Finding Someplace by Denise Lewis Patrick

Author:Denise Lewis Patrick [Patrick, Denise Lewis]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781627794237
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Reesie didn’t wonder how her father had managed to commandeer a Humvee. He was Superman, wasn’t he? In fact, she didn’t speak much at all as he strapped her in. She couldn’t take her eyes off him while he stood a few feet away, deep in conversation with Eritrea.

Eritrea nodded a few times, shook her head a few times. Once, she held her left hand up, showing Daddy her wedding ring. He took out his ticket book and wrote something on the back of a page, ripped it off, and pressed the paper into Eritrea’s hand. She walked back with him to the Humvee.

“Okay, Reesie.” Eritrea smiled. “It’s been real. I’m gonna wait around here for Dré to show up.”

She reached out to squeeze Reesie’s clenched hands and leaned closer. “Take it from a sister: don’t hold this stuff in for too long. You got nothing to beat yourself up about. Promise you’ll find somebody to let it all out with, okay?”

Find somebody? Who? Find someplace. Where? Home wasn’t even home anymore. Reesie didn’t answer.

Daddy got in and started the engine. Reesie looked back and saw Eritrea’s skinny figure getting farther and farther away. She was still waving with both hands. Reesie felt odd and lonely—she’d just met Tree, but she missed her already.

Daddy began talking like they were already in the middle of a conversation. Reesie knew he was doing it to cover her unusual silence.

“So, your mama and some of the other nurses left the hospital with the first set of patients they evacuated. She’s at a motel in Lafayette. Last I heard from her, you were at Miss Simon’s. I’ve been trying to get back to the Ninth Ward, but I keep getting sent all over. It’s chaos everywhere! I’m downtown, where we’re supposed to be securing the Quarter, and I get word this morning that André Knight is telling every uniform he sees that he’s looking for me. I figure his only connection is Orlando, and from Orlando to you, so I follow up. The trail leads me here.”

He glanced at her. “That Eritrea—says she’s his wife now?”

Reesie nodded.

“And she tells me y’all have been through it. But you’re good. Are you?”

“I don’t know.… Yes, I guess so. Yes.” Reesie knew her police officer daddy might not be satisfied with the way she answered, but it was all she could give.

“Well.” He only paused a minute before continuing his one-sided conversation.

“Listen. New Orleans is in bad shape. Between the wind damage and the flooding, it’s the worst I’ve ever seen. I have to admit, your mama was right after all. We weren’t ready. Half the force is AWOL. Communications are out. It’s a zoo here, yeah! I’m gonna drop you off by your mama and head back. We gotta contain this madness till we get some help from the Feds.”

“You’re not coming?”

Her father glanced at her. “Can’t,” he said.

Reesie didn’t understand. Why wasn’t he joining them so they could be together? Was it her college fund again?

“Okay,” Reesie said, too tired to argue.

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