AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Oh, yeah, thanks. Sorry—I—”
“Wanna go for a walk?”
“It’s that obvious?” Gia shoved her free hand in the pocket of her 501s and took a draw from the bubbly water. Topo Chico was so much better than other sparkling water.
“Your complete discomfort? Yeah. You don’t have a poker face, p-p-poker face.”
Gia felt hip because she got the Lady Gaga reference and followed as Roxi led them to the walking path. “I can’t believe you’re leaving tomorrow.”
“It’s only for a couple weeks. I’ll be back. Maybe.” Roxi laughed a sinister little giggle akin to a stereotypical movie witch stirring a bunch of children in a cauldron. “Heh-heh-heh.”
“Um?”
“I’m kidding! I’ll be back. But what’s going on with you? I saw the baby poop face.”
“It was that bad?”
“Like you opened a fresh diaper.”
Gia sidestepped as a runner approached in reflective gear. “Oh, it’s nothing. Watching your family, I realized I need to go see my mom for Christmas.”
“That doesn’t sound so horrible. The way you looked, I thought maybe you’d fallen off—”
“Oh! No. Still on, it’s just—my mom is hard work, you know? I get anxious thinking about it—the stories in my head aren’t always—” Gia stopped herself. “Doesn’t matter. But there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask. I can’t figure out why they’re filming a reality show during the holidays. It seems like that’d be time off in Hollywood, too.”
“There’s a good reason.” Roxi took slow, purposeful steps. Her wedge heels weren’t meant for long strolls. “But I can’t talk about it. I signed an NDA.”
“NDA?”
“Let’s turn around here.” Roxi pivoted and kept walking. “Yeah, a non-disclosure agreement. It’s not like anything you’re imagining, that much I can say. You don’t know how much I want to tell you. But I can’t. You’ll find out soon enough. Anyway,chica,go seetu mamáfor Christmas. You never know when you won’t be able to.”
“You promise you’re coming back?” She skipped the sound advice.
“Lo prometo.” Roxi crossed her heart with a finger and then, out of the blue, kissed Gia’s cheek.
“Okay, good.” Gia whispered as a surge of familiar electricity raced through her body. “I’m gonna head out and let you have the time with your family. And—I hope you win. If that’s an option in this mystery show.”
“It definitely is, and that’s the goal! I’ll see you in a couple weeks.” Roxi hugged Gia in the most natural way—a goodbye for now; not forever. A last-minute wave and smile over her shoulder sealed the deal—she’d be back.
???
“Are you ready?” Derrick asked, one hand on a worn metal handle, the other gesturing for Gia to go first.
“I think so?”
It was less of a question and more of a questionable situation. They hadn’t heard from Emily Mitchell—and hadn’t expected to. The letter was a formality, a paper trail. A way to open the door to a conversation, and perhaps prep her caretakers that visitors were coming.
“Well then, here we go.”
Gia’d never been in an elder care facility; hadn’t had a reason. And yet, the air smelled familiar. Sterile and—what was that swimming pool aroma? Bleach! Just like the Fellowship Hall. Except completely different.
The walls were beige, lobby furniture—beige, and orderlies and nurses were dressed in scrubs—also beige. Employees walked efficiently, looking at clipboards and chatting to themselves. Gia’s head was on swivel—Emily could be any of the women lounging in the front parlor playing cards or sitting in wheelchairs along the wide hallways. Or none of them.
“Hi, we’re here to see Ms. Emily Mitchell,” Derrick announced to the receptionist tucked behind a desk and plexiglass barrier.
“Does she know you’re coming?” Fingers clacked against a keyboard.
“She does.” Technically, they’d told her.
