Page 74 of Until Joy

“I got a text,” she whispered.

“Is something wrong?” Miss Laverne asked, as she placed her glass down on a doily.

“I don’t know,” I told the older woman. “Can I see your phone?” I held out my hand to Joy.

Joy’s hand shook as she handed me her phone. I read through the text.

UNKNOWN:Did you like the flowers?

JOY:Who is this?

UNKNOWN:Don’t be coy. You know me.

JOY:Tell me who you are.

UNKNOWN:Joy, stop playing. You’re making me angry.

Dots were showing, signaling that another text was coming in. As soon as I saw that, I stood up. I didn’t want Joy to see what this asshole was going to say next. She didn’t need the stress.

UNKNOWN:Answer me. You don’t want to make me angry.

I didn’t respond. There were more dots as he began typing again.

UNKNOWN:Joy, when I ask you a question, I expect an answer.

I responded.

JOY:This is Graham Wallace. If you’ve been watching Joy, you know who I am. Stop communicating with her right now. Do you understand me?

There were more dots as he began typing again.

UNKNOWN:LOL. Joy is mine. Always and Forever.

JOY:I’m calling the police.

UNKNOWN:LOL. Good luck with that.

I waited for what felt like forever. There were no more dots. He was done texting.

“What’s going on?” Miss Laverne asked again.

I looked over at Joy. She was white as a sheet. I put her phone in my left back pocket, since mine was in my right. I sat back down beside her and pulled her tight against my side. She looked up at me. She was clearly scared. I knew she hated that. I turned to Miss Laverne.

“Three years ago, when Joy was working as an au pair in London, she was stalked. He hurt her, and she ended up in the hospital.”

Miss Laverne gasped. “I can’t believe Esperance never told me. That’s horrible, honey. How badly were you hurt?”

Joy shook her head. “Not bad,” she whispered.

The older woman frowned. “Are you telling me the truth?”

Joy winced. “Miss Laverne, I haven’t told my family about this, I’m only bringing this up to you now because some of the same kinds of things are happening to me again, here. I don’t want you to be caught in the middle.”

Miss Laverne leaned forward in her chair. “Child, you mean to tell me you were hurt while you were away in London, and you didn’t tell any of your family here in Tennessee? That’s not right.”

Joy was wringing her hands so tightly that her knuckles were white. I sat down beside her and placed my hand over hers, caressing them. Trying to soothe her. I looked up at Miss Laverne and she looked at me. The old girl didn’t miss a trick.

“Let me guess, Joy. You don’t want me to say anything to Esperance about this. Am I tracking?”