Kimmie had a terrible headache and was grateful for Jade’s help in getting the kids ready for their afternoon nap. Only a few of them fell asleep, but the rest managed to remain relatively quiet, looking at books or playing with a toy or two in their cots. Jade was getting ready to organize the bookshelves when Kimmie came behind her.
“Hey.” She tried to keep her voice sounding as natural as possible.
Jade glanced up, and Kimmie rubbed her sweaty palms against her jeans. “Umm, do you still have free long distance on your cell?”
Jade pulled out her earbuds and yanked her phone out of her pocket. “Yeah. You need to call someone?”
All her co-workers at the daycare knew about Kimmie’s phone situation, and whether or not they thought it was weird that a young woman living in the present day could survive without a cell phone or even a landline at her house, they always let her borrow their phones to make quick calls here and there.
Kimmie reached out for the cell, shuffling her feet and not quite able to meet Jade’s gaze. “It might be a little longer than normal. I haven’t really talked with any of the relatives since Mom died, and …”
Jade waved her hand in the air. “Take it. Go. You can even head outside or something if you want privacy. We’re fine here for a while.”
Kimmie wasn’t sure if she should be hurt by the way Jade was acting so dismissively or if she should simply be grateful for the chance to connect with someone outside Glennallen.
“I’ll try not to be too long,” she promised. Grabbing her coat, she made sure that Pip was comfortable in his cot. He was one of the only kids who regularly managed to drift off to sleep, and he was already drooling slightly when Kimmie made her way out to the playground. Sitting down on one of the swings, Kimmie dialed the number from memory, begging it to go through.
Please pick up. Please pick up.
Kimmie let out a simultaneous sigh of relief and a shiver from the cold. Swinging her legs softly back and forth, she found her voice.
“Hey, Meg. It’s me, Kimmie. Got a minute? We need to talk about Mom.”