A new face after the race
Chapter 18
Later that day, the trouble began. Emily had just arrived for work and was sitting behind the counter, looking over the essays and homework she finished a few days ago. They weren't due until next week, but she wanted to be sure it had no errors and didn't know if she would have time to look over them again. She had time because it was slow at the moment, but the dinner rush would come soon and would busy her, but until then she was free.
The bell on the door told someone entered and she looked up to see Jason and Melissa beside him. Something was wrong though. You could see it in Jason's eyes, but Melissa didn't know by the looks of things.
"Hey." She greeted lightly.
"Hey Emily. The crowd not here yet?" He asked, looking around the deserted place.
"No, not yet. What brings you here?" She asked, knowing this wasn't a social visit. Jason was much too tense for it to be. And he usually was relaxed when around Melissa.
"Melissa needs to use the bathroom." Jason said absently. Melissa nodded her consent and made her way to the ladies room, leaving her and Jason alone in the small café.
"And the real reason you're here?" She asked when Melissa was out of sight. If Jason didn't say what he wanted to say around Melissa, it must be serious.
"I got a call earlier today." Jason started and sat himself on the chairs near the register.
"I take it wasn't good by the look and sound of it." Emily observed and waited for Jason to continue.
"No it wasn't, not at all. It was from Ferncliff." Jason answered, and his answer gained her full attention. Ferncliff was where Brenda was and if they called it meant death or something possible worse.
"What happened?" She asked, making sure Melissa wasn't around yet. She didn't need to hear of her mother. It was for her safety that Melissa was kept in the dark about her mother's condition.
"She's gone." Jason revealed though not heartbrokenly. She wasn't dead, Emily deduced, so that meant one thing; lunatic on the loose.
"You mean gone as in disappeared?" She said gasping. She always thought Brenda was safe at Ferncliff, apparently she was wrong.
"Yeah, apparently she is gone and they tell me this, her husband, two days later." Jason said anger showing at the doctors. No wonder why he said nothing to Melissa. One, she didn't need to know. Two, Jason didn't want to show anger at her. Good judgment on his part.
"Two days?" She said amazed. "Please don't tell me that the doctors didn't tell you sooner because it just slipped their minds and they had enough to do." She exaggerated.
"That's exactly what they said. 'I'm sorry Mr. Morgan, we just have been busy with the other patients' were the exact words. As if a crazed maniac on the run isn't important and life threatening?" Jason said, the words becoming more unbelievable by the minute.
"I take it you didn't take that nicely." She noted, sensing his unreleased anger.
"No, I told them I'd be there to speak with them and threatened to sue them if anything happened to Brenda and if her disappearance wasn't reported immediately." Jason said gravely. Not lying and she didn't blame him. He trusted the doctors and administrators and then this bull comes and it isn't happy news.
Emily said nothing, but shook her head and thanked the fact that Melissa had a full bladder. She didn't need to be hearing this stuff especially the missing part. "So what are you going to do now?"
"I'm heading there now to talk to them and was going to ask you to watch her until I come back. What to do beyond there, I don't know. I'll know when we can come back. We'll talk then, I have to go. I said I'll be there at five at the least." Jason explained and grabbed his coat. "Tell Melissa I had an emergency and that I love her, okay?" He asked and Emily agreed as he left.
Melissa came in seconds later. "Where'd daddy go?" She asked and climbed onto the stool in front of her.
Emily placed a smile on her face to show nothing was wrong. "He got a call about an emergency at work. He left but said to say he loved you and that I was going to watch you until he came back."
"Okay, can I go color in your books?" She asked taking everything in stride.
"Go ahead, but don't color over the wording." Emily said as Melissa skipped to the back. Emily normally didn't like it when Melissa did so, but she didn't care at the moment. She wasn't going to sell the books anyway. She wanted them for future reference and as long as Melissa didn't cover the text, she would be fine with the 'colored' pictures.
Soon the dinner rush came and she was too busy to think about the current occurrences. Melissa was still happily coloring in her psychology book and she arranged for a meal be set aside for her when asked. Other coworkers came in, but all were busy nonetheless. Elizabeth wasn't coming in, and being the fastest worker, the food took more time than usual to come, but all survived. By closing time everyone was exhausted and all was done and Emily volunteered to finish up cleaning since little was left and the others complained of all the homework they needed to do. And having it done, why not? Besides she was hoping Lucky would come so she didn't have to carry Melissa home. She wasn't heavy but the idea of carrying her and her book bag wasn't pleasant.
True enough as she finished and was putting everything back into its place, the bell rang and Lucky entered.
"Hey, done here?" He asked and gave her a peck on the lips.
"Yeah, just need to get my things and lock up. Though I have a small favor to ask." She informed him and went to the back and Lucky followed her as she expected.
His brows rose when he saw the sleeping Melissa. She was resting peacefully and using her bag as a pillow. Crayons were scattered and her school books were as well, just not as bad. Lucky voluntarily picked up the crayons and put them in the plastic bag they were stored in while Emily collected her books. Emily tugged Melissa off and put the books and crayons in there and made sure all was present.
Lucky said nothing when she handed him her bag and picked Melissa's sleeping form up.
"I take it you want a ride?" Lucky guessed as Emily pulled the key out of the lock while struggling with the extra weight of the sleeping for on her shoulder.
"I'd appreciate it." Emily said and stored the key in her pocket.
Lucky guided her to his car and drove her home silently, assisting her up to the penthouse. It wasn't until Melissa was tucked in her bed asleep like a log that Lucky asked why Melissa was with her at work.
Emily motioned for Lucky to close the door on his way out and went down the stairs heading for the kitchen. She hadn't eaten since lunch and was hungry and why not break the news with a good meal? She found some lunch meat and decided to make a sandwich as Lucky came down the stairs and into the kitchen.
"What's to eat?" He asked though he wanted to know why Melissa was with her at work more. He wouldn't push though she must have wanted to tell him when Melissa wasn't around.
"I found some lunch meat. Want a sandwich?" She asked as she fished in the refrigerator for some mayonnaise and lettuce.
"Yeah, sure, I haven't eaten all day." He said, pulling out a chair and sitting on it.
"Why not? Surely your work wasn't that heavy." Emily replied as she grabbed a knife to spread the mayonnaise and the bread from the bag.
She made the sandwiches while he answered her question. "It wasn't surprisingly, but this one problem was so complicated it took much of the day."
"Computers are complicated, you knew as much when you took the job." Emily said, bringing him his meal and returning with hers when all the ingredients were replaced to their original places.
"I did, but that doesn't mean I can't complain. Where's Jason?" He responded, appreciating his meal.
"He had to do something and left Melissa in my care, which answers your first question." Emily said returning to the original question.
"Are you going to elaborate or do I have to ask to do so?" He asked patiently, but his curiosity was getting the best of him.
"I will, I just need to get something to drink so I won't croak during the explaining. Want anything to drink?" She asked and made a triumph noise when finding her bottled water that she kept in the refrigerator. She had something against tap water and didn't drink much else.
Lucky requested a glass of milk and she brought it with her. Emily explained how Brenda escaped and the doctors procrastination of information. Lucky could barely believe what he was hearing, but Emily wouldn't joke about this matter. That also explained why it wasn't told around Melissa. To know that her mom was missing and had problems wouldn't mean much to her, but she was still young and didn't know the real truth; wouldn't until a couple more years if luck had it.
"I don't understand how Brenda could escape without help. Sure she can leave on her own, but with her condition and being heavily medicated. Something's fishy and I don't like it." He said, his Spencer instinct tingling, which hadn't happened until that encounter with Mark.
"I don't know what to think." Emily revealed and put their dirty dishes in the dishwasher, set it, filled it with soap and started it. "Won't until I hear the full story from Jason and given the threats Jason already gave the doctors, they won't lie. He's much too intimidating."
"And knowing the anger that will steam from his ears, an incident like this never happens again." He said, knowing Jason's anger when you pushed him too far was volatile. He pitied the doctors, but they had it long in coming.
"Yeah, considering the direct possibility of them being fired is good when word of this goes around. Can you imagine one of them coming to his work and asking for a job?" Emily shook her head with sympathy.
"Yeah, they'll be lucky if they don't get security called on them." Lucky said, seeing the picture run through his mind.
"That'd be entertaining. Seeing someone literally thrown out of someplace." Emily said giggling at the thought. Lucky joined in the laughter and gathered her close. Emily snuggled into him and leaned against him for support while he gathered his arms around her, holding her close.
Lucky loved holding Emily. She fell into him like a puzzle piece, especially made for him and him only. He also felt an extra reassurance she was here and in his arms. Everything fell away when she was near and in his presence. It was just them alone in the harsh and unfair world.
"Shouldn't you be heading home? It is late and your parents would be worried." She asked, enjoying their time spent together.
"Are you kicking me out?" He asked incredulously.
"No, I just thought you should make an appearance seeing you haven't been there for a couple days." She murmured happily.
"They know I'm here. Besides dad called this morning to see what was up." He informed her.
"You have more to tell him later then." Emily commented and lifted her head from his chest.
"Let's not think of that anymore. All I want to do is cuddle with my girlfriend and sleep." He said smiling and kissed her soundly on the lips. It wasn't a passionate kiss nor a little peck, but it wasn't overmuch either. He pulled away reluctantly as the thought of sleep sounded more and more pleasant.
"I think that can be arranged." Emily answered as she and Lucky made their way to her bedroom for a good night sleep, lying in each other's arms.
Author's note: Brief break of inspiration. Still on hiatus, but you have an update mysteriously. Thanks for your comments Am21, your ideas for this story will be appreciated if you do happen to give any. Want to put up a chapter of my other story, but fictionpress is being evil! Grrrr....