The Hare by Melanie Finn

Author:Melanie Finn
Language: fra
Format: epub
Publisher: Two Dollar Radio

THE CELLAR

1993

Rosie was almost out the door — Miranda already in the car with her backpack and coat. She did not recognize the number, it was local, she picked up. For a fraction of a second, she imagined that it was State Farm telling her she’d missed a payment on the car insurance.

“Rosie.”

Not a question.

If an elevator suddenly lost its traction and plummeted, the occupants must feel exactly like this. The squealing gravity, the falling almost too fast for fear.

“It’s me.”

No point in pretending, no point in asking Who?

“I’m at the Gulf station in town.”

She coiled the phone cord around her fingers, said the only thing she could think of: “Why?”

He made a soft laugh, weary perhaps. “You ask why, my girl?”

Rosie peered out the door. Miranda was looking back at her, pointing to a make-believe watch on her wrist and mouthing, “We’re late!”

“Come and pick me up,” Bennett said.

“Right now?”

“Yes, right now.”

Rosie said, “I need to be at work.” There was a pause. She heard him huff, as if of displeasure. “Tell them something came up.”

“It’s not that kind of job.”

“Tell them.”

“Yes, Bennett.” How odd his name on her tongue, the syllables dead-ending with the hard ‘t.’

“Where’s Miranda?”

“On a field trip.”

“For how long?”

The lie was smooth. “Three days. A nature center. In upstate New York.”

“I have ached in my bones for you.”

Rosie wound the phone cord tight around her wrist. “Give me an hour. Two hours.”

There was silence, as if he was considering what there may be to consider, the full array of options before him. “If that’s the best you can do.”

Rosie thought of calling Billy. Perhaps she could take Miranda away for a few days. But she didn’t want to put Billy in the middle.

At school, she parked rather than simply dropping Miranda at the front door. They walked together, Miranda’s warm hand in hers. Soon Miranda would tear away from her, veer into her group of friends.

“Bye, my love.” She kissed Miranda’s forehead, and her daughter embraced her.

“Love you, Mummy!” Away she flew.

Inside the school office, Rosie found Karina, the school secretary. “I don’t know if you can help. My grandmother died and I need to go to her funeral. It’s not a family-friendly event and so I’m hoping I can find someone for Miranda to stay with for a few days.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Karina frowned. “But —”

“I just don’t know any of the other mothers,” Rosie rushed on. “I’m always working so I don’t get to meet them. Or I’d ask one of them.”

“I wish I could help —”

A woman’s voice from the hallway, “Miranda can come with me.”

Rosie turned, and the woman continued, “I know Miranda, she’s in Margo’s class. She can come home with me. She can stay the night. Two nights. Whatever you need.”

“Are you sure, Ginny?” Karina sounded relieved.

Ginny held out her hand to Rosie, “Ginny Benoit.”

Rosie exhaled. “Thank you.”

She arrived at the care home five minutes late. The job was minimum wage — bathing the elderly residents, changing

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