that it didn’t make sense. Are you willing to spare Arlene pain… a horrible pain, yes, I know, but can you risk Lizzie’s life for that… for the lesser pain? I’m not.”
Nash paced the room. “We could be wrong about Lizzie being in danger. We don’t know nothing for sure.”
“We could. Yes, we could,” Shirley clanked the empty saucer down on a nearby table. “If you’re willing to take that stand, tell me now and I’ll leave. If you’re not willing… No. It can’t go this way. Nash, please reconsider. Please trust me.”
“And if I trust you, what promise can you give me that it won’t all be for nothing?”
“You know I can’t promise you anything.” Shirley sighed and shook her head. “The only way to live with regrets is not.”
“You’re an impossible woman.” Nash’s pacing came to a stop in front of a window. “I’m sorry, Shirley. But, there’s more than one reason I have to say no to this idea.”
“Okay. Okay. I’ll find another way to get to where I need to go. I’ve wiggled my way out of tougher spots. And if whatever I come up with works, I’ll be forgiven for the method. If it doesn’t work… well…”
“You’re willing to take that chance?”
“I’m not willing to live with myself, if I don’t.” Shirley reached for her pocketbook. “I shouldn’t stay any longer. Would you please tell Lizzie…”
“No. Stay. Don’t leave. Give me just a minute to…” Nash covered his eyes. “I’ve been told more than a plenty of times that I’m crazy, but I never believed it… until now.”
Shirley secured a breath. “Be sure, Nash. Be sure.”
“Okay. Okay to start with, let’s be sure I’m seeing what you’re seeing. You take Lizzie home with you tonight. Tomorrow, I call Arlene and…” Nash gripped the top of his head with both hands, “I don’t believe I’m saying this.” He tensed his lips, but the words came out anyway. “I call Arlene and ask why Lizzie didn’t come over. Is that what you have in mind?”
Shirley returned a nod.
Nash dropped both arms. They hung limp and loose at his side. “And then…and then what?”
“And then you call Sheriff Pate. Tell him your granddaughter, Lizzie, has gone missing, too… like Martha Ann and somebody has got to do something about it.”
“Sheriff Pate?” Nash threw up his hands. “You… you accuse me of not listening? Have you been listening? I told you, missing children in this family don’t mean nothing to this town. They’re too scared. I told you Dish Townsend ain’t ever printed a single word about Martha Ann going missing, even when I got down on my knees and begged him to. And the sheriff… the sheriff just plain don’t care about anything that don’t show him off for a hero and even if by some almighty miracle he did suddenly care, Dish wouldn’t print nothing on Sheriff Pate’s account… just to spite him. Sheriff Pate took the woman he loved away from him and he ain’t ever forgetting that. There’s bad blood between the two of them, just like Luke and me. No, Miss Shirley, this is one of those things that no matter which way you turn it… it won’t work. It just won’t work.”
“I know it won’t work.” Shirley leaned back and crossed her legs.
“What? You know? What do you mean you know it won’t work?”
“I know it won’t work and that’s what I’m counting on, Nash. I’m not going to waste my time on Dish Townsend. What I am depending on is this. When Sheriff Pate puts you off, saying he’ll get back to you in a week or so or whatever his usual lame put off and side step is… that’s when I slip into my patent leather Social Worker shoes. And you better believe this town’s going to hear what I’ve got to say. Shirley Foster is going to be front-page news. The only thing is… and I don’t intend to ask forgiveness for it, seeing there aren’t any other choices being laid out before me… I’m going to have to tell a few lies to get the truth known.”
“You ain’t asking my permission, are you?”
Shirley stiffened the grip on her words. “No. I’m not.”
“Good.” Nash returned to the couch near Shirley.
“So, it’s settled, then?” she said.
Nash stared off somewhere.
“Nash? Is it settled?” asked Shirley again.
Nash shook his head no, but responded to the contrary. “I guess,” he answered.
“Okay. Lizzie leaves here with me tonight.”
“Oh, my good Lord,” Nash leapt to his feet. “I thought I’d already done the hardest thing I’d ever have to do.”
“Nash,” said Shirley. “You can do it. Just keep in mind there might be something a whole lot harder for you to do, if you don’t do this.”
“A fine choice this is,” said Nash. “It’s ripping me apart. I’m torn by love, desperation and the need to fight back.
“Alright then. Give me about 15 minutes to get out of here. Then call Arlene and ask why she didn’t send Lizzie over. After you search for her and don’t find her… call Sheriff Pate. And, Nash… don’t worry about Lizzie for the next few days. At some point, I may have no choice but to leave her alone, but it won’t be for long. She’ll be okay. I promise she will. I’ll make sure she has a good time. And Grandma will be there to play with and keep her company.”
“Lizzie likes cats. Always has. Arlene won’t let her have one.”
“Good. That’ll help. Any second thoughts, Nash?”
“I have a wish, Miss Shirley. That when my granddaughter, my sweet pickle dies, there’ll be a headstone showing she lived a long and happy life.”
Shirley and Nash embraced and, for a moment, time, plots and urgency disappeared.
“Grandpa.” Lizzie ran into the room. “Grandpa, you didn’t call me when you stopped talking.” Lizzie stood with hands on hips and a scolding frown, but seemed to take no notice of the embrace between Nash and Shirley that suddenly snapped apart.
“Come here, sweet pickle.” Nash held out his arms to Lizzie. “I’ve got a great, big, jumbo sized surprise for you.”
Chapter 16
Trust, Lies and Taking Chances
About fifteen minutes after Shirley and Lizzie left, Nash listened to the phone ring at his daughter’s house.
“Hello.”
“Arlene, I’ve changed my mind. It’s got too dark to send Lizzie over now.” Nash spoke with all the calm he could muster. “I’ll come get her.”
“Come get her? You mean Lizzie ain’t there?” said Arlene.
“No. You didn’t send her over, did you?”<
br />
“Joe!” Arlene screamed. “Joe! Lizzie ain’t at Papa’s!”
“What? Lord in heaven, Arlene. Where is she?” Joe shouted in the background.
The phone receiver clicked in Nash’s ear. He grabbed his flashlight and rushed out the door and down the dirt road where he expected to meet Joe somewhere along the way. Near the graveyard, he heard his son-in-law scream Lizzie’s name.
“Lizzie!” Nash called out.
“Lizzie! Where are you? Lizzie. Answer me,” shouted Joe.
In another minute, Nash saw Joe’s flashlight scanning the road for Lizzie and curled up snakes staying warm in the last heat soaked up from the day.
When they met empty handed, Joe’s mouth dropped open. “Where is she?”
“Joe, I… I don’t know, Joe. I don’t know. But stay calm. We’ve both got to stay calm. She… Lizzie’s gotta be here somewhere.”
“Somewhere? Somewhere? You mean in the woods? In the swamp?” Joe spun from side to side flashing his light into wells of darkness. “Stay calm? What the hell are you talking about? Stay calm.”
“You gotta, Joe. You got to calm down. We’ll find her. We’re going to find her. Are you sure she left the house? Maybe she started out the door and then went back to get something to bring with her… her ragdoll, maybe. You know she don’t like sleepin’ without it. Did you check her room?”
“No. I didn’t check her room. There weren’t no reason to. Arlene said she was gone.”
Nash and Joe ran back toward the Lovett house, both flashlight beams bouncing wildly in and out of the trees lining the road and across the warm sand.
They searched the house and all the outbuildings, the barn, the tractor garage, everywhere a small child could be. When there was no place left to look, Joe and Nash walked through the kitchen door empty-handed and speechless.