Captured Heart (A Garrett's Point Novel) (4 page)

Looking up into Grady’s sad grey eyes, she knew it was reality. “They’re really gone, aren’t they?” she whispered brokenly.

He held her to offer comfort and was interrupted by Olivia hollering from the family room. “Are you coming, Aunt Emma? I’m ready to play.”

A resolve to protect a child that she loved slid over the grief she was feeling like a shield of strength. How she felt right now didn’t matter. What mattered was helping Olivia.

“My God, “she thought out loud. “How are we going to get her through this?”

Grady lifted her chin so she was looking directly at him. “Together Em, like we always do. You aren’t alone. Remember you have a whole town to help you. You know that.” He gently kissed he forehead. “You better go freshen up. I’ll wait here until you do.”

Emma’s steps were heavy as she headed to the bathroom to splash water on her face.
Please let me wake up from this nightmare.

Grady hung his head in his hands and scrubbed them over his eyes. He’d had to deliver some tough news over the past couple of years as town sheriff, but nothing had compared to what he’d had to do tonight. He could imagine what it was going to be like for Emma and Jack to tell Olivia her parents were gone.

He sat on the living room sofa and bowed his head in prayer asking for strength and guidance for all involved to help them get through this.

Chapter Four

Grady left and Emma headed back to the living room where Olivia was impatiently waiting.
She had a board game set up and ready to be played on the coffee table. Her breath caught at the sight of the innocent face smiling up at her.

“Let’s play, Aunt Emma. It took you forever.” Olivia slightly bounced in her seat, her patience waning.

Emma is certain she won’t be able to focus on a board game at this point. What she needed was quiet time. She just had to get through the night until Jack arrived.

“I have a better idea.” she told Olivia. “Why don’t we cuddle up to a movie and popcorn before bath? I’ll let you pick the movie.”

Emma thought at first it wasn’t going to be a sale as Olivia looked at the board game contemplating her options. She glanced at the built-in bookshelves that held numerous movies to choose from.

Suddenly Olivia jumped to her feet and declared, “Okay! You get the popcorn, and I’ll get the movie.”

She hadn’t realized she’d been holding her breath until she exhaled loudly upon Olivia’s decision.

Popcorn made and movie chosen, they cuddled on the couch with Olivia on one side of Emma and Tucker curled up on the other. Emma lovingly stroked Tucker’s head as he lay up against her. He sensed something was wrong. He knew her moods. They’d been together for six years when she’d rescued him from the shelter when he was just a puppy. She adored him, and she was fairly certain the feeling was mutual. Right now his presence was comforting.

The movie began. Emma recognized it well. As a kindergarten teacher, she knew the majority of kid-friendly movies. Of course Olivia had picked the one where the prince wins the girl’s heart and good wins over evil. Heck, that was the plot for most of the movies, wasn’t it? No surprises there, but who didn’t want a happily ever after?

“Look!” Olivia screeched. “This is the best part.”

Emma watched as the prince and now princess floated away in a hot air balloon, kissing their problems good-bye and looking forward to their future.
If only it were that easy.

“Movie’s over. You know what time it is?” Emma asked Olivia, tickling her little ribs until she shook with laughter.

“Its shower time, baby!” Olivia giggled. Jeff had coined the phrase with Olivia a year ago, and it had stuck.

“Let’s do it.” Emma said as she pulled Olivia to her feet.

Once showered, in her pajamas and tucked into bed, Emma read her a story. Inside she felt like a wall had been built around her true emotions not letting anything in or out. She was grateful; because she needed her focus to be on Olivia and not her own grief right now, but Olivia’s next question shook her resolve.

As she bent over to kiss Olivia’s forehead and say goodnight she heard, “Why didn’t Mommy and Daddy call to say goodnight? They always do.”

“You know they are up in the mountains, Liv. They probably can’t get a signal on their mobile phones strong enough to call out.” Her heart broke a little more. She hated lying to Olivia, but she had to wait for Jack.

“Good night, Olivia. I love you.”

“Love you too, Aunt Em.”

She left the bedroom door open a crack and headed back downstairs. She located her cell phone on the kitchen counter and sent out a 911 text to Melanie, Sydney and Kathryn and asked if they could video chat in 10 minutes.

Within seconds all three had replied with their confirmations.

Emma grabbed her headphones from her purse so that, if by chance Olivia woke up, she wouldn’t here all of the conversations.

Grabbing her tablet, she settled in to the couch and dialed in to chat.

She purposely strengthened her resolve to keep her emotions in check. She couldn’t let the dam break. If it did, she’d be a goner. Time for that later.

They were all there – Mel, Syd and Kat – waiting for her.

“What’s going on?” Sydney asked.

“What’s the 911?” Kat chimed in.

Mel waited. She was always the mediator of the group. She scoped out the situation before jumping in.

“Hi, girls. Thanks for calling in on such short notice.”

Internally giving herself a pep talk to carry on, she continued.

“Grady came by tonight to notify me that Jeff and Dana had been in a car accident.”

They all jumped in.

“Oh no! Are they alright?” she heard followed by “How bad is it?” and “Where did it happen? Are they going to be…?”

Emma broke in. “They’re gone. They didn’t make it.” There. She’d said it out loud. It felt like pure acid raking across her tongue and out of her mouth.

Shocked silence for a nanosecond, then Sydney said “I’m coming home.” Kat chimed in, “Me too.”

“I can be there in 15 minutes, Em if you want me to be.” Mel followed.

“Listen, all of you. I didn’t call because I wanted to drag you all here by my side. I just thought you should know. Dropping all of your plans and running here won’t change anything. It won’t bring them back.” She took a breath and was proud of how she was managing to hold it together.

“Jack, Dana’s brother, will be here in the morning. He wanted to wait until then to tell Olivia what’s happened.”

“Emma, don’t try to be the hero here. You are not alone. Lean on your friends. You’re going to need us, and we want to be.”

Emotion like a fist rose up and wrapped around her throat, choking her. A single tear sliding down her cheek was the only evidence of the turmoil churning inside her.

They saw. They knew. They understood.

“Go to bed. Take some nighttime cold medicine to knock your butt out, and we will see you tomorrow.” Kat instructed firmly, but her tone was gentle.

Grateful for their support and knowing they were right, Emma agreed. Signing off, she made her way through the house turning off lights and checking doors. She found nighttime sleep aid in the medicine cabinet and hesitantly took it. She hoped it would bring her at least a few hours of sleep oblivion.

As she lay in bed trying to count sheep and staring up at the dark ceiling, she spoke to Dana.

“How are we supposed to handle this, D? I’ve been through counseling. I’m a teacher. I know the basic steps, but this is different. It’s you. Why you and Jeff? Why?” she anguished.

Tucker whimpered from the foot of the bed, knowing his mistress was distressed. He moved, curling up against her as if to comfort and protect. Emma nuzzled and rubbed his neck thankful for his company.

“It’s going to be a rough time ahead, Tuck. Stay with me. We’re going to have to help Livie through this.” She stroked his head one last time and curled around her pillow, praying for guidance tomorrow.

“You said you know the plans you have for each of us, Lord, but this is one heck of a detour, isn’t it? I don’t understand how this could possibly be part of your great plan. Please help me know what to do, because I am at a loss.”

She drifted into a dreamless exhausted sleep.

Olivia was up early. Emma was awakened by her bouncing on her bed, not only rousing her but Tucker as he joined in on the early morning romp. They were playfully wrestling at the bottom of the bed as Emma, bleary-eyed, looked over at the nightstand clock. Seven o’clock. Normally she was up and dressed earlier than that. Olivia’s laughter pulled her gaze to her. Hating what was to come but knowing it couldn’t be avoided, Emma had made up her mind to make sure Olivia felt as safe, secure and loved as she possibly could, starting with chocolate chip pancakes.

Tossing the covers back and taming her wayward locks, she asked, “Is anyone present in the mood for some chocolate chip pancakes this morning? Raise your hand.” Looking expectantly to Olivia she smiled when Olivia replied, “Me! I do! I do!” her small hand rose as she continued to jump up and down on the bed.

Ruffling her hair and kissing her forehead, Emma grabbed her robe and headed downstairs to the kitchen. Let’s go you two. You can help make breakfast.”

Olivia and Tucker bound down the stairs ahead of Emma. So carefree and happy.
Darn it! She didn’t want to be the one to take that happiness away from this beautiful child. Life really stunk sometimes. Focus, Em. If you fall in this hole your mind keeps coming back around to, you may not get out of it.

Emma let Tucker outside to take care of business and came in to set about making breakfast. “Liv, you grab your step stool while I get the bowls. You can be the master stirrer.”

They set about making breakfast with Olivia asking what they were going to do today and if they could go eat at Mel’s and if they could play a game later.  Emma actually appreciated her non-stop stories and questions. It kept her from having to say very much.

Emma was flipping flap jacks mid-air when the doorbell rang. Jack.

“I’ll get the door. You go ahead and sit down and get started on those pancakes, and DON’T feed Tucker. You know what happens when he eats table food.” Emma warned but with no menace.

Opening the front door and expecting to see Jack, she was surprised to find Grady on the other side so early. He was in uniform, so obviously he must already be on duty.

“Grady, Good Morning. Come in.” Emma widened the door opening for Grady to pass.

“I hope I’m not stopping by too early. I just wanted to check in on you.” It was just after eight o’clock.

“No, we were just making pancakes. Have you had breakfast?” Emma asked.

“You know I don’t miss breakfast at Mel’s. I was just making rounds and started on this end of town first. Emma, word is out. You know how everyone closes ranks in these situations. I just didn’t want you to be overwhelmed when they descend. It’s a blessing, but can feel suffocating at times.”

“I appreciate the heads up, Grady. It’s going to be a rough road ahead. I’m sure we can use all the help we can get.”

“We’ve been friends a long time, Emma. You know I’m here for you. Just pick up the phone, okay?”

Grady enveloped her in a warm, friendly hug. She buried her face in his chest, welcoming his comfort. Never had she felt pain that reached into her soul and threatened to darken her heart until now.

That was how Jack found them as he arrived at the house. Hesitating at the front door and staring at his sister’s house, he realized she would never again greet him. His heart hardened a little more.

Gripping the doorknob as it were a lifeline, he entered the house and practically collided with Emma and Grady.

A look of bewilderment crossed Jack’s face briefly. Emma. Beautiful Emma with her tousled hair and blue eyes shimmering with sadness stood in the foyer wrapped in some guy in a uniform’s arms.