Crossroads

by Tracie Peterson

  “He’s just a little boy, Margie. It’s so cold outside. I can’t believe I didn’t check on him. I thought he was asleep, and he hasn’t been sleeping well, and I didn’t want to risk waking him, so I just went to bed and. . .”

  “Les, calm down. Come pray with me, and you’ll feel better.” Leslie set her empty mug on the oak table and got to her feet. Dejectedly, she walked over to Margie and took her hand. Margie bowed her head, “Dear Lord, our little Travis is out there somewhere, and we know that you are with him, protecting and comforting him. Please help us find Travis, and please keep him safe from all harm. Bring peace to our hearts and guide the police in their search as well as ours. In Your Son’s precious name, amen.”

  Leslie looked up, tears streaming from her eyes. Margie’s green eyes also glistened with tears. “It’ll be all right, Leslie. God is with us, and He is with Travis. We’ll find him.” The older woman reached out, and Leslie eagerly accepted the physical contact. Hadn’t she just been reflecting on how wonderful the day had seemed?

  “Now,” Margie said briskly. “It’s time to call our neighbors.”

  Leslie waited anxiously through each phone call. She could tell by Margie’s responses that Travis was not to be found. After the last call, the two women simply looked at each other blankly.

  A knock at the door brought both women to attention. Margie hurried to usher in the officers, while Leslie tried to still her raging nerves. If only I’d looked in on him last night. If only I’d. . . She couldn’t help the rampant thoughts that filled her mind.

  “So when did you first notice that the boy was missing?” The man’s pin identified as Officer Keats.

  Leslie’s attention was immediately focused on the man. “I went to check on him after I got dressed,” she began. “You see, he hasn’t been sleeping well since our parents died. That was about a month ago. Last night, I came home, and he wasn’t waiting up for me like usual. I thought it meant he was getting better, so I didn’t want to disturb him. This morning, when he still wasn’t up, we decided to check on him. That’s when I found the pillows.”

  “And did you notice if anything else was missing?”

  “Yes, his favorite teddy bear was gone and his book bag and coat were also gone.” Leslie struggled to maintain her calm. “I thought maybe he was hiding because he was angry with me for coming home late or perhaps he was playing a game my father had taught him. It was like camping out, only inside the house. But we searched, and we couldn’t find him anywhere.”

  “Do you have any idea where he may have gone? Neighbors. Friends?”

  Leslie and Margie shook their heads. “We’ve called the only ones we could think of.”

  “Maybe somewhere he may have felt close to his parents?”

  Leslie thought for a moment, and then it dawned on her. “The cemetery. Travis and I walked there often and talked about Mom and Dad. He always talked about wanting to go to be with them in heaven, but I told him that he had to wait until Jesus decided it was time. He liked going to the cemetery. It made him feel close to them.”

  “So you think he might have walked to the cemetery by himself?”

  “It’s definitely a possibility. It’s only about a quarter mile away. I just hate to think of his little body battling the cold. He could have been there all night. There’s no telling when he left.” Just then, an officer poked his head into the kitchen.

  “Hey, I found footprints in the snow leading west. They look child sized.”

  Leslie nodded. “Yes, the cemetery is west of here. I’m sure that’s where he went. We need to get there right now. I want to go along with you.” She stood up and retrieved her boots from beside the front door.

  ‘I’ll wait here in case he comes back,” Margie offered. Officer Keats got to his feet.

  “Ms. Heyward, you’re welcome to ride with us,” he said, striding out of the kitchen and to the front door. Leslie nodded and followed close behind. Forgetting to grab a coat, Leslie shivered violently as soon as she stepped outside. Poor Travis might be out in this. It couldn’t be much above zero. Quickly, she got into the squad car.

  “You can turn up here at the corner,” she said chattering directions without taking time for a breath.

  “I think I know where this cemetery is, Ms. Heyward. Just try to calm down and relax. It’ll only take a few minutes before we’re there. I’m sure it was a quicker walk than a drive, but just be patient.” Leslie nodded. She knew as well as any long-time resident that Lawrence had a myriad of one-way streets, making nearby locations a difficult trip by automobile. That’s why it was so much easier to walk than drive.

  “Oh, God,” she whispered, still shivering from the cold, “please let him hurry. Please let us find Travis, and God, let him be all right.”

  Moments later, they had arrived at the cemetery. Leslie led them through the headstones to the graves of her parents. She strained to see footprints or anything else that might suggest Travis’s approach. But Travis would have come from the other direction, she reminded herself. If there were footprints, they wouldn’t be in this area of the cemetery.

  Now she was running, and with her she could hear the officers jogging to keep up. Warm air from her lungs streamed from her mouth and nose as she ran. Her lungs ached from the cold and her body protested the abuse, yet she continued, gently pressing on, needing to know the truth.

  The rounded the final corner, and even as they approached, a gasp escaped Leslie’s throat. A strangled cry came from her mouth and she stopped without warning, nearly causing one of the officers to plow right into her from behind.

  “Oh, God,” she moaned unable to find the words to pray. “Oh, please God.”

  There on the ground in front of her parents’ headstone lay the near-frozen body of Travis Heyward.

  ELEVEN

  Darrin Malone had just finished locking the door of his BMW when he realized the sign at Crossroads read SORRY! WE’RE CLOSED.

  “That’s odd,” he muttered to himself. “I wonder what’s going on.” Striding up to the entrance, he peered in through the windows, hoping that maybe Leslie had just decided to close early and would be inside counting the drawer or washing off the tables. But much to his dismay, the large room was empty. It was only six o’clock. Where was Leslie or her aunt?

  Darrin decided to check the neighboring business. Leslie had said it was run by a man she knew from church. She had mentioned him in several of her conversations with Darrin, and he knew that the family trusted him implicitly. Walking to the door, he struggled to remember. What was his name again? Clayton? No, Blayton? Blanton. That was it. Timothy Blanton. Perhaps he had heard why the store was closed.

  Hundreds of worst-case scenarios danced in his mind. Did they have to close the store for lack of customers? Did they get bought out? Was Leslie just tired, and had she decided to take a few days off? Was she too ill to care for Crossroads? His brow furrowed, and his intimidating appearance startled the owner of the nearby shop.

  “Excuse me, sir. Are you all right?” A small, bald man hesitantly stepped from behind a counter filled with cookies and chewing gum.

  “Well, actually, no. Are you Mr. Timothy Blanton?” The old man nodded slowly.

  Darrin sensed the discomfort in the air. He knew his harsh appearance and blunt questions were, no doubt, unnerving the quiet man’s routine. “I came to see if you knew why Crossroads is closed today.”

  Darrin noticed the man’s startled look and offered a weak smile. “Don’t worry, I’m not a caffeine addict or anything. I have become a good friend of the owner, Leslie Heyward. She’s always there in the evenings. When the store was closed, I automatically assumed the worst. I recalled her mentioning you as a church friend and fellow entrepreneur in a couple of our conversations. That’s the reason I stopped by.”

  Mr. Blanton noticeably relaxed, but just as quickly became somber. “Leslie was unable to be at the store today because of her brother.”

  “What’s wrong with Travis
?”

  The man seemed nervous and uncertain, but continued. “I don’t have all the details, you see. Margie Dover – that’s her aunt – called me this morning to tell me that Crossroads would be closed today and possibly for a time longer because Travis was in the hospital. She said something about him running away last night and that they hadn’t realized he was missing until this morning. Leslie is spending all her time by his side, and that’s why she’s unable to run the store. That’s all I know.”

  Mr. Blanton shook his head. “That poor little boy. He just isn’t dealing well with the death of his folks. She told you about that, right?” Darrin nodded. “Well, we’re praying for the little guy at church, and for his sister and aunt, too. He just doesn’t seem to be getting any better.”

  A few customers entered the small store and immediately headed for the espresso machine near the fountain drinks. “I see her customers are going into withdrawal.” Darrin smiled. “Hope she isn’t closed for too long. It’s a good thing you’re here.”

  Mr. Blanton nodded. “Yep. It may be good for my business, but I’d give anything to have circumstances be different.”

  “I understand completely. Thank you for your time. I really appreciate it.”

  “You her boyfriend?” Mr. Blanton seemed to scrutinize Darrin for a moment.

  Darrin laughed, but felt a tinge of. . .well, he wasn’t quite sure what it was he felt. “No, I’ve just come to care quite a bit about her and this situation.”

  ❧

  Darrin screeched into the emergency parking area of Lawrence Memorial Hospital. He ran into the hospital and up to the front desk, panting heavily and looking to all the world as though he were a man with his own emergency. As far as he was concerned, this was his emergency.

  “Can I help you, sir?” A gray-haired woman smiled sweetly.

  ‘Yes, I hope so. I’m looking for Travis Heyward. He was brought in here earlier this morning. I’d like to go up to the waiting room. I’m just not sure where he is.” The older woman’s fingers tapped out “HEYWARD, T” on the keyboard in front of her. After a few seconds, a dossier appeared on the screen of the monitor.

  “Ah, yes. Here he is. He’s in pediatrics.” She pulled out a preprinted map and showed Darrin where to go. He thanked her and briskly walked down the long corridor, his mind unable to stop the tumble of thoughts. What if he’s not doing well? How can I help? What should I say or do? Will she understand why I’m here?

  Upon sighting the pediatrics sign, Darrin let out a sigh. He was grateful he hadn’t gotten lost. Hospitals were never his forté, even though he had spent so much time in them when his mother was dying. He still managed to lose his way in their maze of sterilized hallways. He wove his way around several visiting people and came upon the waiting room. There, he saw a teary-eyed Leslie. His heart broke in two.

  “Leslie?” Her head snapped up.

  “Darrin, what are you doing here?” Her face reflected her grief and surprise. She didn’t bother to wipe away her tears. How he wished he could see her smile just half as many times as he had seen her troubled and grieving!

  “I stopped by Crossroads, but the store was closed. I remembered you saying that Mr. Blanton was a church friend and was familiar with your business, so I asked him if he knew why you weren’t there. He didn’t know much, except for what your aunt had told him, but he was very helpful. As soon as I heard Travis was in the hospital, my car practically drove itself here.” He sat down beside her. “Have you heard anything?”

  Leslie shook her head. “Not really. We’ve been here since around ten. They’ve come out off and on with bits of information, like his fingers and face are frostbitten. He isn’t breathing well – it’s real shallow and rapid – but they haven’t determined exactly what to do. He’s still unconscious,” she said choking back a sob. “The doctors are so busy they don’t seem to have time for me. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know if he’s going to. . .” She couldn’t finish the sentence.

  Darrin reached out to touch her hand. “It’ll be all right. You’ll see. God will work this out, Les. You have to believe that God is in control of even this.” Suddenly, he felt the urge to pray with her, to try and offer her comfort. “Would you mind if we prayed together?”

  Leslie brought her bloodshot eyes to meet his. “I’d like that,” she said. “I really would.”

  “Good.” He took hold of her trembling hand and bowed his head. “Dear Father, please be with Travis. We don’t know all the details, and we’re not even sure what’s wrong, but we know that You will protect him and keep him from harm. Heal his body, so that it may be as strong as it once was. Give Leslie peace and let her know that Your love is more powerful than all the pain and all the trials of this world. And, please allow me to help them in any way You see fit. In Jesus’ name, amen.” He quickly squeezed her hand and felt an odd comfort when she didn’t let go. She needed him there. She wanted him there. She wanted his help.

  “Thank you, Darrin. I am really glad you’re here. Margie stopped in for a while, but she seemed so tired and distraught that I told her she should go home. I promised to call if I got any news, but so far, there hasn’t been any, and they’re too busy with him to have me in the room taking up space.”

  Darrin looked around the empty waiting room. A small television was showing the nightly news. Magazines were spread generously over end tables and chairs. A soda machine stood brightly in the corner. The room seemed cold and lonely. Just as he remembered them.

  “Can you talk about what happened?”

  Leslie nodded and inhaled deeply. “Last night, I came home, and he wasn’t up waiting for me. Remember I told you that he always waits up for me to make sure I really come home?”

  Darrin nodded and she continued.”I found a note from Margie saying they had gone to bed early. That surprised me so much that I decided not to disturb her or Travis. Especially once I saw how still and untroubled his sleep was. At least I thought it was him.” Her tears began anew.

  “This morning, when he still wasn’t up at eight-fifteen or so, we thought we should check on him, but we didn’t want to wake him if he was finally sleeping well. I went into his room, and I folded back the covers to see his face, and all I found were pillows. We searched the house and called the police. When I was talking to them, it came to me that he might have run away to Mom and Dad’s graves. We had walked there a few times in the past month, and it wasn’t far away. Well, I went along with the officers to the cemetery, and there his little body was, all frozen and curled up on the ground. It was the most awful thing I’ve ever seen. We brought him straight to the hospital. I’ve been here ever since.”

  A middle-aged man entered the waiting room, carrying a clipboard. “Ms. Heyward?”

  Leslie looked over to the doorway where the man stood. “Yes?”

  “I’m Dr. Selig. I’m in charge of caring for your little brother, Travis. I wanted to speak with you about his condition.” Darrin noticed her body become rigid. Something about the doctor’s manner seemed to radiate bad news. “Would you please come with me?”

  Leslie looked at Darrin with sheer terror in her expression. Without being asked, Darrin got to his feet and put an arm around Leslie. “Lead the way, Doc,” he said, instantly taking charge.

  The doctor led them to a small consultation room, just inside the double doors that marked the pediatric ward. Darrin helped Leslie to one of the rigid plastic chairs, while the doctor took his seat behind a small desk.

  “I’m afraid, Ms. Heyward, the news isn’t good. It seems that Travis’s exposure to the elements has left him quite ill. You know about the frostbite to his extremities, but he is also suffering internally. His lungs were frozen, barely functional when you brought him in. We’re doing what we can to warm his body temperature, but he’s still critically under normal.”

  Leslie stared stone-faced at the man, and Darrin put his arm around her once again.

  “What are his chances?” Darrin asked, alm
ost regretting the words as Leslie turned to look at him in disbelief.

  “We aren’t confident enough of the situation at this point to really say one way or another. We fear pneumonia will set in, but more troubling at this point is the fact that his body isn’t fighting as hard as we expected it to. This is sometimes attributed to depression, as you informed our nurses that he had been experiencing. At the moment, he is unstable. I’d like to give you better news, but I just can’t lie to you. Your brother is gravely ill and there is a possibility that he may not survive this ordeal. Please know we are doing all that we can.”

  The last words appeared to be lost on Leslie. She collapsed against Darrin’s body. “You can’t let him die. He’s all I have. You can’t let him die.”

  Darrin held her tight, wishing, praying that he could somehow help her. “Leslie, it’ll be all right.” He stroked her hair, but it seemed to have no effect.

  “I can’t deal with this. I can’t do this. I can’t lose him!” She was gasping for breath.

  “Ms. Heyward, you need to calm down. Take deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth,” Dr. Selig ordered. He called for a nurse, and instantly a petite woman appeared. “Please take Ms. Heyward into the private lounge.” Then turning to Darrin he added, “There’s a cot there, and I think it would be prudent to have her rest a bit. I know what shock all of this has been.”

  “Come on, honey. I’m Kelly. I want you to lie down and rest while I grab you a cold cloth.” She helped Leslie to her feet and wrapped a well-muscled arm around her waist. “You aren’t going to do yourself any good this way.” Leslie didn’t even seem to hear her.

  They were at the door when Leslie stopped and turned to find Darrin. “Don’t go,” she barely whispered.

  “I promise to stay. I’ll be with you in just a minute,” Darrin assured her.

  Before they could leave the room, a nurse appeared with a stack of papers. “Ms. Heyward, the business office needs to get your insurance information.”