Page 165 of Chasing Hope

It’s breaking his heart.

What about mine? What about what he did to me? Why doesn’t she care that he hurt her little girl?

Blood rushes in my ears but I’m grateful for it because it saves me from hearing whatever she says next.

I pound the button for the elevator until it comes. Stepping inside, my entire body shakes like a leaf.

The doors begin to close right as Caleb appears, worry, confusion, and fear etched across his face as the first tear falls down my cheek.

SIX WEEKS LATER

Chapter 49

Evie

VALENTI

see you after the game?

EVIE

of course!

VALENTI

wearing my jersey?

EVIE

always x

“Icalled them to help you. I promise, they’re very kind,” I say calmly, tuning out the other dispatchers’ voices around me, the blinking lights alerting me to the numerous calls waiting.

“Are you sure?”

The old man on the line can’t see it but I smile. It’s not a happy one, it’s full of sadness and warmth for the confused citizen.

“I promise, Mr. Hucklbee.”

Flicking my eyes to my notes, I know I’m not wrong about this one.

Dementia.

I’m not sure what prompted him to dial 911, but the momenthe heard my voice, he thought I was a woman named Louise, I’m assuming his late wife. After coaxing a last name from him, I was able to locate his file.

A widow. Eighty-nine years old. War veteran.

“Okay…” he says, sounding unsure.

His words trail off as I hear the knock at the door, the officers making themselves known as they try to coax Mr. Hucklbee to open the door.

“Mr. Hucklbee, I promise you they’re there to help. Could you do me a favor and open the door for them? We wouldn’t want them to get cold now, would we?”

“Well, no, I suppose not.” He pauses. “And they’re going to help me get to the store until you can meet me there?”

That I can’t promise, so instead I say gently, “They’re going to assist you in the best way they can.”

“Well, all right then.”