Neither Mama nor Daddy had fastened their seat belts, which was the first important clue for Ian. He said that meant they were emotionally disturbed enough to be put into a panic and when peop
le are in a panic, they forget to do things or do stupid things. Later, when we found out they had taken nothing with them. Ian was certain he was right. Mama had not even taken her pocketbook, much less any suitcase or overnight bag.
Ian thought Grandmother Emma's phone call had come. Daddy had hung up, and they had charged out of the cabin. Mr. Pitts said they had left some lights on and the door unlocked. Ian thought that they had been in the middle of their discussions, which he thought were still more like arguments, and whatever Grandmother Emma had told Daddy. Daddy had blamed on Mama and then Mama had blamed on him. He said they must have been in the middle of a horrible argument.
The police report noted that Daddy had been drinking and a blood test revealed he was above the limit. Mama must have been quite upset to let him drive. Ian concluded.
Those were the pieces of the puzzle the way he saw them.
That morning he was at breakfast before me. Nancy accompanied me out of my bedroom and down the stairs. She made me feel like a prisoner, but I could see she was terrified of being accused of not following Grandmother Emma's orders. Whatever Grandmother Emma said to her must have been threatening and Nancy didn't want to lose her position. She was paid well and had been here many years. Eventually, we would find out she was sending money to a sick brother, and it was the only money he had.
"What do you know about the accident?" Ian asked her as soon as we entered the dining room.
"I don't know anything about it," Nancy said. She quickly started for the kitchen.
"What time did it happen?" Ian shouted after her.
"I don't know," she said, and went into the kitchen.
"Are they all right?" I asked Ian.
"I don't know any more than you do," he said. He quickly drank his juice. He was already very suspicious. "I certainly don't know why they would leave to come home at night. Everything had been arranged. If they didn't want to stay together, they wouldn't have left together anyway. Mother still had our car and Father had to have his rental yet."
Nancy brought us oatmeal with raisins. There was a plate of buttered toast as well. She put everything on the table the exact way she always did. I even saw her glance at Grandmother Emma's chair as if Grandmother Emma was sitting there observing and making sure she was doing everything correctly. I could understand that. I often felt the same way when she wasn't where I expected her to be.
"What time did my grandmother leave the house?" Ian asked.
"I'm not sure," Nancy replied.
"What time did she wake you up?" Ian pursued.
"Between four-thirty and five o'clock. I'm sure she will call here soon," she added, and again made a quick exit to the kitchen.
"I can't imagine why they would be on the road at that hour," Ian muttered, and started to eat.
After we finished our breakfast, we remained downstairs in the living room. Ian got the idea to call the highway department to see if he could learn about any accidents in the vicinity of the route Daddy and Mama would have taken. He returned to the living room to tell me there was an accident discovered about ten-thirty that could very well have been theirs. His mind was already whirling with the possibilities and he looked at me angrily.
"I bet Grandmother called them after she found me in your room. I bet that's why they left to come home," he said.
It took my breath away. I was trembling as it was, just waiting to learn something. Had Mama been angry at me? Daddy? Was this somehow my fault?
We heard a car approach the house and Ian jumped up to look through the window. "It's Felix," he said. "He's alone."
We waited until he came to the door and rang the bell. Ian and I rushed out to greet him.
"Your grandmother would like you both to come with me to the hospital," he said.
Nancy stood waiting behind us. He and she exchanged a very serious look.
"You don't need anything. You can come as you are," he added, and turned away.
Ian started after him, stopped, and reached back for my hand. "Come on, Jordan," he said.
Felix opened the rear door for us and we got in. As soon as he did, too. Ian started to ask questions.
"I don't know everything," Felix said, almost sullenly. "I was just sent to get you. I'll get you there as fast as I can."
Ian sat back. Frustration clouded his eyes. He seemed to shrink into a tight ball, fuming, while I could barely keep from crying.