Chapter 9 - The Cruiser Was Warm and I Didn't Trust It
The cruiser pulled in slow, tires crunching over salt. I saw the star on the door first through the glass, and then the lights turning without the sound. My hands were still numb enough I couldn't feel Lily's sleeve where I was holding it.
The clerk touched my shoulder. "That's him," she said. "You stay right here till he comes to you, okay?"
I nodded. I didn't let go of Lily.
Lily leaned into my side. Her bunny was wet where she'd been holding it to her mouth. Her breathing had gone shallow and fast, and I kept checking it because I didn't like the sound.
The sheriff got out. He was older, heavy coat, hat with snow on the brim. He talked to the clerk for a minute by the pumps, and the clerk pointed at the door. He nodded once and walked over, his boots loud on the concrete.
He didn't open the door right away. He stopped outside and crouched down a little so his face was level with the glass. Then he came in.
The warm air shifted. He took his hat off when he saw us.
"Hi there," he said. His voice was low and even. "I'm Sheriff Doyle. What's your name, honey?"
I swallowed. My throat hurt from the cold. "Emma."
He knelt down. Really knelt, one knee on the mat by the chip rack, so his eyes were even with mine. Snow melted off his shoulders onto the floor.
"Emma," he said. "Who's this with you?"
"My sister Lily," I said. "She's three."
Lily pressed her face into my coat and didn't look up. I put my arm around her.
"Okay," he said. "You're doing a good job looking after her. Can you tell me where you girls came from?"
I glanced at the clerk, then back at him. "Grandma's house," I said.
"Your grandma's house here in town?"
I nodded. "Brick house. With the wreath."
He wrote that down in a little notebook. "And why'd you leave grandma's?"
My chest got tight. I didn't want to say it wrong. "She said Mom should have called," I said. "Daddy's in the hospital."
He didn't react the way adults usually did. He just nodded like that made sense to write down. "Do you know which hospital?"
"No," I said. "Mom took him this morning. We were supposed to stay."
"What's your mom's name?" he asked. "And your dad's?"
I told him. I spelled our last name. He repeated it back to make sure he had it right, and I nodded.
He stood up then and touched his radio on his shoulder. "Give me just a minute, Emma. I'm gonna check on your dad, okay?"
I nodded again. He stepped back outside into the parking lot where it was louder. Through the glass I could hear pieces. Dispatch answering, numbers, our last name.
Lily tugged my coat. "Emma, I'm tired," she whispered.
"I know," I said. I crouched a little so she could lean more on me. "Just a little more. Okay?"
The sheriff came back in, stamping snow off. His face didn't change much, but he looked at Lily longer this time.
"Your dad's at County," he said. "They admitted him. That's what dispatch says."
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. "Is he okay?"
"They're taking care of him," he said. It wasn't really an answer. "We're gonna try to get ahold of your mom now. Do you have her phone number?"
I shook my head. My eyes burned. "She changed it. I don't know the new one."
"That's all right," he said quickly. "We'll try her. And we'll try your grandma."
He stepped away and made two calls on his cell phone. I could hear him talking, pausing, waiting. He left a message the first time. The second time he waited a long time and then frowned.
"No answer at either one right now," he said, putting the phone away. "But that's okay. Here's what's gonna happen. I'm gonna take you girls with me where it's warm until we reach them. Is that okay with you, Emma?"
I held Lily tighter. I didn't want to get in a car with someone I didn't know, even if he had a star. Mom had told me that. But Lily was shaking, and my feet were wet through my boots.
"Will you buckle us in?" I asked.
He smiled a little. "Yes, ma'am. I will."
He helped us out to the cruiser. The back door opened and heat came out in a wave. The seats were dark and clean and smelled like coffee. He lifted Lily in first because her legs were too short to climb, and she clung to her bunny and didn't cry.
I climbed in after her. He reached across and buckled us both, checking the straps twice. The locks clicked loud.
May you like
Through the window I saw the clerk wave at us. The parking lot lights were bright on the snow. The sheriff got in front and turned the heater up higher, and warm air pushed against my face.
Lily leaned her head on my arm. I kept my arm around her the whole time.
