Page 28 of Redemption's Inferno

With his work done and not ready to sleep, he pulled out his tablet and opened the e-reader app. He’d promised himself he would start rereading the classics, even if it was just one a month, and he’d downloaded War and Peace, To Kill A Mockingbird, and Lady Chatterley’s Lover before he’d left Las Vegas. Since he’d never read Harper Lee’s American classic when he’d been in school, he opened To Kill a Mockingbird. Perhaps Atticus Finch would either teach him something or put him to sleep.

* * *

He opened his eyes to the smell of something delicious cooking in the oven and the sound of his mother’s humming in the other room. Blinking, he realized he’d fallen asleep with his tablet on his chest—Atticus Finch had not been as entertaining as he’d hoped—and someone had thrown a blanket over him at some point. Pushing it aside, he sat up and rubbed his hands down his face before grabbing his phone to check the time. It was after eight, meaning he’d slept close to seven hours, something he hadn’t done since he’d had the flu a couple years ago.

Shaking his head, he padded into the kitchen and kissed his mother’s cheek.

“Look who it is!” she grinned. “Couch a wee bit small for ya?”

He chuckled. “I wanted to read for a bit…guess I fell asleep.”

“Nothing like the air here in the country to get you sleepin’ right!” She nodded in the direction of the stairs. “Em’s still fast asleep.”

“Yeah, she hasn’t been sleeping well,” he said. “Good for her to rest. I’m going for coffee.”

She nodded. “Take your time. Breakfast in about half an hour.”

“Thanks, Mum.”

* * *

While Chains spent a few hours at the library, Dolores and Emilie went shopping. There was a farmers market with fresh fruits and vegetables in town, and they wandered up and down the aisles as Dolores smiled and talked to almost everyone they ran into. Emilie enjoyed just being with her. She was full of life and laughter and seemed to have a million friends. Her eyes twinkled when she laughed with a man selling cabbage and she told a dirty joke to the woman who sold her a big bag of mixed berries. Emilie wondered how lonely it had to have been, knowing the man who fathered your child didn’t want anything to do with it. Dolores seemed to have come through it, but it still had to hurt. She was glad the older woman had now found someone who loved her, and she hoped Chains wouldn’t cause any trouble for them.

When Dolores got into a chat with a group of women about an upcoming evening of bingo, Emilie wandered to a nearby bench and sat down, thinking she could take a nap. It was lovely today, the sun shining brightly but the breeze cooling off the temperature. She leaned back and closed her eyes, enjoying the sun on her face and the wind gently lifting her hair. The buzzing in her pocket disrupted her peaceful moment and she saw Viggo’s name on the screen. She’d been planning to call him anyway, so she answered.

“Hello?”

“Em!” He sounded surprised, as though he hadn’t expected her to answer.

“Is everything all right with Simone?” she asked automatically. “It’s two in the morning there!”

“Oh, yes, she’s fine. I’m just getting to bed.” He paused. “How are you?”

“I’m good,” she said. “I’m here in…Bickford, with Chains and his mother.”

Viggo was quiet. “So you’re with Chains and…his mother?” He sounded so confused she couldn’t help but chuckle.

“It’s complicated,” she said. “But he’s doing some digging through his resources to help me sort out my situation, and in the meantime, I’m helping him reconnect with his mum after five years of distance between them.”

“I’m guessing you’ll explain in more detail when you come home.”

“Of course.”

“You are coming home, aren’t you?” he asked carefully.

She hesitated. She hated to lie, but he needed to be prepared, didn’t he? “My intention is to be home by the time hockey season starts, but…”

“Em?” His voice grew deeper with concern. “Why wouldn’t you be home by then?”

“I mailed you a letter,” she asked abruptly. “Have you gotten it yet?”

“No.”

“Do something for me. Please?”

“Short of leaving Jamie, I would do anything for you.”

“Don’t read it, okay? If I don’t get home by opening night of hockey season, open it then.”

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