Return to Porter's Hollow by Yvonne Schuchart

Author:Yvonne Schuchart
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Yvonne Schuchart
Published: 2018-04-12T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

“Your hair is lovely, Aunt Hattie.” Laura stood in the bathroom doorway watching the elderly woman make a fuss. “Any way you wear it, it’s beautiful.” She stepped up behind her aunt and took a familiar silver brush from the aging hands. It couldn’t be the same one, of course, but she smiled at the thought. “Let me.” She spoke gently. The woman’s hair so soft, and snowy white, Laura marveled at the contrast between it and her weathered skin. Hattie closed her eyes and sighed as Laura drew the brush across her scalp. “You used to do this for me when I was little.” Speaking softly still, she watched her aunt’s reflection in the mirror.

“Mmm hmm, I remember.” Hattie raised her chin slightly, drifting off into the past without opening her eyes. “You had such a curly mop.”

In the silence that followed, a childish ache filled Laura’s chest.

“Your momma didn’t have the patience to deal with it.” Her aunt gave a small laugh. “She’d get so flustered when you cried.”

Laura shaped the wispy hair into a bun and fastened it in place with hair pins. “There, that’ll do it.”

Hattie opened her eyes and smiled at Laura in the mirror. “Thank you, dear. Now let’s see if we can get that pantry closet done this morning.”

The two women finished replacing shelf paper and reorganizing cans, jars and boxes. Then the elderly woman decided she wanted to go upstairs and work on the hall closet next. Laura, however, had been working on a plan of her own. She knew Blaine wouldn’t approve, but she’d already warned him she needed answers.

“If you don’t mind, I think I’ll go visit my grandmother. There are some things I’ve been wanting to ask her, and I’d like to see Loy again. He was pretty upset over things last time I saw him. I’d like to see how he’s doing.”

Hattie turned to her, eyebrows drawn, mouth pursed. “He was here a couple a days ago. Saw him walkin’ out the road toward the hollow with that hound at his heels.” She shook her head. “Thought maybe he was checkin’ to see if you’d come back yet.”

Laura turned to study the older woman’s face. “Hmm,” she sighed. “Well, maybe it’ll be good for him to see I’m alright.”

“I suppose.” Hattie’s frown deepened. “Just don’t be gone long. The sheriff’ll be worried if you ain’t here when he comes.”

Laura kissed her aunt on the cheek. “I won’t. I’m going to give my daughter a quick call first.”

She dialed Tara, but the girl’s phone went right to voicemail. She was probably in class. Laura left a message. She tried to sound hopeful and strong, but inside she trembled at the thought of how much time had passed since Robey went missing. She gave Tara Aunt Hattie’s phone number and address and said goodbye.

Before heading out, she dialed her boss. “Hello, Shelly? It’s Laura. I wanted to touch base with you to let you know what’s going on.”

“I’m listening.”

Laura breathed deep and dove in.

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