Chapter 28

Gracie pointed for Aaron to put down the groceries in the kitchen. She was on the phone when he arrived at her house.

Gracie called Pearl all week, finally catching her at home.

“He’s not here.”

“When he gets in, can you have him call me?” Gracie asked.

“I mean, he’s no longer here, Gracie. He left.”

“Forever?”

“As far as I know.”

“What do you want to do with these?” Aaron asked as Gracie hung up the phone. Aaron took off his black thick frames and placed Thomas’ spectacles over his eyes.

“I want you to take them off.” Gracie reached for them.

“Sorry, Gracie,” Aaron apologized and quickly removed them.

Aaron had been dropping by most afternoons, especially since he had found the molded bread, rotten eggs, and rancid milk in the refrigerator when his mother had sent him over with a banana pudding to welcome Gracie home from Louisville. Gracie figured he had told everyone about that—and the bruises on her arms, neck and face.

Pastor Ted had brought supper the next night after she had returned and filled her car tank with gas. Chippy Martin, who owned the wood mill, and his wife came over and cleaned her house. They scrubbed the floors and did the laundry. Chippy worked outside on the landscaping. In a matter of two hours, the house looked as if it had benefited from a week’s spring cleaning. Gracie fell asleep that night to the scent of Pinesol. In her dreams she saw glimpses of Kage, but every corner she turned, he had vanished.

The thought of not knowing where Kage was made her crazy, angry at him one minute and desperate the next. Their goodbye at Pearl’s had been a simple, empty wave. She had felt encouraged when he’d stood, holding pressure against the wrap around his ribs, and walked toward her, but then he had taken the doorknob in his hand and pushed the door shut behind her. The distance he kept from her hurt more than the bruises that lingered.

* * *

“You need anything?” Pastor Ted reached for the sagging sheet covering the window and realigned the clothes pins, clasping the sheet firmly to the edge of the curtain rod.

“Not really.” Gracie looked away, though she wanted to scream that without her grandfather she felt painfully vulnerable, and now not knowing where Kage had gone or if she’d ever see him again, she was falling apart.

“I can’t tell you how many people have asked me about you. Every time Erma Franklin sees me, she asks how you’re doing.”

Gracie looked intently at Pastor Ted while he worked with the make-shift curtains. She was appreciative that he hadn’t asked about the curtain—or her bruises.

“I know, I know. Aaron has been so kind to bring me groceries.”

“They are friendly,” Pastor Ted said as he finished clipping the last clothes pin.

“Helpful,” Gracie added with a nod.

“Always waving and smiling,” Pastor Ted said.

“Yep, always,” Gracie agreed.

“Good people,” Pastor Ted remarked.

Though Pastor Ted meant well, Gracie found the visits and conversations draining. But she knew that if he hadn’t stopped by, she’d be sinking helplessly into the couch.

* * *

“I don’t gotta taste today. Two scoops of that chocolate crunchy stuff,” Willy spouted his order.

“No longer making it.”

“Why? That was some good stuff!”

“Lost the recipe,” Gracie lied, shifting her gaze downward.

Leaving Willy inside on his tasting frenzy, Gene stepped outside Swirly’s and licked his Chocolate Swirl. The chocolate was smudged and he thought it looked the same color as the bruise on Gracie’s upper right cheek.

“Today’s got a nice breeze,” Gene commented in an effort to make conversation with Mrs. Laurel and her daughter, Evelyn, as they approached.

“Don’t tell me I got diabetes!” Mrs. Laurel barked. “I can have ice cream if I want.”

Evelyn pointed to her own ear, indicating that Mrs. Laurel had misunderstood.

“How you doing, Mrs. Laurel?” Gene spoke louder.

“Huh?” Mrs. Laurel responded, leaning closer.

“She’s fine,” Evelyn answered. She cupped the side of her mouth and whispered to Gene, “I’ve moved in with her so she’s not alone.” Then she raised her voice and said, “Thanks for asking, Gene.” Evelyn took her mother’s arm and tried to direct her toward the front door of the shop.

“Hello, Gene,” Mrs. Laurel said glancing up at Gene as if she had just noticed him.

Gene replied, “Looks like you’re doing well.” He nodded goodbye and stepped toward his vehicle.

“How’s Olivia?” Mrs. Laurel turned to ask.

Gene stopped mid-step.

“Sorry. I’m so sorry, Gene,” Evelyn apologized. She grabbed her mother’s arm and pulled her toward Swirly’s front door, scolding her, “Mother, you aren’t thinking right again today!”

“Honey, what is wrong with you?” Mrs. Laurel asked looking genuinely concerned for her daughter.

It had been years since someone had said Olivia’s name to him. In fact, he couldn’t remember the last time. The sound of her name played over and over in his head.

There were so many days he would think only of her.

* * *

Pearl hit the snooze lever on her alarm clock as she rolled over in bed. She’d been dreaming about her brother, Ben. She dreamed he was outside knocking on her door. When he’d run off, he had simply left a note that read, “I’m gone,” and a $5 bill. She contrasted in her mind the differences between Ben and her other brothers. The others had run out on the hotel having paid only a portion of their bill and none of the charges added for damages.

She cringed, thinking about the incident, still heartbroken over it. She had tried calling everywhere she could think of, dialing information in both Georgia and Alabama, looking for people where Ben mentioned he’d stayed. Ben’s boss at the gas station said he didn’t show up at work either. He’d left with no contact with anyone.

When her alarm clock rang a second time, she sat up in bed and picked up the letter on her nightstand. Though the handwriting was rough, it was addressed to Benjamin Kage. She imagined it was from Gracie as it was postmarked Ridgewood.