A knot had formed in my stomach, but I dismissed it. She wouldn’t leave her guitar behind if she had bailed on me. Would she?
I walked back to the kitchen and pulled my phone from my pocket. I hit the button for her number, and it went straight to voicemail. I left a message and then texted her. I waited.
Five agonizing minutes later, there was no response. I called down to the concierge to ask if she’d been to the pool or the gym. The answer was no, she had not. Next, I called Sean to see if perhaps she had gone somewhere in the limo.
“Mr. Colebank. What can I do for you?”
“You can tell me where my friend Melanie is.”
I’d tried to keep my voice level but couldn’t hide my growing concern. I wasn’t sure whether to be worried or angry. He must have sensed it because he hesitated before answering.
“Well… I’m not sure where she went after I took her home.”
“When was that? Did she say anything?”
“I dropped her off at her residence around ten forty-five. I assumed you were aware, sir.”
“No. She didn’t say anything else or talk on the phone with anyone?”
“No, sir. She was quiet. She was looking at her phone, may have been texting someone. I’m sorry, sir, I didn’t realize—”
I cut him off. I wasn’t upset with him.
“It’s okay, Sean. You did your job. Please call me right away if she contacts you, okay?”
“Will do, sir. Thank you.”
I hung up, more confused than I was before. Why would she not tell me she was leaving? Unless she meant to return soon. Maybe she just hadn’t heard the phone.
Maybe she got cold feet about the studio thing with Daris, or maybe I came on too strong with my “I miss you” texts.
It was ridiculous to speculate. If I’d learned one thing in my thirty-five years, it was to never second-guess a woman. I punched her number again, and this time it rang.
The sound of her voice caused a flood of relief through my veins.
“Hey, Spencer.”
“Melanie, where are you? Is something wrong?”
“I’m in South Georgia. About to cross the border of Florida.”
“Why?”
“My mother is missing.”
“Oh, no.”
Of all the possible scenarios my mind had been spinning in the past half hour, this was not one of them. No wonder she took off.
“Yeah. I’m sorry I didn’t call you. I’ve been on the phone with my sister and the authorities. I didn’t want you to worry.”
As if. The woman was independent, and I loved that about her, but come on. This was an emergency.
“Of course, I was worried when I got home and you weren’t here. You left no note and I couldn’t get you on the phone. But I understand now.”
“Thank you. I’m not sure when I’ll be back. I may not make the meeting with Daris.”
“We can reschedule. He’ll understand. I’ll make some calls as soon as we get off the phone. Just give me the address of where you’re going, and I’ll be there as soon as my jet is prepared.”
“Spencer, no. You don’t need to be here. I can handle this.”
No? Had she really said that?
“Are you sure? I want to help.”
Silence followed by a sigh. The sound of her vehicle’s engine. When she spoke again, her voice was level, like she was holding back what she really wanted to say.
“Thanks for your concern. But this is a family matter. I’ll call you after I get there and find out what’s going on.”
“Okay. But I’m here if you need me.”
“Keep the appointment with Daris. You said he was going out of the country soon, anyway. Just show him the video and play it live for him. I assume there’s a piano in the studio. No reason for you to miss out on getting your song heard because I had to leave.”
“Our song. It’s our creation, love.”
“That it is.”
We ended the conversation on a less tense note than it had started. She sounded weary from driving and from worry. I knew I wouldn’t rest until I heard from her, and she had promised to call me the minute she arrived at her mother’s home. I couldn’t imagine the anxiety she was feeling with her mother in possible danger.
Actually, I could. Even at ten years old, I had known something was wrong when my parents made trip after trip to the hospital. Each time my mother came home, she was paler and becoming more frail. Her hair was falling out. They kept saying she was going to be fine, and I wanted to believe so.
Then came the day my father returned from the hospital alone, went straight to his room, and didn’t come out. I heard him sobbing and throwing things, cursing at God. I sat on the floor outside his door, trembling. Something terrible had happened, something so awful he couldn’t even tell me.
I finally fell asleep in the hallway outside his bedroom door. When I awoke, he had picked me up and carried me to my own bed. There in the dark, he whispered the words I had been dreading.
“Son, your mother’s gone to heaven. She’s not sick anymore. She’s with the angels.”
A shiver came over me as I stared out the wide windows at the city of Atlanta. A shiver that had become familiar, one I felt every time I recalled the day we lost her. It wasn’t only the pain of losing my mother, but the knowledge that my life would never be the same from that moment on. It was a long, slow spiral of watching the only other person I loved never recover.
And the worst tragedy of all occurred because of my selfishness and stupidity, and for that, I would never be redeemed.
* * *
Melanie
I made it home in just under six hours. I ate snacks in the car as I drove and only stopped once for a bathroom break. Our little northern Florida town was off the beaten path, about forty minutes from the closest freeway. I had called Cissy when I was close, to ask if she needed me to pick up food or anything.
“No. The neighbors have really pitched in. Even a few who I’ve never spoken to before. They brought in some fried chicken and sides for the kids. Just get here soon, sis.”
“Be there in about fifteen minutes.”
I made it in twelve, taking the shortcut. I hadn’t been home in at least a year, and nothing had changed. Farmlands, lakes, and a convenience store at every intersection. I’d probably be working part time at one of those soon.
A tumble of emotions shook me as I entered the trailer park. My main concern was finding Mamma, especially before nightfall. I had to park just inside the entrance, as there were several cars parked near my mother’s mobile home. Apparently, my sister had plenty of help.
I texted Spencer to let him know I’d arrived safely. I wasn’t up to talking to him. I knew he was worried, but I needed to focus on the task at hand, which was finding Mamma. His response was immediate, brief, and caring. I’d make it up to him when I returned to Atlanta.
My niece and nephews squealed with joy when I entered the trailer. It felt great to hold them and see their smiles, which quickly faded as they all spoke at once to ask questions.
“Are they going to find Nanna? Will she be all right?”
This was from Dustin, the youngest at four years old. I ruffled my fingers through his curly brown hair and knelt down to face him.
“Yes, I’m sure of it. Nanna just got lost, is all. I promise we’ll find her soon.”
Tyler, the eight-year-old, and Ashley, eleven, were on the verge of tears. My heart clenched. They were too young to have to worry like this.
Cissy appeared at my side, so I rose and gave her a hug. She’d lost weight since I’d last seen her. I could feel her bones as we embraced. She really had been working hard. She pulled away, wiping a tear from her eye, and addressed her brood with a shooshing motion of her hand.
“All right kids, go watch some TV.”
They did, settling on the sofa and floor in front of the television set with somber expressions. The trailer was tiny, with a small table just off the
kitchen and no dining room. Papers and bags of groceries were spread all over the table, and a gray-haired, plump woman was cleaning dishes at the sink. I looked at Cissy.
“Who’s that?”
“That’s Verlene. She won’t go home until we find Mamma. She feels responsible.”
“That’s crazy. You said Mamma was here when you got home from work.”
Cissy pulled me closer to the front door, her voice low.
“I assumed she was. It’s possible she slipped out when Verlene was in the bathroom or cleaning up the kitchen. We just don’t know.”
I took a deep breath. My heart was racing with thought of my mother wandering around lost. It would be getting dark soon, and there was no way she was going to be gone a second night.
“What did the police say?”
“They took all the information and said they would file a missing persons report and issue a Silver Alert. They will keep an eye out but it’s up to us to conduct a search.”
“Who is out looking?”
“Some of the neighbors and a few of my friends from work. There’s probably seven people total. They doubled up, that’s why their cars are here. One of them even made a flier with Mamma’s picture on it, and they have been posting on social media too.” She hesitated, her voice cracking when she spoke again. “I can’t believe this is happening.”
She started to cry, and I held her in my arms. I patted her back and whispered soothing words, but I wasn’t sure I believed them myself. The kids all stared from across the room, fear evident in their eyes. I gave my sister’s arm a squeeze and released her.
“Cissy, listen to me. Don’t worry, we’ll find her.”
I walked to my mother’s bedroom to look for clues as to what might have set her off. I had researched dementia and Alzheimer’s symptoms, and sometimes there was a logical explanation for strange behavior. Sufferers tended to have problems with short-term memory while retaining long-term memory. That was why some care facilities were now building replicas of old-fashioned neighborhoods so the patients would feel comfortable. Perhaps something from the past had triggered Mamma to go out searching.
Cissy followed me, not saying a word. She still sniffled and was drying her eyes with a tissue. She was under enough stress on a daily basis, and this had about done her in. I was beginning to see why she had been reaching out to me for help.
I saw nothing out of place, except the usual clutter of Mamma’s bedroom. Photos on the dresser, clothes strewn over the chair, books and magazines from years ago, still stacked in the corner. The curtains were drawn; it was dark, dusty, and depressing. I turned to Cissy with a sigh.
“You ever clean in here, maybe when she’s not looking?”
She rolled her eyes. She looked so much like Mamma, with her gray eyes and auburn hair. But the two were nothing alike in personality.
“We’ve had so many fights about it. Half the time, she seems like she’s in la-la land, but move something in here and she has a fit.”
I moved the covers about on the bed. I searched in the nightstand drawer. I opened the closet to find it stuffed to the gills with clothing, bags, and boxes. Hoarding was another bad sign. Mamma was losing her grip on reality, and it hurt to see the evidence piling up, literally.
I sat down on the bed with a groan. There had to be something we were missing. She’d never run off like this before. What had changed?
“You said Verlene and Mamma were talking last night. What about, specifically?”
Cissy didn’t answer but yelled for Verlene to come. She appeared in the doorway, looking like a mouse that was about to be pounced on by a cat.
“Yes, Miss Cissy? I gave the kids some ice cream, by the way.”
Cissy pursed her lips. It was clear she hadn’t approved the dessert, but these were desperate times.
“That’s okay, Verlene. But ask me next time, okay?” At Verlene’s quick nod, she continued, “Tell Melanie what you and Mamma talked about last night.”
“Well, I just thought she might have known my cousin’s boy, who had worked at the elementary school over yonder. He was a teacher’s assistant there way back when. Now, he’s vice principal at a middle school in Ocala.”
Verlene beamed a gap-toothed smile of pride. She looked from me to Cissy, clearly expecting words of congratulations on her family member’s accomplishments. I was silent, though, the wheels of recognition starting to spin in my head. Finally, I stood, facing Verlene.
“That’s a great accomplishment for him. Do you mean the elementary school, over by the old mill? The school they closed a few years ago?”
Verlene put a finger to her chin, pondering. “Why, yes, that’s the one. Where your Mamma was a crossing guard in the afternoons.”
Cissy and I exchanged looks, and I sprinted past Verlene. I heard Cissy telling the woman to stay put for a while and heard her answer that she would.
We were in my car in less than a minute, exiting the trailer park. I didn’t dare hope it would be this easy to find her, but it was all we had to go on. Cissy was biting a nail, watching out the window and scanning the sides of the road for any sign of our mother. Finally, she spat out the words that must have been stuck in her throat.
“I can’t believe I didn’t think of the school. It was the only place she worked after the divorce. But Verlene didn’t say anything about the school when I asked her what they talked about.”
“She was probably upset and forgot. This has been stressful for everyone. Don’t beat yourself up about it.”
The old school building had been surrounded by chain link fence the last time I’d driven by, years ago. Perhaps it had even been sold by now. In any case, it was on a busy main road, about two miles from the trailer park. If Mamma had walked there, it would have taken her several hours at least, slow as she was.
We passed strip malls, a gas station, a junk yard. A feed store, the library, and a diner. When the old mill building came in view, I knew we were close. I turned left past the mill, and after a half mile, my heart lurched. Two police cars were up ahead, blue lights flashing. A crowd of people were standing nearby, and the wail of an ambulance split the air, coming up behind us.
Chapter Twelve
Spencer
By six that evening, I was going stir crazy. I had planned to spend the weekend with Melanie, but now I had to fill my time until I heard from her. A workout sounded like a good way to dispel my nervous energy, so I put on some shorts and a t-shirt and went to the onsite gym in the lower level of the building.
Thirty minutes on the treadmill was a good warm up, and it helped to clear my head. This section of the gym faced a courtyard with a fountain, some greenery, and downtown buildings of Atlanta in the distance. The view was soothing, but my anxiety level hadn’t eased much.
I was halfway through my weights routine when my cellphone rang. I grabbed it, hope flaring. When it was not Melanie’s number but my cousin, Gibson’s, that hope deflated.
“Hey, Gib. What’s up?”
“Hey, Spence. Sorry to bother you. But I need a favor.”
It must be a big one for him to reach out like this. We weren’t exactly buddies. Polite tolerance with an undercurrent of sniping was our usual thing.
“What do you need, cuz?”
“Dad told me you met earlier this week with him and the Avantes. They are interested in building a mountain resort on a property they’re purchasing, so he referred them to me. If I can get them to agree on a plan, we can build it for them.”
“Sounds great.”
I now wished I had paid more attention in that meeting but seeing them again had triggered all kinds of memories and feelings, stuff I hadn’t expected to surface. I thought that meeting was the last I would see of them for a while, so this was a surprise. A growing sensation of impending doom rose from my gut as Gib continued.
“Well, they know you and trust you. And they were friends with your dad. So, I thought it might be good if you would join us for dinner tonight.
Then you can describe our management program in more detail for them. It might help seal the deal if we can present a united front and get them to sign on for the whole package.”
“Tonight?”
“Yeah, sorry for the short notice, but they are only in town for another day or so. They had other plans tomorrow, so this is the only night we could do it. I want to get to them while they are excited about it, you know?”
I did know. Enthusiasm was a powerful thing in business negotiations. But having dinner with my least favorite cousin and Daris’ parents was going to be awkward.
But I couldn’t say no. There was no logical excuse, and it would be a good project with ongoing business for our company. My personal discomfort was not important, and I’d just have to get over it.
“Sure. What time and where?”
Gib promised to text me the information, and we hung up. I had just enough time to shower and get dressed. I’d check in with Melanie while enroute to the restaurant if I didn’t hear from her sooner.
Forty minutes later, Sean picked me up in front of my building. The restaurant was only a few miles away, but I hadn’t felt like driving. The sun was low on the horizon, painting the evening city streets with rose-hued shadows. I dialed Melanie’s number and held my breath.
It rang several times, going to voicemail. I left her a message, making an effort to sound concerned but not as desperate as I was beginning to feel. I wanted to comfort her in her time of need, but she was keeping me at arm’s length. Was it a signal? Should I back off and let her go?
We pulled up to the restaurant, and I set aside my worries. Confidence and charm were the tools I needed to get me through this meeting. I would swallow my anxiety and focus on the task at hand, knowing that a bottle of scotch and my beloved piano were waiting at home for the inevitable break down that was looming.
Mr. and Mrs. Avante were all smiles when I met them in the lobby. Gibson had yet to arrive, a fact which irked me more than a little. He had arranged this meeting, and now I had to entertain them on my own. The hostess showed us to our table, sparing us conversation for a few minutes.
Not So Wrong: Love Grows series, Book Two Page 12
