Page 101 of Wicked Player
“She must be doing something,” I tell him.
“Maybe’s she’s having a poop,” he says, and I break into laughter. “Everyone poops.”
I shake my head, and knock on the door a little more loudly. We wait patiently for a while, but when she still doesn’t answer, I get concerned. Judy and I have known each other for years, so it’s not out of line for me to quietly let myself in, and that’s exactly what I do. No one around here locks their doors. It’s just that kind of town, the kind of place where everyone looks out for each other.
“Judy,” I call out, Christian nipping at my heels. “Sorry, there was no answer, so we thought we’d just let ourselves in,” I say as I round the corner. “I hope that’s okay—”
My whole body goes cold and my stomach drops.
She’s slumped on her sofa, and she is not okay. I can tell something is wrong from where I’m standing, just a few feet away. I turn back to Christian. “Listen, buddy. Go back outside on the porch, and wait for me, okay?”
He frowns, concerned. He may only be seven, but he’s not stupid. “What’s wrong, Mommy?” he asks, wide-eyed. “Is something wrong with Judy?”
“Yes, and I don’t want you to see,” I admit.
His sweet face crumples. “I want to see her,” he cries, sprinting forward, but I hold him back. I wrap my arms around him, and hug him tightly. He buries his face in my chest, and sobs into my thick sweater.
“Now, I need to go see her, and try to help her okay,” I explain. “So you need to be a good boy, and go sit on the porch.”
He nods obediently, and does as told. My chest aches as I inch closer. She’s slumped on her stomach, wearing her purple flower pajamas. She’s surrounded by rug hooking supplies and a half-completed owl cushion. A cup of tea has been knocked over to the floor.
I press a hand on her shoulder, and she feels stiff. I’ve been in a frozen state up to now, but as I brush her soft white hair off of her cheek, I see that she has turned a light shade of blue. I know she’s gone. I finally let go and let the tears fall. It hurts more than I could have ever imagined.
