Free Rock Harbor Series - 01 - Without a Trace by Colleen Coble Page B

long. Nothing would satisfy her but for Bree to find little Davy and Rob so they could all move on. Sometimes she felt stuck in an old black-and-white episode of Twilight Zone, facing a life that had been twisted by her own hands into something unrecognizable.
    She shivered and looked at the panukakkua. It was cold.

5
    O utside, the autumn sunshine lifted Bree’s spirits. She’d better enjoy it while she could. Once winter hit, days of sunshine would be replaced by gray clouds. On her way to the hospital, she passed folks raking leaves and mulching flower beds. Rock Harbor Hospital, catty-corner from Siltanen Piano Repair, was an unimaginative square brick building that didn’t do justice to its setting. Manicured grounds at the rear of the facility swooped down to a peaceful beach. Bree pointed to a blazing red-leafed tree close to the rear entrance and told Samson to stay. He sat obediently while she went inside.
    Emily was flipping through TV channels when Bree poked her head into the room. “Hi, sweetheart. Remember me?”
    Emily’s face brightened. “Bree! I was just thinking about you. Where’s Samson?”
    “He’s waiting for you in the garden.” Bree turned off the TV and glanced at the other bed. Timmy’s small face was turned into the pillow, and a slight snore issued from his nose. “How’s your brother?”
    “Okay. I get to go home when Daddy gets off work.” The little girl bit her lip. “I asked Daddy to stay with us today, but he said he didn’t get inventory finished yesterday because of my sen . . . sh . . . shenanigans. I think he’s still mad at me.”
    The plaintive note in Emily’s voice touched Bree’s heart. “He’s just glad to get you home,” she said. “But I’ll keep you company for a while. The nurse says it would be okay for me to take you down to the garden to visit with Samson. Would you like to do that?”
    “Sure!” Emily hopped from the bed.
    Bree found Emily’s fuzzy raccoon slippers under the bed. “Let’s hope these raccoons don’t lead you into trouble like the last ones.”
    Emily’s cheeks flushed. “I won’t do that again,” she said. She tiptoed to Timmy’s bed and touched his head. “I’ll be back in a little while, Timmy,” she whispered.
    Her brother just muttered in his sleep. Though his lashes fluttered on his cheeks a bit, he didn’t awaken.
    “Do you think we should leave him?” Emily asked. “He’s my ’sponsibility.”
    Bree put her hand on Emily’s head. “The nurses will take good care of him, sweetie. We’ll only be gone a few minutes.” Emily carried a heavy burden, and Bree wished she could ease it.
    Emily leaned her head into Bree’s hand. “That feels so good,” she said. “Mommy used to braid my hair before she went away. I miss her.”
    Bree swallowed hard. Did Davy miss her combing his hair, or were there angels to do it for him in heaven?
    Emily smiled up at Bree. “Do you think Samson will remember me?”
    “I’m sure he will. He was very excited when we got to the hospital. I think he smelled your scent here.” Bree took Emily’s hand. “I have a wheelchair right outside the door. The nurse said you had to ride down to the garden in it.”
    “Cool!” Emily raced to the door and climbed into the wheelchair. Her feet stuck out in front of her, and she wiggled her raccoon slippers.
    Bree wheeled her past the nurses’ station and into the elevator.
    “Have you ever been to Florida?” Emily asked Bree as the elevator jerked into motion.
    The look on Davy’s face when he saw Mickey at Disney World flashed into Bree’s mind. “Yes,” she said.
    “Did you go to Disney World? Daddy says he’s going to take us someday, and we can see our grandma.”
    Bree nodded slowly. “W—we took our son to Disney World for his first birthday.”
    “Oh, you have a little boy! I wish you could have brought him along for me to play with,” Emily said. “How old is he?”
    “He’s in heaven now, but he would be