3 Can You Picture This? (8 page)

“So, girl, what did you think about staying with George?”

I had to grin at her smile.

“Me too, Clancy. Me too.”

I marveled at the blooming flowers and the squirrels and bunnies scampering on the park-like lawns. Even though these sights were almost daily occurrences during my summer walks, I still felt immensely lucky.

Out of the blue the hair stood up on my neck. Something was wrong somewhere. My stomach was tied up in knots and I felt dizzy enough that I had to sit down on a bank. It was daylight, so I shouldn’t have felt threatened, but I did. Clancy’s low growl told me she was getting the same vibes I was.

I looked back and forth, back and forth, but nothing was there. Just the cars on Maine Street, a busy thoroughfare as usual. The sidewalks were empty, which was kind of strange, but not too much out of the ordinary on a work day in a residential neighborhood. I willed myself to relax my shoulders, which were up around my neck.

Breathe deeply, Sam. Just breathe deeply.

That calmed me enough that I was able to stand up. I brushed the grass and dirt off my butt and told Clancy everything was going to be all right. My vibes were still telling me something was wrong, but I couldn’t see anything.

Starting to walk again, I felt Clancy pull behind me and she began barking frantically. I couldn’t hold her, and as I turned around to see what she was going after, I saw a blue hoodie on a figure escaping over a high wooden fence in a side yard. Clancy stood at the fence barking, but she couldn’t jump over it. I was okay with that. If something ever happened to her, they’d have to bury me along with her.

“Clancy, get over here right now!” I seldom used that commanding tone of voice with her, because she usually knew how to behave. And it seemed that once more she might have saved my life, or at least saved me from something unpleasant. She looked at me, barked one more time for good measure in the direction the blue hoodie had taken, then came back to me. I knelt and hugged her, telling her over and over how much I loved her. She’d been with me since she was a pup that my kids picked out at the Quincy Humane Society. I couldn’t imagine my life without her.

A few months ago, Clancy had been poisoned, along with many other dogs, some of whom died. I’d been frantic, and George had comforted me. It was the moment when I first knew that I loved him. I wasn’t able to explain it.

Clancy accepted my love and my thanks. Once I was able to walk again, I turned around to go home—this time we didn’t walk all the way to my job at the Quincy Community Clinic, like we typically did.

“Omigod, girl. I wish I knew what just happened.” My mind was full of confusion. “I have to trust our instincts and figure that the guy was up to no good. Right? Even though he didn’t do anything to us. I mean, you barked, and I felt my vibes. It had to be a dangerous situation. Plus, he ran away.” Clancy was looking at me with her most alert expression.

“What a weasel.” As usual, while we walked, I kept up a running commentary with Clancy. “Should I tell George? I mean the guy did have on a blue hoodie.”

Clancy thought I should tell him. But she was more of a worrywart than I was.

“I don’t know, Clance. I don’t want to have to be under protective custody again. It was glorious being with George, but I hate being confined.” I thought for about a half block. “Nope. Not going to tell him. Not just yet anyway. And if you give me away, you will be in big trouble, young lady.”

At that time, an out-of-breath cop in a blue uniform ran up to me. I recognized Jimmy Mansfield, who had been assigned to me earlier.

“I saw what happened,” he said, in between gulping breaths. “I was sitting at the light and got out of my car and chased the guy a few blocks. He had a big head start, and I couldn’t catch him. Sorry.”

He took another deep breath, then seemed to breathe more normally rather quickly.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, thanks,” I answered, feeling tired just looking at him.

Clancy gave a low growl again. I couldn’t feel whether it was left over from the crisis or whether she was growling at Jimmy. Sometimes our psychic connection seems to flow only one way.

Then it hit me.

“Oh shit. You’re going to tell George, aren’t you?”

THIRTEEN

“W
ell, of course I am,” he answered in a Dudley Do-Right manner. “That’s the right thing to do.”

I nodded, as if I agreed, and he didn’t ask what the “oh, shit” was about. So I played along and was pleased that at least George wouldn’t have an excuse to get mad at me.

I thanked him again for trying to help us, and walked the short distance to my home. I knew it wouldn’t be long before George called me or came over. I expected a lecture from him, so I didn’t tell the kids because I didn’t need a lecture from them too.

I heard them upstairs, so I slunk to my bedroom and quietly closed the door. Of course I had my cell phone with me, so I could answer George’s call and get what was coming to me. I took off my jeans and pulled the covers over my head. What had happened finally hit me, and the tears started.

Clancy tried to wiggle under the covers to comfort me, but had to do it from on top of the bedspread. I uncovered my head, tears flowing down my face, and let her give me a kiss. She only gave me one, because I’d taught her not to lick my face—unless it was an extreme emergency. Guess she thought this qualified. And I agreed.

We cuddled until my phone buzzed.

“Hello,” I said, knowing who it was.

“Sam, are you okay?” George asked.

“Perfectly fine,” I lied.

“I’m outside the house, and I’m coming in.”

“No problem. It’s probably unlocked.”

It was only a second later he came into my bedroom, yelling.

“Unlocked? Why in the hell would you leave your door unlocked after what just happened?” He jumped on the bed, on the opposite side of Clancy, and hugged me.

I couldn’t help it. I cried again. His yelling was because he was scared for me and he loved me. I knew he wasn’t horribly mad, just upset at how stupid I am sometimes.

After I calmed again, I apologized.

“Sorry about the door. You know it’s one of my many bad habits. And you don’t have to worry about what happened today. Clancy saved me, then Jimmy chased the guy. I don’t know what would have happened, but I felt safe. Clancy is amazing.” I turned to her. “Aren’t you, girl? You are freakin’ amazing.”

She finally smiled and that relaxed me because it meant there was no danger around right now. I told George I wanted to take a nap and then I was going to play cards at Gus and Georgianne’s. He could come along and keep Gus company if he wanted.

“Well, I’m certainly not going to leave you alone, even walking the few steps to their house.” He gave me a kiss on the forehead. “Take your nap, and then you are moving back to my house again after your card game.”

“No,” I begged, “please can we stay here? You can get some things while the kids are here with me. But no need to tell them what happened.”

“Too late,” Adam said, standing in my doorway.

“George called me before he called you, Mom,” Sarah added. Then, turning to George, she said, “We’ll watch her while you go home and get some things.”

Reluctantly George agreed, warning me one last time, “Stay put. Don’t even leave your bedroom.”

I didn’t have to agree. My kids did it for me. Sarah lay down by me when George got up, and Clancy stayed on her own side. Adam said he’d be in the living room, with the door to my bedroom open. I felt very safe and very loved.

During my short nap, I dreamed in color of blue hoodies everywhere. Ballet dancers wore them, people riding unicycles wore them, police, firemen, priests, everyone. Everyone had on a blue hoodie. They didn’t scare me. Blue hoodies weren’t threatening. But that all changed when I looked down and saw that I wore one too. My scream echoed in my head, but no one heard me.

It wasn’t long before George returned, waking me as he walked into my room. I felt my pulse start to slow and hoped that my fearful heavy breathing didn’t cause him concern.

“What time do you play cards?” George put a duffel bag on the floor, and looked pleased that all was well.

I looked at the clock and yelped, “Now.” Then sweeping aside my covers I said, “Move on out everyone, I need to get dressed.”

“Sorry. I said you weren’t to be left alone. Sarah, will you stay with your mom while she gets dressed?”

Sarah nodded without speaking.

I loved that George was sensitive enough to not flaunt the fact that he’d seen me undressed before. Sarah sat on my bed and talked to me while I put on a clean, and non-wrinkled, shirt. I used the same jeans I’d discarded to the floor prior to my nap.

I heard George and Adam raise their voices in the living room, but didn’t think much of it. Maybe there was a baseball game on or something.

While Sarah and I were still alone, she took advantage of the momentary privacy.

“I’m going to work tonight. No one is going to stop me.”

And I knew that was true. Short of hogtying her, George wasn’t going to keep her from work any longer.

I didn’t say anything, but knew George was in for a battle.

She repeated her statement to him.

“Now, Sarah,” George said. And that was all he got to say before she launched into a tirade worthy of her mother.

“Well, we need to have someone go to work with you. A cop,” He said when she was finished. She rolled her eyes, but George wasn’t intimidated. He continued, “Maybe your brother…‌I’ll need to check. In the meantime,” he looked at all of us one by one, “…‌don’t go anywhere.”

He went into the kitchen and made a call, keeping his voice low so we couldn’t hear what he was saying. Sarah, Adam, Clancy, and I didn’t say anything. I guess we all wanted to hear what he said. At least I did. It looked like he ended the call and made another one. By the way his head was moving, he got the result he wanted, then he made one more call. Another positive response. By now I was confused, wondering why he had to make three calls. He soon un-confused me.

“Okay, here’s the deal. I’m staying with you, Sam, for obvious reasons.” He smiled at his little joke, which was welcome at this point, but his demeanor changed immediately.

“While you were getting ready,” George looked at me then glared at Adam, “Adam informed me that he was going out with friends. I said, ‘It’s Tuesday. Why would you go out on a Tuesday night?’ He looked at me like I was nuts and reminded me he was young and they go out any night they want to.”

I joined in on the glaring at Adam.

Adam wasn’t scared. He knew my glare was worse than my bite.

“So here’s what’s going to happen,” George went on. “Officer Jimmy Mansfield is going to work with you, Sarah. He’s not going to wear his uniform so he won’t embarrass you too much.”

Sarah nodded and didn’t say a word.

“And as for you, Adam, your uncle Rob is going out with you and your buddies.” He stopped Adam before he could say anything. “Rob is pretty close to your age, so it won’t look weird that he’s with you.”

“I wasn’t going to complain,” Adam said, sounding defensive, “Uncle Rob is closer in age to me than he is to my mom. And he’s kind of cool…‌for a cop.” Then he actually smiled.

I sighed with relief. I felt that both of my kids would be safe tonight. I was confident Rob would take good care of Adam, and his friends. Plus, he wouldn’t drink, and would be alert. And Jimmy Mansfield had already saved me once. He’d take good care of my baby girl.

Sarah said she was going to take a nap until it was time for work, and George let her know Jimmy would pick her up about 20 minutes before she had to be at the hospital.

Rob called Adam’s phone and I could hear Adam agreeing to whatever Rob said, ending the conversation with, “Okay. See you then.”

After my kids and I exchanged “I love yous,” I knew I could relax and enjoy my card game.

George and I took Clancy and a six-pack of beer with us and walked through the courtyard to Gus and Georgianne’s house. The back door was open and I heard laughter coming from the dining room.

George and I walked in to see Georgianne, her sister Julianne, Gus, and two other older women I didn’t know. I introduced George, and we were introduced to Lily and Mae, old friends of Georgianne’s.

“We like to have four or five for our card games, and unfortunately one of our members is in the hospital and another wasn’t feeling well,” Georgianne said. “I thought you might enjoy a game with us.”

Yeah, right. You’re all at least 40 years older than I am. I’m sure this will be a laugh riot
.

But when Georgianne said, “We recently started calling ourselves the Game of Crones,” I figured it would be fun after all.

Gus told George, “I got a great cop movie from the forties. It’s got George Raft and Edward G. Robinson. Thought maybe you hadn’t seen it yet.” He led George into the living room. As he walked by me, George kissed the top of my head, and I noticed wistful looks on the other women’s faces.

Georgianne surprised the hell out of me. She was actually fun. Still a little snooty, but more relaxed than I’d ever seen her. This group had been playing cards every Tuesday night for more than 40 years, meaning they started about my age.

The game was a rummy variation, and over time, they’d developed their own rules. It was fun but with some bittersweet moments. Mae asked several times each hand what the wild card was. It changed each hand and it was hard for her to retain the memory.

As a therapist, I noticed signs of early dementia; whether it was Alzheimer’s or not was up to a doctor to diagnose. But dementia definitely. I thought that it wouldn’t be long and they’d be losing another member.

The other three were sharp as tacks, and I had to work hard to keep up with them, their cards, and their banter. Georgianne had a side table full of edible goodies and of course I spent some quality time there.

Julianne was certainly funny, loud, and theatric, making me wish I’d known her when she was younger. Suddenly she stood up, threw out her arms and yelled, “I LOVE MEN!” I didn’t know where that came from, but it was endearing rather than uncomfortable.