Page 63 of The Sweet Spot
When I walk into the kitchen, Dawn is sitting at the table and Chris is crouching in front of her. He’s holding her hands as she sobs, trying to coax her into telling him everything that happened.
“Pumpkin slipped outside when I went out to get the mail,” she says to Chris. “I went to find him, but I guess I left the kitchen door unlocked. When I returned, Rosie was gone. I’ve searched everywhere.”
At that moment, Pumpkin saunters into the kitchen, purring loudly as he rubs against Chris.
“I’ll check again,” I say as I begin a thorough search of the house, checking every room, every walk-in closet and bathroom, the laundry room, the furnace room. I even run out to search the detached garage, but it’s empty. I check the yard. I call her name. And as every second passes, my heart contracts painfully into a tighter and tighter ball.
When I race back inside, Chris looks my way for an update. Sadly, I shake my head.Nothing.
Chris rises. “Stay with Dawn,” he tells me. “Try to calm her down. I’ll canvass the neighbor to see if anyone has spotted Rosie.” He cups my face and pulls me close to kiss my forehead. “Don’t worry. We’ll find her.”
My heart is in my throat. I can’t even imagine what Granny is thinking right now. She must be so confused, and so scared. “I want to look with you,” I say.
Chris eyes Dawn, who is crying hysterically. “I really think you should stay here. I’ll call the station and get everyone out looking for her. Can you send me a recent photo of her that I can pass around? I’ll call Micah, too. He’ll help.”
“Do you remember what she was wearing?” Chris asks Dawn.
“Her floral robe and pink slippers,” she answers.
“She hasn’t been gone long, sweetheart,” Chris says to me, “so she couldn’t have gotten far. She’s probably just a couple of blocks away at most.” He squeezes my hands. “I promise you, we’ll find her.”
My stomach drops as I watch Chris walk out the door.
The first thing I do is scroll through my camera roll to find a good, clear image of Granny. I text that to Chris.
At the sound of Dawn’s heart-wrenching cries, I say, “Let’s go sit in the living room.” I take her hand and coax her to her feet. “We’ll be more comfortable in there.”
Even though she’s still crying, she complies. Once I have her sitting on the sofa, I put my arm around her and hold her close. “It’s okay, Dawn. It was an accident. It’s not your fault.”
She stops crying long enough to say, “But it is! I left the door unlocked.”
I don’t try to argue with her, because—well, there’s no point. I know she didn’t do it on purpose, and that’s what really matters.
Chris texts me.
Chris: Micah, Jack, and Ruth are on their way
Me: Thx. Pls keep me posted.
Chris: Will do. And three deputies are out looking. I gave them her pic.
“It shouldn’t be too hard to spot an eighty-year-old woman wandering around the neighborhood in a floral bath robe and pink slippers.”
Emotionally exhausted, Dawn lays her head on my shoulder. I reach for her hand in hopes of comforting not just her, but myself, too.
Granny, where are you? Please come home. Please let them find you.
* * *
I’m mentally and physically numb. Time crawls by, minute by minute, and then an hour passes as we continue to wait for news.
When I hear the kitchen door open, I jump to my feet and race into the kitchen.
Ruth walks in, her demeanor stoic as usual. She wraps her arms around me. “I wanted to check on you, sweetie, to see how you’re doing.”
Now it’s my turn to fall apart. I’ve been trying to be strong for poor Dawn, but now with Ruth here, her strong arms around me, I crumple. She’s the closest thing I have to a mom these days. “I’m so scared.”
“I know, honey.” She runs her hand up and down my back.
