A Few Days with Laura Sidle Chapter 2

The address she sought was half hidden by roadside growth. The one lane track made several turns before opening up to fields, a meadow filled with wild flowers, more trees, mowed grass, a large garden, and multiple buildings. In the garden, several figures raised and waved and bent again to their work.

The buildings reminded Sara of the vineyard and bed and breakfast—the poor man's version. The barn was a ramshackle wood and metal structure with tacked on lean-to buildings. She knew chickens were in one. A few cows lived in a small pasture behind the barn.

She drove past this area to the faded red and white house. This was where the women lived, where she would meet with a social worker and several others, where her fate and that of her mother had already been decided, and she would learn today. Sara wished for Grissom's hand—only for a second. To hold his hand today would require too many answers to questions she did not want asked.

Sara had been to enough crime scenes to visually know the layout of this house. She had been inside when her mother moved in. It had been a typical ranch house until the nuns added wings for individual bedrooms. Instead of three bedrooms, the house had at least fifteen small bed chambers, scarcely larger than a closet with enough space for a bed, a chair, a cabinet for a few clothes.

One end of the house had been rebuilt as a chapel—the prettiest part of the place. Even for Sara, it was a spiritual place and she had never heard one word spoken in the chapel.

This was where her mother chose to live—apart from the world and sharing space with quiet women who demanded work and reverence and prayer. It was her mother's desire to live here; Sara hoped, wished, maybe even prayed that the nuns had made the same decision.

The social worker met Sara at the door. Sara never doubted this woman's ability but in her association with social workers, this one fit no previously recognized mold. Sister Deborah was as tall as Sara, older with short cut grey hair, an unlined face that belied her actual age, and a laugh. She had been the primary contact with this order, meeting Laura Sidle two years ago in a small church. At first Sara was suspicious—why would a nun, unlike any other Sara had known, take an interest in her mother? Only after visiting this place on three occasions would Sara agree to arrangements for her mother to move here.

"Sara—you look so good! You need to visit more often." Sister Deborah was always enthusiastic; she was always boisterous and laughing and creating noise.

"Hello, Sister." Sara stuck out her hand knowing it was useless. Sister Deborah hugged everyone in a bear hug, wrapping arms around and pulling one close as a sleeping child would a teddy bear. Sara's hand did not stop her today. And when she brought Sara to her, she whispered, "Every thing is fine. Don't worry."

To Sara's ears, this was enough. Not only had her mother found a safe place, its inhabitants had found her. For as long as Laura chose to stay, this place would be her home. Relief must have been apparent in Sara's face.

"Today is a formality. We talk, we sign forms and everyone agrees."

Sara asked, "Does Mom know?" Sister Deborah nodded her head.

The two entered the dining room where others waited. Sara was all too familiar with such meetings. She had waited outside for many to end; she had been sitting at similar tables for a few. Her mother was not there, not surprising to Sara. Mother and daughter shared a dislike for such meetings.

Introductions were made even when none was needed. Sara and two others were the only strangers at the table. A lone man representing the church officials sat at the head of the table. He had worked with this group long enough to know that his presence was a token, his words unnecessary. The other woman was a court representative, delegated to protect the rights of Laura Sidle.

An older nun was first to speak in a quiet, measured voice quickly covered the reason for this meeting. She said, "Laura Sidle came to us a year ago with a desire to live among us. Sara, as her daughter and next-of-kin, you have shown great interest in her well-being. We want Laura to join us, live here for as long as she desires. In a year, Laura has become a valuable asset to our way of life." She smiled showing a row of perfect white teeth that surprised Sara.

Sara was smiling at the other faces with smiles reflecting her own. She wasn't sure what to say. Thank you did not seem appropriate, but she said it anyway.

"Where is Mom? Does she know?"

Several heads nodded.

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