by Mike Hopper
“Correct. And in this instance the timing was perfect. If it hadn’t been, Trista wouldn’t have traveled. If you hadn’t taken her to the shop, she wouldn’t have been repaired. You’re timing was right.”
“I wish she could travel with us.”
“A small price to pay when you consider what could have happened. She’s home and she has an opportunity to continue her life.”
Toriah cleared his throat, “She’s fortunate.”
“I know,” Sam said. “I’m still angry with my mother. Trista said it was an accident, but I believe she was trying to smooth things over and help me feel better about what happened. I don’t understand Olivia. She’s so busy living by her book that she misses the most important things.”
“Books are not bad things,” Toriah said.
“I know, but she reads things the way she wants them to be and then justifies her point by picking one or two phrases. Even though she didn’t know what she was doing, she was still hurting someone.”
Ed shook his head, “Sam, you can’t change people.”
“I’ve got an idea,” Sam said. “Let’s find Mother’s doll and mail it to the pirates. I think it would serve her right.”
Steuart smiled, “Turtle soup?”
“Exactly—I don’t want to go home. I don’t want to explain this to Mother.”
Ed nodded, “Some things can’t be avoided.”
* * *
Toriah and Dotsie disappeared into the kitchen for several minutes and returned with freshly brewed tea. Dotsie poured. Toriah proposed a toast, “To a job well done.”
“Here, here! Well done,” Ed said. “Steuart, here’s to you. It’s good to have you back.”
Sam hugged her brother, “Cheers to you, Steuart. You came close to having a new family.”
“Don’t say that.”
“You’re the one who always said you wanted another mother.”
“Don’t tease me, Sam.”
Sam walked to the desk and picked up Steuart’s note, “You might want to put this back in your valise.”
“I do,” Steuart nodded and studied the note. “I wish I understood this.”
“Laurel Ivy Hood?”
“Yeah. Why was she arguing with mother? What did she want returned? Who is she?”
“Hey,” Ed addressed the group, “I hate to break up the party, but people are looking for us. Stew Boy, it’s time we all go home.”
Toriah and Dotsie exchanged glances. Toriah cleared his throat and then spoke, “Miss Caples has something she’d like to say.”
“I’m not going back.”
“What?” Sam shouted as Ed raised an eyebrow at Toriah.
“I’m staying here.”
“You can’t do that,” Sam insisted.
“Yes, I can.”
“No, you can’t. You have to go home.”
Toriah spoke to Dotsie, “I think you need to explain.”
Dotsie looked at Sam, Steuart and Ed. “I’ve not been honest with you.”
“What do you mean?” Sam asked.
“If I had told you the truth, you wouldn’t have let me come.”
“Miss Caples is correct.”
Sam looked at Toriah.
“This was her decision, Sam. She’s been planning this for a long while.”
“I don’t understand. What do you mean, planning? Dotsie didn’t even know how to travel before today. This is crazy. Dotsie, you can’t stay here. You have to come home with us.”
Ed and Steuart stood quietly. Toriah shrugged his shoulders.
“What did you lie about?”
“I’m not in remission.”
Sam put her hand up to her mouth.
“It’s okay because I’m not sick here.”
“What?”
“A long time ago, when I was in the hospital ... before you visited me ... I heard the doctors and my mother talking about my illness. It wasn’t good. I’m well here.”
Toriah nodded, “That’s correct. Miss Caples is much better here. Traveling was a risk, but it’s a risk she was willing to take. Please know that this took great courage. I’m extremely proud of her.”
“How can you be sick there and well here?” Sam asked. “You’re not making sense.”
Dotsie looked at Toriah, “Will you explain?”
Steuart interrupted, “I think I understand. Sam, it’s the same with my arm.”
Toriah spoke again. “Things are similar but different in each place—rearranged. Miss Caples no longer has the illness that she had in Maybell. However, that does not mean that she will never have another illness. It only means that whatever she gets may not be as serious.”
Ed looked at Toriah, “You realize this is completely against the code?”
“I do.”
“There may be consequences.”
“I know.”
“Are you prepared?”
“Always.”
“So, why did you come?” Sam asked Dotsie.
Dotsie reached for Sam’s hand, “I was running out of time.”
Sam cried, “You can’t do this.”
“I have a future here. My days in Maybell were coming to an end.”
“No.” Sam looked at Ed.
“Apparently, there’s no such thing as a brain tumor in Bellamy.”
Dotsie reached for Sam, “You’re my friend. I’m always going to be your friend. You and Steuart are travelers. You can visit with me anytime. You can visit with me when you come to see Trista.”
Ed folded his arms, “What about your mother?”
“That’s...” Toriah paused and glanced at Ed, “been taken care of.”
Ed stared at Toriah, “You didn’t?”
Toriah nodded. Ed shook his head.
“Who’s going to take care of you?” Sam asked.
“TT’s adopting me.”
Ed glanced at Toriah.
“I’m retiring. I’m staying here with Miss Caples.”
Ed extended his hand, “Toriah, you may be the biggest bag of wind I’ve ever encountered, but you’re also the best.”
“I could say the same for you,” Toriah put his arm around Ed and gave him a hug.
Ed stepped back, looked at Dotsie, and nodded, “You’ll be fine.” He turned towards the children, “We need to get going.
* * *
What do you say? Are we ready? Let’s get things right this time. On the count of three we’ll say it together.”
There was a chill in the air. The wind picked up outside. Together, they stood in the darkness.
COMING SOON
The Wayward Gifted
Grey’s Case
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
