The Lost Bee by L. K. Rigel

Amelia.

     
    Since Sara’s husband was RIF’d last year, he’d been waiting on tables at a steakhouse at The Fountains. From the beginning their marriage had been difficult, and this last year hadn’t helped. With Sara working days and Bram working nights, everything they did together was at odd hours. Like today, meeting for dinner at four o’clock before his shift started.
    She parked at the restaurant next door to where Bram worked . As she turned off the car, her phone buzzed with a text from him. There was also a voicemail from an area code she didn’t recognize. It must have come in while she was at school and had the sound turned off.
    Babe , Bram’s text said, I will b erl get table, kiss kiss . She smiled and logged on to her voicemail.
    “Hi. I hope this is Sara Lyndon,” said a cheerful unfamiliar voice. Sara stayed in the car to listen. “My name is Bonnie Norquist. I know your great aunt, Amelia Lyndon. Amelia had a fall this morning.”
    Sara froze. Her premonition had been right.
    “She’s fine!” The message went on. “Oh, my god! I should have said that first.”
    You think?
    “Anyway, she broke her ankle pretty bad. Dr. Kasaty admitted her to rehab. I’m calling because you’re listed as next of kin on the paperwork. You might want to give the rehab facility a call.”
    Sara played back the message and wrote down the number the woman left. Her ears burned as she punched it in. You might want to give the rehab a call. As if she hadn’t tried to talk to Aunt Amelia so many times over the years!
    Someone answered, “Pelican Chase Rehab.” The receptionist put the call through to Aunt Amelia’s room.
    “I’ll be fine, dear.” Aunt Amelia didn’t sound fine. She sounded tired and weak. “I just need therapy on my leg. Bonnie’s made all the arrangements.”
    “Who is Bonnie?” Sara felt like a jealous child. “I’m your flesh and blood. Your closest relative.” Technically that was true; her father, Amelia’s nephew, was in Texas with Sara’s little sister and his new wife. “I’m coming to see you.”
    There was a pause.
    “Aunt Amelia?”
    A longer pause.
    “Are you there?”
    “All right, dear.” There was a world of meaning in that all right. As if a decision had been made, more than mere agreement. There was defeat…and acceptance. “But wait until I’m out of this place. Then you come to Turtledove Hill, Sara, and we’ll have a long talk. It’s time.”
    It’s time.
    Something in Sara broke loose, something deep inside. It broke loose and burst forth and flooded into the light of day from a place long hidden.
    end of excerpt