Chapter 29

Zona was the child Emm least wanted to live with, but she was the only one remaining between him and the old age home. Bruna drove him from Darold’s to Zona’s, not because Darold was busy with chores, but because he and Virginia were off for the day to see the fall colors. “Darold said it was thanks to you,” Bruna said, backing slowly down the driveway. A neighbor looked askance at her big, rusty car. “I thought maybe you’d driven my brother into his wife’s arms.”

It seemed that Bruna’s scorn was the price she’d make Emm pay for taking him to Zona’s, but she continued, “I was wrong. Darold wasn’t escaping you. On the contrary, he was taking your advice. You convinced him that a husband and wife need to spend time together, alone.”

Emm was relieved but spoke cautiously, never sure when he might provoke a barrage of criticism from his oldest daughter. “I wish I’d done that with your mother. It’s easy to lose sight of why you married each other. I didn’t want Darold to make the same mistake.”

Bruna sped up when they’d reached the main road. She nodded. “That makes sense.”

In those three words, Emm heard grudging admiration. He didn’t know if it was for him, or for Darold making amends with Virginia, but he was content to accept it without question.

“According to James,” Bruna added, “his parents are a lot nicer to be around these days.” Bruna’s grin of approval was unmistakable. Emm smiled back with a hint of pride.

“I can’t say the same for Zona and her relationships,” she went on. “The men she brings to my house aren’t worthy of the label. The latest is half again her age and she acts half her age around him. Her nieces and nephews don’t know what to make of an aunt who never grew up.”

Emm was already nervous about this last-chance move. Bruna’s comments were not reassuring. In fact, they were rather thoughtless given his situation. He tried to buck up himself by defending Zona. “It’s not her fault she acts that way. Her childhood wasn’t normal. Zona was only nine when her mother died, and you and Darold babied her after that.”

Bruna gripped the steering wheel. “It’s not what we did, Father. It’s what you didn’t. Zona didn’t miss Mother, she missed you. You ignored her from the moment she was born.”

Now Emm defended himself. “I was no different from other fathers with a lot of mouths to feed.” It sounded lame, even to his own ears, so he played for sympathy. “Later, after Arvil and your mother died, I was too grief-stricken to reach out.” He couldn’t explain that not only had he lost the two people he loved most, but he’d also lost his last remaining dream. In the face of every setback, Emm had continued to imagine what his oldest child would grow up to be. How could he care about his youngest, who would never replace his real son or the rosy future he pictured for him?

Bruna’s tone softened, but her body remained rigid. “Even if being sad makes sense,” she said, “it doesn’t excuse your behavior. Or make Zona’s any easier to take.”

They drove in silence the rest of the way, far outside the city limits. Emm distracted and calmed himself by looking at the vibrant trees. Half an hour later, Bruna pulled her big car into a graveled driveway behind a small yellow car with butterfly decals on the doors and hood. Before them was a trim white cottage, with a reddening maple in the front yard and gold-leafed Hosta and russet sedum around a bright blue door. Emm remembered Izora planting the same perennials at the house he’d bought between the births of Arvil and Bruna. When they lost the house during the Depression, and had to move in with his parents, Izora had mourned the loss of her garden more than the house itself. Mrs. Benbow preferred vegetables and herbs, practical plants rather than pretty flowers, and hadn’t ceded any yard space to Izora. Not that his wife had the time or energy to garden by then. It had been a long time since Emm noticed the few plants—chives, mint—that continued to come up at the house where he’d live all but a few years of his life. Until now.

While Bruna helped Emm stand up behind his walker, a large brown mutt came bounding out of the house, put its paws over Emm’s hands, and barked. Emm instinctively drew back.

“Riley, get down.” Zona, wearing a nurse’s uniform and pigtails tied with red ribbons, ran down the walk after the dog. “Don’t worry, Daddy. He’s friendly. See, his tail is wagging.” She pulled the dog back. Riley immediately crouched at Zona’s feet.

“I’m not afraid he’ll bite me. I’m afraid he’ll knock me down.”

“I’ll train him not to jump on you anymore.” Zona patted Riley’s head. The dog slobbered on her white shoes. “He gets overexcited when I come home after a night shift, and I got back from the hospital later than usual this morning.” Zona sighed. “Poor Mr. Timmy. Again.”

Emm and Bruna looked at each other and then at Zona.

“Thomas Carson. My oldest patient on the gerontology ward. It was his second cardiac arrest this month. Dr. Sewell and our team brought him around.”

It was Emm’s turn to sigh, as if he, not Mr. Carson, had been saved.

Zona hugged Emm, leaning over Riley so she wouldn’t dislodge him. “I’m not due back at work until tomorrow, so I can help you get settled. Except would you mind if I took a quick run into town this afternoon to check on Mr. Timmy?”

Emm said she was welcome to go while he napped, provided the dog was tied or locked up so it wouldn’t bother him. Zona said Riley had a kennel and run in the back yard.

Bruna, her back pressed against her car, eyed the dog suspiciously. The look she gave Zona was equally unfavorable. “Shall I carry in Father’s things? There’s only one suitcase and a carryall with his medicine and toiletries.”

Zona wrung her hands. “Just set them by the door. I’ll bring them into the house.” She turned back to Emm. “It’s just a short step up. Same out the back. There aren’t any stairs inside.”

Another sigh of relief. Emm said he could navigate one step, although he’d feel safer if one of them stood next to him the first time. He looked back and forth between his daughters.

Bruna deposited Emm’s bags next to Riley. “I’ll leave you to Zona, then, Father.” She touched his left hand, Emm’s good side, bid him goodbye, and drove off.

Zona, looking less like a real nurse than a child dressed in a doll’s outfit, laced her fingers in Emm’s right hand. “It’s just you and me, Daddy,” she said. The dog whimpered. “And Riley.”