London Harmony: Squid Hugs by Erik Schubach

Author:Erik Schubach [Schubach, Erik]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Erik Schubach
Published: 2016-02-14T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6 – Denver

I awoke from a fitful sleep by the Nightmare Before Christmas theme playing incessantly, my cellphone's ringtone. I was beyond exhausted as I looked blearily at the glowing green numbers on my bedside clock. It was three in the morning. What do the Brits say? Bloody Hell. The music stopped as I was reaching for the cell. Then it buzzed and quacked in my hand, now an incoming text message?

I sat up and yawned then looked at the screen. I blinked, talking about my parent's must have sent up a cosmic flare or something, it was from Isaac. I shook my head to fully awaken, then I froze as I read the text. I could feel the blood draining from my face as I got a little dizzy. It read, “Esmeralda in hospital. Emergency surgery. Call home.”

I heard a little girl somewhere on my head squeaking out a frightened, “Mom?”

I quickly pulled up my voicemail and listened to Isaac's message. Mom had a ruptured appendix and it was looking grim. I was dialing him immediately.

He answered with a strained, “Baby doll?”

I rushed as I said, “Is she going to be ok? Is there news?”

He said in that deep bass rumble of his, “They just took her in, I don't know but I heard one nurse saying something about complications.”

Please God, not again.

I whispered, “Ok dad, I'll be right there. I'm on my way... home.” I hung up in shock and realized I was hyperventilating. I forced myself to calm down as I quickly pulled up London Harmony's travel agent on my iPad. There was a flight to D.C. heading out in just over three hours. Then I can fly to Denver from there. I booked a flight and dressed, then headed to the door with nothing but my purse and my passport.

I was on the phone to Jen, I hadn't even realized I was calling her before I got a sleepy and concerned sounding, “Zil?”

I said quickly, “I have to go away for a bit. I don't know when I'll be back. I'll call later. Goodbye, Jen.” I hung up and then added into space, “I love you.”

Then I was calling June.

She answered with all the pep in the world, “Barney's Roadkill Grill. You kill 'em, we grill 'em. How can I help you?”

I took a deep breath and then tried to keep a level voice. “Hi June, I need... I need to take some time off. It's mom... she's in surgery... appendix burst... I don't know when I...”

She cut me off with all the compassion and surety I have grown to love about my pseudo-sister, “Go home Zil, be with your parents. We can handle things here, I got this shit.”

I nodded into the air, my eyes blurring. “I love you, I'll call when I know something.”

She said without hesitation, “Love you too, lady. Talk to you soon.”

I nodded and then turned my phone off and concentrated on driving and focusing on the road, instead of letting the panic win.

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