“Hi baby. Yes, I’m fine. I just can’t find my pills. I think I remember you setting them all out for me in that nifty little pill case. The one with the days of the week on it, right?”
“Yeah, I left it right on the kitchen island so you’ll see it every morning.”
“That’s what I thought but it’s not there.”
I sit up on my knees and start placing things back in the cooler. Emma watches me and then starts packing up the items she took out.
“I’ll come find it for you, Mom.”
“Don’t be silly. There’s no need for you to drive out here just for that. I’m sure it’ll turn up. I probably just moved it while I was cleaning off the counter and now I don’t remember where I set it down. You know I do that sometimes.”
It’s been happening more and more lately. She’s forgetting things and doing things that don’t make sense. It worries me. What if she forgets she’s already taken her medicine and then takes it again? She could overdose herself without even realizing it.
“I’m in Virginia Beach anyway. I’ll be there in a minute.”
After I hang up with my mom, I turn to Emma. “My mom can’t find her medication. She does this sometimes. Misplaces things. I need to get over there. I’m sorry to bail on you.”
She follows me, her legs working double time on the sand to keep up with my long strides. “It’s no problem. I think it’s nice that you’re so devoted to your mom.”
“Well, she did whatever she had to do to keep us all together when we were growing up. We didn’t have a lot of money but she never let us down. Now it’s our turn to take care of her.”
When we reach the par
king lot, I wait while she fumbles with the keys on her chain to find the right one. She opens the trunk so I can place the cooler inside.
“Sorry I have to cut things short.” Even though things weren’t going well, I still feel bad about running out on her. I’ve been hitting on her for weeks and now the first time she says yes, I ditch her after less than an hour.
“No, I understand completely. I hope your mom is okay.” Emma closes the trunk and then unlocks the front door of the car. I wait while she slides behind the wheel.
“Thanks. I’m sure she’s fine. I just want to check on her.”
She turns the key and her engine strains to turn over. It sounds like it’s pleading for help.
“Ugh, I hate this stupid car.” She tries it again and a cloud of smoke erupts from beneath the hood. Emma gets out of the car and waves her hand in front of her face. “Maybe I shouldn’t have said that. Now I’ve pissed her off.”
I glance at my cell phone again. There’s no way I have time to get beneath the hood and figure out what’s wrong. But I also can’t just leave her here alone. I could take her home and come back for her car later but that would be going completely out of the way. And my mom didn’t sound good.
“Come on.”
She leans in and grabs her bag from the passenger seat of her car. “I’m so sorry. You don’t have to stay. I’ll call Ivy. Or maybe Sasha can pick me up.”
“What if they can’t come right away?”
She places a hand over her eyes shielding them from the midday sun. “It’s a beautiful day. I’ll just hang out until they can get here.”
I don’t even have to think about it. Every instinct I have revolts at the idea of leaving her somewhere alone without a guaranteed way to get home. Normally I wouldn’t take a girl home to meet my mom this soon. Or ever. But in this case, it really doesn’t matter. We tried and it didn’t work out. I’m not the only one feeling the awkward vibes so there’s no way she wants to see me again either.
“Yeah, no. You’re coming with me buttercup.”
She wrinkles her nose at the nickname but follows me as I walk over to my bike.
“I really wish I hadn’t worn a skirt now.”
My lips curl up as I look at her slender legs peeking from beneath the billowy layers of her skirt. “I don’t mind.”
Her annoyed response is drowned out by the roar of the engine as I start the bike. She climbs on behind me and wraps her arms around my waist. “Where are we going anyway?”
I flip the visor down on my helmet before I answer. “I’m taking you home with me.”