Part 3 (1/2)
Jack pushed his back to the wall. He hated being locked in anywhere.
It's not claustrophobia. What do they call hate of locked places? I-wanna-get-the-h.e.l.l-outta-here-phobia?
An older nurse, with a tray in her hands, hurried over to the door and frowned. She closed one eye, looked up at the ceiling, and made a face. After a moment, she closed both eyes and tapped her forehead. She rolled her head at Jack. ”I'm filling in. Do you work here? I forgot the code.”
Jack read her nametag: MARTHA. He looked her up and down with mock suspicion. ”And how do I know you're the real Martha, and not someone who has tied the real Martha up in a closet someplace while you're trying to escape?”
Jack's joke was about as successful as a North Korean missile test. The woman's expression went from confusion to amus.e.m.e.nt and then to anger.
”Funny,” she snipped through pressed lips.
”It was just a joke. I didn't-”
”Jack?” the first nurse called for him from the doorway.
He gratefully hurried toward her and away from the woman who glowered at him. As he pa.s.sed an orderly, he smiled and pointed back at the door. ”She needs out.” Jack then leaned closer and whispered loudly, ”Make sure it's really Martha,” and winked.
As he hurried through the door, his face lit up. Aunt Haddie sat in a big, comfy chair, and when she saw him, her arms reached out. He practically ran to give her frail body a careful hug.
”You can squeeze me tighter than that. I won't break.” She rocked him back and forth before she held him at arm's length. Her big brown eyes searched his face.
”How are you, Aunt Haddie?”
”Blessed and happy, now that my babies are here.” She reached a hand back and squeezed Replacement's. Jack caught the nurse's puzzled look and smiled. Replacement must have felt she needed to offer an explanation because Aunt Haddie was black and Jack and Replacement were white. ”We're foster kids. Aunt Haddie has lots of babies.”
She reached out and ran her hand through Jack's hair. ”This one carries on my husband's name: Jack Alton Steven Stratton.”
Jack kept himself from making a face, but Replacement turned away and coughed. He'd recently taken his father's name, Steven, but had placed it before Alton to prevent his initials from spelling Jack A.S.S.
Replacement is going to be cracking up all the way home.
Aunt Haddie settled back in her chair. ”Speaking of babies, when are you two going to get married?”
Jack's mouth fell open and Replacement's face flushed.
”Don't start going all wishy-washy. Two people in love like you two should get married, and I do love weddings.” Aunt Haddie turned to the nurse. ”I didn't raise them at the same time. Jackie was out of the house when Alice came. She's been head over heels for him since then. She used to keep his picture in her drawer and-”
”Aunt Haddie.” Replacement swallowed, her neck lengthened, and she frantically shook her head.
”Oh, don't worry; he knows it.” She patted her hand. ”And Jackie's been just smitten with her since they got together. He takes such good care of her, but just watch how he looks at her when he thinks no one else is looking.” She winked at the nurse. ”That's the key. He just melts like b.u.t.ter and goes all soft.”
Now it was Jack's turn to wave his hands for her to stop.
”I'm not getting any younger, and my mind keeps wandering.” She put both hands on her legs, but a grin crossed her lips. ”I want some grandbabies.”
Jack looked at Replacement and burst out laughing. Aunt Haddie laughed too and squeezed Replacement's hand.
”All right.” Aunt Haddie stroked Replacement's arm. ”I won't talk about it anymore...today.”
They visited with her for another hour. She talked about the present, but Jack gently guided her to reminisce; he loved it when she talked about the past. Aunt Haddie told the most wonderful stories, but Jack liked the ones about Chandler and Mich.e.l.le best. She went on and on, and they both listened and laughed as she talked about a time he was so glad was not forgotten.
In need of your services Jack set down his fork and put his dishes in the sink. Replacement was busy typing on the computer. He walked over to the hall table to look again for his gloves. It was supposed to be a little brisk tonight so he thought he might need them.
”What're you looking for?” Replacement called back to him.
”My gloves. I haven't unpacked the other pair, and I can't find them,” he muttered as he went to look in the bedroom again.
Jack cracked his neck. Finding his gloves was a little detail, and a small piece of equipment, but his years in the Army had taught him that little details could save your life.
Like I'm gonna die if I... d.a.m.n it. Find the gloves, Jack.
Someone knocked at the front door. Jack went back to the bedroom door to see who it was as Replacement bounded by and suddenly stopped. She straightened her s.h.i.+rt and stood up straight; she looked toward the bedroom. When she saw Jack, she froze.
”This may be for me.” She cleared her throat. ”Can I have a moment of privacy?”
Jack's face hardened into a scowl.
Privacy? Who the h.e.l.l is she expecting?
Jack took a step forward to lean against the doorframe. ”Go ahead and get it, kid,” he grumbled as he crossed his arms.
Replacement gave him a look that appeared to be a mix of displeasure and nervousness. Her mouth crinkled up, and then she spun around and walked to the door. Jack could see her pause to take a deep breath before she opened it, but he couldn't tell who was on the other side. Replacement just stood there.
”Oh, really?” Replacement's voice was loud enough Jack could tell something was wrong. He walked forward until she turned around. Her eyebrows were tightly clumped together and her shoulders were square. She stiffly marched forward and stuck her hand out toward Jack. Clasped between the fingers of her trembling fist were his missing gloves. Jack tilted his head to the side and looked up as Marisa walked through the door with an amused grin on her face.
”Here are your gloves.” Replacement tapped them against Jack's chest. ”She,” she jerked her thumb in Marisa's direction, ”said you forgot them when you stopped in to visit last night.”
d.a.m.n.
Jack swallowed. ”I'm on...neighborhood liaison patrol. It's my job to check into the local businesses, including Marisa's.”
Jack looked over Replacement's head to Marisa, who nodded in mock approval.
”Yeah, right,” Replacement snapped before she spun around to face Marisa. ”Thanks. I'm really sorry you have to go now, but I have to see Jack gets off to work-”
”Actually, I came to see you.” Marisa smiled.
Both Jack's and Replacement's mouths fell open. ”Me? Her?” they asked at once.
Marisa took out a folded piece of paper. ”I have need of your services.” She handed the paper to Replacement, who beamed. Jack glowered.
Replacement stepped aside and motioned Marisa into the living room. ”How can I be of a.s.sistance, Ms. Vitagliano?” She rushed over to grab a pen and notebook off the desk. Marisa sat on the old couch while Replacement pulled the wheeled computer chair forward.
”I have a problem, and I'd like to retain your services,” Marisa replied.
”You do?” Replacement's voice rose. ”I mean...certainly. What's the issue you need a.s.sistance with?”
”Graffiti. Someone's been spraying horrible graffiti outside, behind my store. I want to know who it is.”