Things Happen

It was evening now, the house was quiet. Emmy thought back on the day. She thought about the harvest fair and being with Margo, her best friend. It had been a nice day, at least up until “the incident”.

Emmy thought about it and shook her head. Maybe I should have done more to help, she thought. She was startled now by a loud knock on the front door. She jumped to her feet. She wasn’t expecting anyone. She heard footsteps on the porch, maybe its not over.

It was a great day Emmy pushed through the front door to bring in small pumpkins and cornucopia from the festival. She left three pots of brightly colored mums on the porch. She had picked up planters full of orange, purple and yellow flowers. She looked out of the kitchen window to admire them as she placed the pumpkins on the countertop. They would be carved into jack-o’-lanterns another day.

Patrick, Patrick, are you home, Emmy called out. I’m up here Emmy, Patrick shouted. I’m in the laundry room. Emmy climbed the stairs to the balcony and gave Patrick a hug. Hi, she said, I’m back. Patrick kissed her and leaned halfway into the washing machine. We got a problem Emmy. Oh no, don’t tell me that the washer is broken again Emmy replied. 

Sorry to break the news to you, but yes, it’s broken. We’ve had it a long time, so got to admit, it’s time for new. Does it work at all? I’ve got to do laundry for the week. Sorry, you’re gonna have to go up into town to the laundromat. Uggggh, no she groaned, I hate going there. 

It’s just until we get another one. It’s not going to be forever, Patrick said. Hey, tell me all about your day anyway. Emmy pouted her lips and made a whimpering sound. Oh, come on, it’ll be fine Emmy. It’s just for the day. I know Patrick but I’m home after a long day and I just kind of want to stay home.

Well then don’t do it until we get a new machine. Emmy laughed, sure. I’ll just wear dirty clothes to work all week. Drama queen, tell me about your day, I want to hear all about the autumn festival.

Oh Patrick, it was wonderful. I met Margo and we walked around to all the booth’s. I got your mom a nice pair of earrings and I some other things, the craft vendors were amazing. We had pumpkin bread and pumpkin cookies and pumpkin coffee. It was pumpkin, pumpkin, pumpkin everywhere. There was a band playing. I think they were called the Local Squares. They were a fun rockabilly band. We danced to the music and everyone loved them. 

Oh and there was also apple everything and a booth with all kinds of cake and candy treats. I bought some mums and I put them out on the porch and then I bought some pumpkins to be made into Jack-O-Lanterns. We can put those out with LED candles. Patrick smiled. Sounds like a fun day. I’m glad you got to hang out with your friend and have some fun. Yeah, but now the fun is over Emmy said.

I’m going to get the laundry going, it’s getting late. I want to do it before dinner time. Maybe I’ll throw in a load and then I’ll come back to make dinner and then go back and pick it up. I can hang it out to dry here. Well, whatever you think is best babe Patrick said. Do you want me to help with it?

No, no it’s OK. Emmy said. I’ll just go on my own, no problem. I’ll be quicker that way. Otherwise we’ll get distracted and we’ll end up going somewhere else after that. I just want to get ready for the week, do my laundry, have a nice dinner and maybe watch a movie with you later. Oh babe Patrick said, did you forget, it’s my card night with the guys.

Oh, right, that’s right Emmy said. Sure, no problem. I’ll just put a movie on for myself. I’m going to get going now and get the stuff ready so I can be back to make dinner. Emmy went into the bedroom and grabbed the laundry bag. Patrick was still fussing with the washer and as she passed, he groaned, I give up. It’s definetly time to get a new one.

Let’s make it a priority this week. Good, Emmy said. I really don’t like going to the laundromat in town. I know, I know, we’ll go tomorrow night. We’ll pick one out and they’ll have it here in two days or so. Don’t you worry pretty lady.

Emmy laughed and headed out to the car with her laundry bag. At the car Emmy threw it in the backseat and got in the front. She headed down the driveway towards town.

It was a small town and there was only one laundry-mat there. Sometimes she went there to throw in the big blankets and quilts that their washer couldn’t fit. There was always a drama at the laundry-mat as there were apartments above it.

The upstairs tenants sometimes hung out in front drinking and smoking. The tenants from the apartments above always seemed to have a drama going on. One time when she was there, two of men got into a fist fight on the sidewalk. Honestly, the place gave her the creeps.

She pulled up in front of the laundromat and saw a short, blonde girl standing out front holding a baby. She looked a little confused and she didn’t have shoes on her feet. She rocked back-and-forth with the baby in her arms. 

Emmy got out of the car to open the back door and got her laundry bag. She really didn’t want to have any conversation with the young woman and tried to walk around her. Miss, miss, I’m sorry the young woman said, I’m looking for the troopers. I called them a while ago and I’m wondering if you passed them on the road. 

Emmy looked down at her feet No, no I’m sorry, I didn’t see anybody. Are you sure, the young woman said, really? I need to talk to them. Yes, I’m sure, maybe you should call them again. I live here the woman said gesturing with her chin towards the apartment behind her. I live above the laundromat and I don’t wanna go back in. I’m fighting with my boyfriend. There’s always trouble between him and me.

Oh I’m sorry miss Emmy said. Hey, maybe you can go to the gas station and call from there. Try that, that might be better. She tried to walk around her, but the woman stepped towards her again and stood in her path. Do you have a cell phone on you? Maybe you can you call for me. Just as the woman finished asking Emmy to call the trooper, a young man stormed out of the building holding a big plastic container. 

Hey, you forgot your stuff. I got everything you need packed in here. I don’t want you back, you get that baby out of here and get your sorry self out of here too. The woman clutched the baby. I said, don’t come near me. I don’t want no trouble with you. 

The young man took the lid off the top of the container after placing it down on the sidewalk. He was angry and started waving the cover in her direction. His hair was long and dark blond. He didn’t have his shirt on, and his jeans were dirty and ripped. He was thin, wiry and angry. Emmy stood in shock as he started waving the top towards the woman holding the baby.

You don’t belong here, you don’t belong with me. All your stuff is in here. take a look. He swung the cover towards her face as he stepped towards her. The young woman began to cry and scream, please stop. Emmy stepped away and wanted to go into the laundromat to get away from them. She thought for a minute and took a step back.

She planned to call the trooper station when she got inside. Wait a minute, I know you nosy girl, the man spun around and stepped towards Emmy. Your Patrick’s wife aren’t you? I know who you are and I know where you live. Don’t you get involved in our business or I’ll come looking for you Missy. I will take care of you nosy, that’s a promise.

Emmy wanted to either get back in her car or in the laundromat as soon as possible. Look, sir, I don’t know what’s going on, but I don’t want any problems. You better not want any problems cause I’ll bring them right to your doorstep, he replied.

Emmy saw the trooper car coming up the road. The young woman saw it too and started to scream frantically, trooper, trooper stop. The baby in arms started to cry.

The trooper pulled up to a stop and the man started yelling, you want me put back in, you better be careful what you ask for, you’re gonna get yours.

The trooper came up, put his hat on and calmly asked, whats going on here. As he stepped towards the woman, Emmy saw her opportunity to go.

Emmy stepped into the laundromat with her bag of laundry and stared out the door. Once inside, she partially closed the door behind her. She held the door open a bit to hear and watch the situation unfold on the sidewalk.

The woman started screaming, he hit me, he hit me and I have a four month old baby. He has a warrant out. He doesn’t belong in the house with us. The trooper asked, is that true. I’m going to ask for identification. Look, you’re going to have to go either way, so please be honest. I don’t have nothing the man yelled at the trooper. Nothing, he said.

Well the trooper said. I have you on domestic assault right now and if you also have a warrant and you’re not telling me the truth, that will be a problem for you. Yeah, so what the man started to scream at the trooper. Sir, move towards the car and turn around, sir.

The trooper asked him please cooperate and put your hands behind your back. The man suddenly got quiet. He paused and took a long look at the woman silently standing with tears streaming down her face.

She was clutching the baby to her chest. He turned around, leaned against the car and the trooper put the cuffs on the man. I’m gonna get you, he screamed at the young woman as he was led to the back of the patrol car. The trooper told the woman that another officer would be arriving to take her statement. The trooper placed the man inside the car and left.

Oh boy this is cray Emmy thought. The young woman entered the laundromat as Emmy stood there. I’m sorry I got you involved the woman said. I really had no other choice. I just needed some help.

I’m in a bad situation. I met him two years ago. He seemed like a nice guy at the time, but he changed. He started to drink a lot and he wouldn’t work. Look, I got involved too quick and see me now. I got hit in the face this morning and pushed to the floor and kicked.

He calls me all kind of names in front of the baby. So now what do I do? I have no phone, no family, no job. she stopped talking and stared at Emmy. Emmy was having trouble processing all of it. She didn’t really know what to say. Is it a girl or a boy she asked slowly.

It’s a little girl. Her name is Amelia. Amelia Emmy repeated, what a pretty name. Look, maybe you can call someone, a friend and they can pick you up. Or you can go to them, just get away. If it’s that bad just get away. The woman stared at Emmy for a minute and then she said yeah, I’m gonna get away. I gotta go back outside and get my stuff miss.

Thanks for your help. I don’t know what I’m going to do. Got to do something. I’m gonna get away for sure though. She clutched the baby, turned around and she left. Emmy was alone in the laundromat.

Emmy let out a deep sigh. She looked all around her to make sure she was really alone now. All the machines were empty. She picked one and got her change out for the machine. She loaded the laundry into it and started the machine. Oh man, I just can’t wait to get out of here. She picked up her laundry bag and left the laundromat. She got back in her car and headed back for home.

Patrick was in the kitchen when she got home. She told him about her experience at the laundromat. Patrick, How do you know that guy Pat? Oh, thats the guy I hired to help me load and unload the work trucks. I had been at the hardware store across from the laundromat. I bought some two by fours, for one of the jobs I was doing. I needed a hand putting them on the back of the pick up. I offered him a few bucks to help me load the truck a few times and bring it home. I do know who that is. He has come up to the house with me. His girl drove up to unload too. He must have seen you Emmy. 

Yeah, he was a little crazy even when he was working he would say he would use the money to go places. Your home now, babe. Don’t worry about anything. Emmy sighed and they went about the business of making dinner, they talked about what their plans would be for during the week.

They decided buying that new washing machine would be the number one priority. Patrick helped her put the dishes away after they washed and dried them.

Babe, I’m heading out. Do you want me to go back to the laundromat to pick up the laundry? No, no it’s OK. Emmy said. I don’t have to worry, he’s gone. Yeah, he’ll be sleeping in over at the station house with the troopers Patrick said. 

Emmy headed back down the road and toward the laundromat. You know what, she thought once inside, it’s quiet now. I’ll just throw the laundry in the dryer here. She loaded up the big commercial dryer with her laundry, put in a few quarters and sat down. Emmy pulled a book out of her handbag and began to read. When the laundry was done she folded it, packed it up, and headed back home.

The house was dark and quiet when she got back and she decided to put a movie on. Emmy scanned through the Netflix selections and picked a comedy. She watched about an hour of it when she heard a loud knock on the door. Emmy jumped, she wasn’t expecting anyone. There were footstep’s on the porch. Emmy lowered the volume on the TV with the remote.

She heard the footsteps clearer now. She heard the sound of her planters with the mums in them being moved. What the heck she thought, she peaked out the window and the porch was dark. She couldn’t see anything, but she heard footsteps walking down the stairs. There were no street lights in the area. She put on the front porch light, but she couldn’t really see anything.

Emmy went into the kitchen to look for a flashlight. She took the flashlight from the kitchen junk drawer. She carefully opened the front door. Emmy called out, anyone there, anyone there? No one answered. There were no more footsteps. 

The house had a wraparound porch. Emmy stepped out onto the porch by the front door. She flashed the light into the darkness, down the front steps and nothing was there. Hey, she called out, is anyone there. Emmy backed up and walked around the corner to the side porch. She flashed the light onto the floor and saw a box. She stepped towards it and held her breath. 

It was the box that the man had put on the sidewalk in front of the laundromat. What the heck is this box doing here? She took a step forward and the box appeared to move. She froze in fear.

She took another step forward and the box moved again. She stopped to think. She waited a minute and the box was still. She moved cautiously forward and stopped to peer into the box. Emmy lowered the light into the box to see. There, inside the box, on a pile of towels and blankets was a baby.

It was the baby that the woman at the laundromat was holding that day. The babies brown eyes stared up at Emmy. She had on a pink onesie that said mama’s girl. Emmy looked into the box and stood in silence. She reached down to pick up the box and bring it inside the house. Oh my goodness, baby Emmy said. What is going on little girl child. Emmy reached in to pick up the baby and held her to her chest.

The baby cooed and kicked her arms and legs. Emmy put her on her lap as she sat on the floor by the box. She reached into the box and dug through the blankets and towels to see if there was anything else in there. 

At the bottom of the box was an envelope Emmy reached in and pulled it out. The words on the outside of the envelope said, please open and read.

The note inside began, lady, I felt sorry to get you involved today at the laundromat. I was really upset. I don’t have anybody. I have no family. I have no home. I have no money.  The letter continued, What kind of life would this baby have with me? I know a little about life. I know your husband works and I know that you work. I think that with both of you around this baby, she will have a chance. If you call the troopers they will put the baby in a foster home.

Will you just take this baby and don’t let anybody know the baby is with you. Her dad’s gonna be gone for a bit of time, got a warrant for a bunch of things, none of them good. I’m on my way to somewhere now. I got a ride out.

There was a trucker in town this afternoon, at the laundromat after you left. He told me where he was going. I asked for a ride and he obliged. I can’t help the child. I can barely help myself. Please take care of Amelia and love her as your own. Nobody has to know where you got her from, you just say that she’s your girl. 

Emmy looked down into Amelia’s face. I could keep you, but I gotta let somebody know. I’n going to have to report this. Who do I call? I have to let Patrick know too. But I’m gonna make it my business to track down your mom. We got to get her back baby. We’re going to help her make things right for you and for her. I promise you, we are going to find your mom. I will help you both stay together.

Little did Emmy know, but with that promise, she was going to be embarking on a life-changing mission. Emmy was going to need to summon a great deal of courage and strength to bring the two together again. All of their lives were going to change. Emmy looked down at the baby and whispered, I promise to find your mom. So the journey began.