Page 56 of Shelter for Martina

Janine sat across the room and crocheted. Bud wasn’t sure what it was, but she’d been working on it the whole time she’d been there, so he assumed it was going to be pretty big. He sat back in his chair and was about to drift away, but he asked her, “What is that you’re making?”

“It’s a big afghan. I just like these chevron-patterned afghans.”

“I do too. I’ve always liked them. My mom used to make them,” Bud offered. “That one’s going to be nice.”

“The color’s pretty,” a voice said, and they both sat straight up. “Blue’s my favorite color.” Martina’s eyes were open and she glanced around the room. “Where am I?” Bud was crying so hard that he couldn’t speak. He just reached out and gripped her hand. “Albert? What’s wrong, baby?”

“Oh my god,” he whispered through his tears as he stood and looked down at her. “Oh my god, I love you, little girl.”

She smiled a lopsided smile. “I love you too.”

* * *

“How’s Lucky?She saved my life, you know.”

“She’s good, but she’s moping. She misses you,” Bud told Martina when he walked into her room that morning. It was the first thing she asked him every morning.

“Good. I miss her. And the horses?”

“They’re fine. Mr.Emerson is taking good care of them.”

“Good.” She lay there smiling up at him, and he didn’t think he’d ever seen anything so beautiful. “What’s my doctor say?”

“He says if you’re good, you can go home in two days.”

“And when is he giving my hair back?” She’d asked that every day too, and it had become a big joke between her and all the hospital staff.

“He says you can have it back in about a year. Shame he didn’t save it for himself. He’s bald as a billiard,” he told her with a snicker. Then he sat down beside the bed. It was time. “Martina, baby, I’ve got something I need to tell you.”

Her eyes were clear and bright when she said, “You found Renita.”

Bud was shocked. “How did you know?”

“I just guessed. Where was she?”

“In one of PhilAdams’ deer stands. He’d wrapped her in plastic and filled it with lime.”

“Where is she now?”

“In the county morgue. We’re waiting on you. You’re her mother. We’ll handle the arrangements however you’d like.”

“Darnell could handle it.”

“He said he’d defer to you.”

“Okay. I had an insurance policy on her. Can you see about filing that?”

“I will. Do you want her buried with her dad and sister?” Martina nodded. “I’ll take care of everything, babe.”

“Good. Thanks. When I get out, we’ll have a funeral. Right?”

“Yes. We sure will.”

“How did you find her. Did Marty tell you where she was?”

“He did. Well, not really. I mean, he knew all along, but he didn’t know he knew. He told me what Phil said, and I figured it out. But he helped us find her. You know, babe, Marty’s not all bad. I think he’s just spent most of his life around the wrong people.”

“He loved Renita, you know? He did. Darnell loved her, but I think Marty loved her more than anybody ever did. Except me, of course.”

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