This is the third letter since the last phone call, the first was just a blank sheet of paper with no return address, the second had ‘thief’ pasted onto the sheet from newspaper cut outs, this one is typed on a computer.
Gathering up the envelope and letter, I pick up my bag and head into Maxton’s room where he’s playing with building blocks whilst a purple bear sings about friendship on the television.
‘Hey sweetie, Mama needs to go out for a little while, can you get your shoes on?’ I ask, putting as much enthusiasm into my words as I can.
Looking up at me Maxton frowns, ‘are we going somewhere fun?’ he asks dubiously.
I don’t blame the kid, the last time I did a spur of the moment outing, we were going to the paediatrician to get his shots. I kept chickening out of telling him before hand as I knew he would cry and I hate forcing him to do things he doesn’t want to do. Before I knew it, we were out of time and I said we were going somewhere really special. Maxie was pleased with the lollipop the doctor gave him afterwards, but I have forever altered his trust in me over spur of the moment trips.
‘I thought we could go and see some real police men’ I reply, crouching down to his level as he gives me his attention, curiosity piquing.
‘Do they have nee naw cars?’ he asks me, dropping the red block in his hand, ‘can I sit in the nee naw?’
I smile as I hold out a hand to help him up, ‘there will definitely be police cars’ I agree, ‘and maybe we can ask one of the nice police men and women if you can have a quick sit inside before we leave.’
‘YEAH!’ the little boy yells, scrambling to his feet and running from the room to grab his sneakers from beside the front door, me following behind to find him trying to force them onto the wrong feet without opening the hook and loop fastening first.
Laughing, I shake my head as I crouch down again, gently pulling them from his grip, ‘let Mama help you’ I offer warmly, pulling apart the fastener and tugging open the shoe before sliding it easily onto his foot.
Pushing on the other shoe, I smile as the little boy jumps to his feet, grabbing for my hand to try and get me to stand up so we can go.
‘Okay, I’m ready’ I laugh, grabbing my keys and pulling open the front door as I hold on to his hand tightly.
Descending the stairs carefully, we walk through the kitchen and toward the side door I use for deliveries. Stepping outside, I tug my cardigan around myself a little tighter, though it’s summer, there is a breeze that makes the late afternoon air feel cool against my skin.
Heading down the small alleyway, we step out onto the pavement and turn right, heading toward the centre of town and the police precinct that sits on the other side.
As we walk, Maxton points out things excitedly to me, and we step carefully in the squares that make up the sidewalk, avoiding the cracks, just like I did with my Mimi when I was little.
I smile at a few faces I recognise from the bakery when they greet me, avoiding their attempts to stop me for a chat as I don’t know when the police station shuts.
Thirty five minutes later we reach the front doors, Maxton’s eyes wide as he takes in the row of police cars that are parked outside.
‘Come on Maxie’ I cajole, tugging his hand gently when he stops to gawk at a brunette police woman as she strides up the steps in front of us, gun holstered at her side.
‘Mama’ he whispers in awe, ‘she’s a police lady!’
I nod as I grin down at him, ‘yes she is’ I reply to her, ‘she helps keep people safe.’
Climbing the steps, I push open the heavy glass door, stepping into the air conditioned space with Maxton beside me.
In front of us is a large mahogany desk with a police officer standing behind it dealing with a man who is waving his hands angrily at her. To our left is half a dozen uncomfortable looking plastic chairs, two of which are occupied. One by a man in a business suit that is holding a bloody handkerchief to his nose, a few seats away is a scruffy woman who is leaning slightly, a glazed look to her eyes as she stares unfocused in front of her.
‘Next’ the police woman calls out as the irate man in front of her is escorted away by a burly police man, who nods intently as the visitor grumbles loudly about who I assume is his wife.
‘How can I help you?’ the woman asks, glancing down at Maxton and smiling warmly.
‘Uh, I’d um . . like to report . . something’ I stammer out, suddenly feeling a little foolish, what exactly am I reporting? A few weird letters and some silent phone calls?
‘OK, what do you need to report?’ the officer asks me, focusing her attention back my way.
‘Umm, I’ve been getting . . ‘ I blow out a breath, ‘I received some weird letters in the mail, I’m not sure if they are something to worry about or not but they freaked me out.’
Instead of giving me a look of annoyance for wasting her time, the officer instead asks me my name, and picks up the phone, speaking in a low voice for a second before hanging up and meeting my gaze again.
‘If you take a seat just over there’ she tells me, waving toward the plastic chairs, ‘an officer will come out and get you in a moment.’
I nod dumbly, heading toward the chair and sitting on the very end one away from the other two occupants. Maxton climbs up beside me, turning to study the business man curiously for a moment.
‘You’re beeding’ he states loudly to the man, making him startle slightly as he turns toward the toddler.
‘Yeah, I know’ he grumbles back thickly.
‘Did you fall down?’ Maxton continues, oblivious to the fact that the man doesn’t seem to want to engage with him.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.