by Sable Hunter
“I’d asked Glory to do it, but since she couldn’t, I asked my no-count nephew. I was just afraid she’d told me that she would ask you to do it and I’d forgotten. I thought maybe I was having a senior moment there for a second. It tends to happen more often nowadays.”
“Nonsense. You’re barely out of high school.”
“I knew I liked you for a reason.”
“Well I’m glad about that. Unfortunately, this isn’t exactly a social call.”
“Oh no?”
“You mentioned my friend, Glory. I was wondering if you’ve seen her lately.”
“Friend? Is that what the kids are calling it nowadays?”
“Well, I suppose ‘friend’ isn’t exactly the right word, is it?”
“That girl thinks the world of you, young man. When she was here, you were all she talked about. And she was smiling the entire time.”
“When was she here? You know, to gush about me?” T held his breath, not wanting to say more than he had to. The last thing he wanted to do was tell his story again, to recount how awful and ugly he’d been to the woman he loved.
“Why, yes. She was here the other day.”
“Yesterday?”
“No. Sunday to be exact. She came by and planted a flat of pansies for me. Oh, T, she is such a sweet girl. And spunky as the dickens. She was a pleasure to have around and she is head over heels for you. I just couldn’t believe it when she told me she was moving on, said she was a wanderer and never stayed in one place very long. You should’ve given her a reason to stay. If I were you, I’d go after her and bring that girl home.”
Mrs. Watson’s words sent a sharp pain through his heart. “She told you she was leaving? Did she say where she was going from here?” He tried to keep his voice even.
“She didn’t tell you?” Mrs. Watson looked at him over her glasses.
“No.” T shook his head, not offering any explanation.
“Well…” The old lady appeared to ponder. “I don’t remember.”
T clutched his fists together, so frustrated that he could’ve punched a hole in the wall. “Are you sure?”
Mrs. Watson sighed. “Sorry, my memory just isn’t what it used to be.” She brightened. “But if I remember anything, I’ll call and let you know.”
“All right, I’d appreciate it. I saw Glory’s note about the pansies. I was in the neighborhood and I just wanted to make sure she remembered to do it before she left.” Feeling worse than when he’d arrived, T just wanted to get out where he could breathe. “Well, if you remember anything, Mrs. Watson, I’d appreciate it you would let me know.”
The old preacher’s widow shook her finger at him. “I shouldn’t tell you, you know, even if I did remember.” T started to protest, when she continued. “But she talked about you like you were the grandest thing in the world, so if I do recall, I’ll holler at you.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Watson. It was nice to see you again,” T said, trying to keep a smile on his face. “You enjoy your day.”
As if he could.
Next, came the hard part. Finding out about Glory’s illness terrified him. Doctor Lexington’s office didn’t open for another hour, but he called and left another urgent message for the physician to call him about Glory. While he waited, T drove over to the bait shop to check again to see if Glory was there. When he discovered it deserted still, he cruised down to a few spots he knew Glory had traps in the water, but again, no sign of her or the traps.
The phone is his pocket vibrated as he stood on the edge of the water. “Hello.”
“Is this Mr. Beaumont?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Mr. Beaumont, this is Angela calling from Doctor Lexington’s office.”
T’s ears perked up. “Thank you for getting back to me. I need to speak to the doctor right away.”
“Yes, Mr. Beaumont. I got your messages when I arrived at work this morning and I regret to inform you, but Doctor Lexington does not discuss his patients with anyone.”
“But this is an emergency. Did you tell him that? Did you tell him about Glory?”
“I didn’t have to, Mr. Beaumont. I’ve worked for Doctor Lexington for twenty years. I know what his policies are. As I stated, he doesn’t discuss his patients with anyone.”
T could feel his blood starting to boil, this was a goddamned emergency. Glory was out there somewhere on her own and he needed to know more about her condition so he knew she was okay. “Would you please put him on the phone?”
“Mr. Beaumont. Doctor Lexington will not be speaking to you on the phone. I’m sorry you find yourself in a bad situation, but if it’s an emergency, I suggest you contact the nearest hospital or police office. Good day to you, Mr. Beaumont.”
The line went dead a moment later and T just looked off into the water. “Damn it!”
He considered calling back, but knew it would be pointless. Racing up to his truck, he got in behind the wheel and pulled back onto the road. If Lexington wouldn’t speak to him on the phone, T would go to his office.
*
Coming into Baldwin, Glory opted to stay on the main road and not venture down into the older part of town. There really wasn’t much to see – a gas station, a motel, a small grocery store, and a diner. She spotted a sign advertising a marina on the Teche, but she didn’t feel like exploring. Truthfully, she felt a bit funny. If she had to define it, Glory would say she was experiencing a craving for dill pickles. All she could think about was a hamburger, a big juicy hamburger.
Even more than pickles, Glory craved to clean up. A bath sounded like heaven, a shower more enticing than diamonds or gold. But since she couldn’t afford to rent a motel room, the only alternative was to use a sink in the gas station restroom. Stopping at a corner, she waited for traffic to pass so she could cross the road and take advantage of their facilities. “I just hope to goodness it’s clean.”
Feeling eyes on her, Glory glanced to the left and noticed a white crew cab truck with several men standing around while their buddy filled up the gas tank. She heard them speak, but couldn’t understand their words. The tone they used, however, was unmistakable. Glory hunched her shoulders, trying to make herself invisible. A tingle of trepidation skated up her spine. Dodging unwanted attention wasn’t new to her, she’d dealt with her share. A woman traveling alone always faced a certain amount of risk.
“Hey, girl, where you goin’?”
Keeping her head down, Glory made a beeline for the bathroom door, giving the rare blades of grass struggling to live in the cracks of the concrete more scrutiny than they deserve. With bated breath, she pushed into the haven of the cramped, slightly smelly room and slammed the door, flinging the locks into place. Leaning against the door, she listened, hearing some mumbling voices. Her heart was beating so hard she felt woozy. Great. Kicking the bucket in a gas station restroom seemed par for the course of her life. “No, no, not gonna end this way.” She pushed off from the door. “I have a reason to live. An important reason to live.” Walking across the cracked linoleum floor, Glory stared at herself in the cheap mirror. The sight made her laugh. “That man wasn’t coming on to you outside, Cinderella. He was probably ready to offer some beauty tips. Good gracious!” Her face was smudged, her curly hair was frizzed beyond belief by the humidity, and her skin was freakishly pale. She looked like a character from one of Tim Burton’s Halloween movies.
Forcing herself to ignore whatever was going on outside, she proceeded to clean up as best she could, using the paper towels and the near empty soap dispenser. Conscious that someone could come along and demand entrance at any moment, she only removed what clothes were necessary - pulling down, pulling up, and rearranging each piece as she slowly scrubbed her body. Taming her hair was a different story. Glory promised herself that the next time she passed a dollar store, she’d invest in a hair barrette and some pepper spray. Both things would make her feel better.
Once she felt human again, her stomach growled, giving her reason to fa
ce whatever lay outside the door. Hopefully, the men were gone. She’d really have to watch stuff like this. Taking chances was different when she was the only one at risk, but now she had a baby to think of.
A baby.
The very thought made her weak in the knees…that and the fact she was starving to death. When she stepped around the corner, her natural sense of fair play came to the forefront. An old man was counting the money in his register, looking forlorn that what he saw didn’t amount to more. She’d used his supplies and hadn’t spent a dime. Venturing in, she looked around, trying to find something she couldn’t live without that she could afford. “Hello,” she said, drawing attention to herself.
The frail gentleman lifted his head and smiled. “Well, hello, there. How can I help you, missy?” His gaze went to the window to see what she’d driven. “Do you need help with gas or oil?”
“No, I’m on foot.”
The information she gave him brought a frown to his grizzled face. “On foot? Surely not. Don’t you know how dangerous that can be?”
“I’m careful,” Glory answered, running her palm along the old-fashioned glass display case. “I’ve always loved to go on long treks. I think better out in the open. Don’t you?”
“I do my best thinkin’ when I’m fishin’.”
Glory laughed. “I’ll have to try that.” Her eyes moved over the meager offerings. Apparently, gas and oil were the main products for sale in this establishment. The only thing she saw that she could use was an umbrella. “How much for this?” She held it up, realizing it might not be for sale after all. It looked slightly used.
“You needing protection from the rain, girl?”
Glory shrugged. “I’ve got a hoodie.”
“Just take it, you need it more than I do.”
“Oh, no. I wasn’t asking for handouts. In fact, I could use some of that Gatorade in the cooler over there. My potassium is low, I think. I’ve been feeling a bit muddled headed.”
The old man laughed. “I think that’s because you’re female.” At Glory’s shocked expression, he laughed harder. “Sorry, I’ve never been one for political correctness.”
His obvious joy at his own joke made Glory laugh too. “You might be right. I have been questioning my own judgment lately. Sometimes we don’t think things through. I do that – I just react and judge the wisdom of my decision later.”
He rang up her Gatorade and presented her with the umbrella. “So, where are you going on this drizzly, dreary day?”
Glory sighed and gave him a crooked smile. “I don’t know.” At his skeptical glare, she giggled. “Really. I’m just heading down the road.”
“Ah, so you’re running from something, not to something.”
“Unfortunately. I didn’t want to leave, I just overstayed my welcome. I guess I’m hoping the answer of where I’m going will just come to me.”
“It hasn’t yet?” he asked, handing her the small paper bag filled with the cold drinks.
“No.” She pointed to the diner. “I’m about to go ask if I can wash dishes or wait tables in exchange for a hamburger. Do you think I have a chance?”
“If they turn you down, you tell them to put it on my tab. The name’s Tobin Fields. Heck, you don’t have to barter with them, just eat on me.”
Glory shook her head. “You’re very generous, but I prefer to pay my way.”
“Well, you be careful. I hope whoever you’re running away from has enough sense to come after you.”
Glory stood, giving the nice man a big smile. “Well, if you see a big six-foot-six Cajun named T-Rex asking after me, you can tell him that I’m walking as slow as I can, waiting for him to catch up.” At his raised eyebrow, Glory laughed. “I’m just kidding, he won’t come looking. You take care now.”
“You too, sweetie.”
Glory shouldered her bag and headed for the diner.
*
“You can’t go in there, sir!”
The poor receptionist behind the counter at Doctor Lexington’s office called out when T came through the front door and made straight for the back rooms. She came around from her desk and followed him through the door and down a hallway. Trying to hold T back would have been a task for an army of grown men, but for a tiny girl it was damn near impossible and despite the fact that he didn’t want to see her get injured, T pressed on as she tugged at his arm.
T stopped dead in his tracks. “Little girl, I am not leaving here until Doctor Lexington speaks to me. So, you might as well call him out here, or I will go room to room until I find him.” He crossed his arms over his broad chest and leaned against the wall.
The receptionist looked him right in the eye. T had to give her credit, she didn’t back down. “I’m calling the police.”
“Room to room it is, I guess.” T moved off the wall and placed a hand on the closest door.
“Wait!” He had called her bluff. “I’ll go get him. Stay here.”
She knocked on a door further down the hallway and when it opened she went in. T walked over and could hear voices behind the door. A moment later, the door opened and a short, older man with a wispy white hair emerged.
“I believe my receptionist talked to you earlier this morning and told you that I would not be discussing a patient of mine with you.”
The doctor’s appearance gave T hope, he looked like a kindly old grandfather who always had a Werther’s in his pocket. “I assure you I would never ask you to do anything against your code of ethics for myself, sir. But this is about Glory Hudson.”
T could see the name meant something to the old physician. “This is against policy, young man. Glory Hudson, did you say?”
T didn’t know what to do, so he spoke from the heart. “Yes. I love her, Doctor Lexington. I’ve been a fool. I pushed her away and I shouldn’t have. Now I need your help finding her.”
“Finding her? Oh, dear.” Lexington stopped and gave him a thoughtful look. “Come in here.” He ushered T into another room. “She’s gone off on a walkabout again, hasn’t she?”
“Yes sir, she has.” At the doctor’s remark, T realized how well he knew Glory. “And I’m worried sick about her.” Lexington looked at him again. The wheels were turning in the old man’s head, T could see it. “Please sir. I found her old pill bottles.” He took a handful of orange plastic bottles out of his pocket and held them out to Lexington. “I don’t pretend to be a doctor, but I do know how to use the internet and I looked all of her meds up and she doesn’t need to be exerting herself like this. I need to get her back so she has a proper bed to sleep in, the right food to eat, and me to look after her.” Lexington hadn’t taken his eyes off T. “Please sir. I’m begging you. Help me find her.”
“I’m not sure how I can help, young man. The last time I spoke to her, she didn’t mention going anywhere.”
“You spoke to her? When?”
“Just a few days ago.”
“So, then you know…that she’s pregnant?”
Dr. Lexington folded his hands on the desk, leaning forward to survey T, who was sitting on the edge of his seat in the plastic armchair. “Yes, she told me.”
T dry-scrubbed his face, almost at the end of his rope. “I read some stuff on the internet, what can you tell me?”
“I can’t speak to you about Glory herself, but I can speak of the disease in general. A person who suffers from Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension faces some difficulties, some challenges. We strongly caution women with PAH to avoid becoming pregnant. Just carrying the child puts a woman at risk. With this condition, surviving the delivery is highly improbable. I would never force a woman to have an abortion, but in cases like this, I strongly suggest it.”
T’s heart fell into his stomach. Even though he’d suspected the gravity of Glory’s situation, hearing it from a doctor made it so much more real. What compounded the problem was now he knew he wanted the baby, but Glory couldn’t have it…she would die. And as much as he wanted the baby, he needed Glory a thous
and times more. “I can’t convince her either way, if I can’t find her to talk to her, Doctor. Please. I just need to find her. Do you have any idea where she might have gone?” He looked at Lexington with hope in his eyes. Lexington was the only lead he had, if he didn’t have anything, then T was at a loss of where to look next.
Lexington produced a pad from his jacket pocket and jotted something down on it. “Here.” He handed T the paper. “Go see this man. He has taken over Glory’s care. He’s in New Iberia. I’m afraid I can’t help you, but maybe he can.”
T took the paper and looked at it. “Damn.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I know Dr. Osbourne. I’ve been to his office with Glory before. I should’ve checked with him first.”
“I see. Well, he knows her history and her current condition, maybe he can help you. Pardon me for saying it, young man, but you look like shit.”
“I’ve barely slept in days. I love her more than anything in this world, doc. My brain hasn’t worked right in days.”
“I think you need to stop and rest for a while.”
But T didn’t want to hear it, he was off and out the door without even saying goodbye to Lexington. He couldn’t seem to walk slow, a sense of urgency filled him. He was out the door and behind the wheel of his truck in a moment.
Counting the drive here and the drive back, the entire day was lost and he was dog tired. The prospect of another couple of hours on the road was frustrating, but he knew he had to make it and make it quick. “Damn! What’s going on here?” T asked himself as traffic ground to a halt on the 90, just East of Donner. Looking up ahead, he could see nothing but taillights up the hill and a steady stream of vehicles piling up behind him. He turned on WJBO and listened for a traffic update.
“Bad news for anyone out there on the 90 East. Traffic is backed up for miles,” the DJ said after some annoying banter with his co-host. “It seems a transport truck lost a tire on the freeway just east of Deadwood Road, leading to a massive pileup. The report says ten cars are involved and three fatalities. One victim has been evacuated by helicopter and police say it could be hours before the highway is reopened.”