Free At What Price? by P. A. Estelle Page B

death grip on my hand. The fear in her eyes was heartbreaking. I gave some flimsy excuse about school already being in session for the day so we would start fresh tomorrow.
    The receptionist said, “It won’t be easier tomorrow. I can assure you, she will be perfectly fine if you allow us to take her to class now.”
    This bitch had no heart. “I’m aware and thank you for your concern. We will be back tomorrow.”
    I took Rio to the store to buy school supplies and a few new dresses, but she seemed to retreat back to the scared little girl I found in the plane.
    At dinner, I talked about the new friends she would meet and all the stuff she would learn in first grade. I was babbling about riding the school bus when she interrupted me.
    “Mimi?” she whispered, “where will I go next time if nobody picks me up from school?” She bit her lip, as if to keep it from quivering, and her eyes seemed to fill her entire face.
    I pulled my chair next to hers and ran my hand down her mass of tangled curls, physically hurting for my granddaughter. “Rio, as long as you are with me, I will pick you up – always! That’s a promise. I love you and you will always be safe with me.”
    The next day, except for normal “first day school jitters”, Rio walked right into class.
    It only took a few days and Rio announced she was ready to start riding the bus and she was ready to sleep in her own bedroom. The uphill climb seemed to be leveling a bit.
     

TWO

    It was her eighth birthday. We sat at the table eating breakfast and Rio chattered on and on about her party that was being held that afternoon. She had planned to have Pin the Tail on the Donkey, musical chairs, and a water balloon toss.
    Rio looked at the door of the laundry room. “Mimi, what is that noise?”
    “What noise?” I asked.
    “That! It sounds like something’s scratching on the door.”
    “Hmmm. Beats me – maybe you should look.”
    She ran over and slowly opened the door. Out bounded a clumsy black Lab puppy I bought for her birthday.
    “A puppy! I’ve never had a puppy of my own.” She got down on her knees and was smothered in licks. “I’m naming him Blackie.” She ran to me and gave me a hug.
    “Thank you, Mimi. This is the best present I have ever had.”
    She had six friends over for her party. A few of the moms stayed, the others promising to be back at 3:00 to pick up their kids. Hot dogs were barbequed and a Dora the Explorer piñata was smashed to smithereens amid screams of delight as the kids dove for the scattered candy.
    Sheriff Tom Stone also came by. He’d been a friend of Sam’s and mine since we purchased the property. He was a regular visitor, always checking on me. When Rio opened Tom’s present she gave a yelp of excitement and exclaimed this was her first grown-up present. Inside the package was a packet of glittery, neon colored nail polish. For his efforts he got a big hug from her and nasty glare from me.
    Rio couldn’t have been happier. After all her friends had gone home, Tom stayed to help clean up.
    Once the place was tidied and back to normal, Rio painted Tom’s fingernails.
    There was a knock at the door.
    Rio jumped up. “I’ll get it!”
    “Mom!” Rio threw herself into the arms of her mother.
    Lacey hugged her daughter close.
    Then Lacey looked at me. “Hi, Mom.” She was so thin. “Am I welcome here?”
    She had dark circles under her eyes and a trace of an old bruise on her jawbone. My arms folded her into a fierce hug. Both of us were crying. “Are you okay?”
    “Yea,” she replied. Her eyes darted nervously around the house. “I’m just so excited to see my Rio.” Her laugh sounded brittle and she chewed on her bottom lip. She spotted Tom and looked at me. “Where’s dad?”
    “He died five years ago, honey.” I laid my hand on her shoulder and she seemed to flinch, ever so slightly. Probably just my imagination. She said nothing, but her eyes lit again on Tom.
    “This is Tom Stone. He