One Mountain Away by Emilie Richards

Author:Emilie Richards [Richards, Emilie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Literary, Fiction
ISBN: 9780778313557
Google: NJSLahcgbxIC
Amazon: 0778313557
Publisher: MIRA
Published: 2012-07-30T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Five

THE TELEPHONE RANG just as Taylor put the final stitches in the hem of the skirt Maddie wanted to wear to school that morning. Today was Maddie’s first day back, and Taylor understood her desire to look good, although not so much the need to pull out every single item in her closet. Of course the skirt she had to wear was the only one that needed repair.

Maddie grabbed the telephone with her left hand, which was still in a sling, and Taylor’s handiwork with her right. “Daddy!”

Taylor watched her daughter squirm into the skirt while she cradled the receiver in the crook of her shoulder. She had been cranky and fearful all morning, waking early and eating nothing more than a few bites of toast. Now, despite the gymnastics, she was finally smiling.

“I’m leaving in a few minutes,” Maddie said into the telephone. “Sam’s going to take me. Mom has a class in a little while.”

Sam and Taylor had carefully planned Maddie’s return to school. In reality Taylor had plenty of time to drive her, but she and Sam had decided that arriving with Edna would help soothe Maddie’s anxiety. She was embarrassed to face the children who had witnessed her seizure at the park, and even the get-well card she’d received from her class hadn’t done much to make her feel better. Popular, diplomatic Edna would help her through her return.

“I can’t wait to see you!” Maddie said. “I love you, Daddy!” She was smiling by the time Taylor hung up the phone for her. “He says Willow has a friend with horses, and I can ride when I’m there.”

Taylor had to remind her heart to beat. “Did he?”

“I can’t wait to go to Nashville.” Maddie paused, as if she realized how that sounded. “Of course, I’ll miss you.”

Taylor welded a smile on her face and nodded. “Of course.”

A honk sounded, and Taylor knew Sam was there. “Run along, or rather walk,” she said as casually as she could. She knew better than to act like heading to school was anything other than completely normal. “I’ll be here when you get home. Papa’s bringing dinner tonight. We’ll have a party.”

Maddie did a fist bump, grabbed her book bag with her good arm and headed outside. Taylor stood in the doorway and waved, and the moment Sam’s VW had disappeared, she picked up the receiver and hit speed dial.

Jeremy answered on the first ring. “Maddie?”

“Maddie’s mother,” she said formally. “She’s on her way to school.”

“She sounded excited.”

“No, she’s been a nervous wreck all morning.” She didn’t add, But what would you know? although she heard the sentiment in her voice.

“Look, we have to talk,” she went on. “I guess I understand why you couldn’t visit your daughter in the hospital.”

“I talked to Maddie twice a day, Taylor. You know Black Balsam’s on tour. We have one more gig, then we’re done for a couple of months. Maddie knows we’re going to be together soon.”

“You’re not,” Taylor said, although she had planned to work up to that more subtly.

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