That night was different though.
I saw the headlights coming down the street and hung up the phone as the car drove into the driveway. I quickly pulled out the book I used as my cover story, flipped to a random page, and waited for the key to turn the lock and my parents to walk in. But there was no key this time, and my parents were not there. This time, there was a knock and I didn’t even think anything of it. I thought maybe they’d forgotten their key or something. I walked to the door and opened it expecting to see the warm smiles of my parents, but instead saw the sheriff standing on our porch with his hat in his hand.
My heart sank to my stomach and I couldn’t squeeze out any words. I just stood there, staring at him.
I don’t remember much of what he said, but he explained that my parents weren’t coming home that night, or ever again. I stared at the brass star on his shirt. To this day, seeing him in uniform brings back memories of that night. Years later, when I dated his son Phil, I got to know him a little better, but I could never forget the night he’d come to tell me my parents were dead.
Apparently from what witnesses said, a coyote had darted in front of the car as they were driving, and my father swerved to avoid it, mistaking it for a neighbor’s dog. The car had spotty steering at the best of times and couldn’t recover from the quick jolt it had just made. My parents crashed into a telephone pole, and by the time anyone arrived there was nothing that could be done. Just like that, for no reason and with nothing to be done, I had lost the two people who loved me more than anything else in the world. And I had also lost the peaceful life I had always known.
I don’t even remember weeping. It was months before I cried over them. I couldn’t take in and process what had happened, let alone digest the reality I was now living. I just went into a fog and did what needed to be done to survive.
Grace came by and took us home with her the next day. It started out as a temporary arrangement until the dust settled, but quickly became something more. Lucas and I had no living relatives, and there was no one else who could take us in without separating us. Grace was a good woman who had lost her husband years ago and had never remarried. She was a mother with no children and, although she never tried to replace our parents, was the closest thing Lucas and I had to family after that fateful night. We both liked her very much before that day and we both loved her after. She was an angel in the darkest times and had stayed with us ever since.
Suddenly the phone rang and shook me out of my stupor. I made my way down the hall and answered sleepily.
“Well, that’s the sound of a weary woman if I’ve ever heard one. Tell me you’ve had a proper dinner tonight, dear?”
It was Grace. I sighed and smiled into the receiver.
“I just fed Luke, Grace, and got him settled for the night. I’ve got a tin of soup and some bread and I’ll be feeding myself shortly.”
I was lying. I had bread, but that was pretty much it. I had lost a day’s work today and had been planning to buy groceries with the tips I would have made. Bread would be fine and the grocery store would still be there tomorrow.
“A fine cook like you and you’re heating up soup for dinner? Well, that just won’t do at all. I’m coming over with some food and we’re going to have a proper meal.”
“Grace, please. You’ve had a long day too, and I’m not going to have you coming over here and cooking me dinner. Thank you. Thank you so much, but I think we all just need the rest.”
“Hush now. Who said anything about me cooking dinner? I cook all day, dear. I’m bringing food over and you are cooking me dinner. I need to be taken care of sometimes too you know, plus, there’s no soup, is there, dear?”
I laughed wearily and knew there was no way to lie my way out of this.
“Come on over, Grace. I would be happy to cook you dinner, and thankful for your company.”
“Now that is more like it. I’ll be over in a jiffy, dear.”
We hung up and I sat down at the table and rested my head on my hands. I was so tired. I hadn’t eaten since the candy bar I had for breakfast and my stomach rumbled at the thought of a real meal.
“Grace to the rescue once again.”
I closed my eyes and thanked God for putting her on this earth.
Chapter 17
Hunter
IT WAS JUST LIKE OLD TIMES.