Read Patricia Rockwell - Essie Cobb 04 - Ghosted for Free Online Page A

over to Essie.  Pru and the others followed behind.  “Pru and I are here as we promised to help you clear out your closet.  I’ve brought Bo and his friend Dugan to help us load stuff into our van.  Ned’s here to set up your new answering machine.”  Each of the three young men gave a cheerful wave at Essie when mentioned.
    “Hi, Mom!” added Pru, removing her jacket and placing it over a side chair.  She opened a plastic sack she was carrying and brought out a can and handed it to the aide.  “DeeDee, this is a vitamin supplement that Mom’s internist has added to her meds.  He says she needs a tablespoon of it in water or juice, morning and night.”
    “I just gave her the morning pills,” said DeeDee taking the can and returning to the sink.  “ I can get it started right now, Miss Pru.  You’ll need to alert Nancy, the head nurse, so she can add this to her list of meds.”
    “Of course,” said Pru.  “I’ll call her today.”  As DeeDee was opening the can of vitamin powder and adding the correct amount to a glass of water, the others quickly went about their appointed duties. Pru headed off into the bedroom, carrying several large black plastic sacks. The oldest grandson, Ned, carrying a cardboard box, immediately moved behind Essie’s recliner and started pulling out plugs and wires that connected Essie’s landline phone to the wall outlets. The younger grandson, Bo, and his friend Dugan––both looking appropriately bored and cool––remained ‘on call’ by the front door. DeeDee brought the glass of water with the new vitamin supplement to Essie which Essie downed quickly.
    “Yuck,” said Essie, handing the empty glass back to DeeDee.  DeeDee returned to the sink and rinsed the glass.
    “I guess we’ll just have to leave this can of supplement on the sink.  It’s too big to lock in the medicine box,” DeeDee called out to the sisters. 
    “That’s fine, DeeDee,” said Claudia.  “I’ll have Pru tell Nancy to let Lorena know that’s where we’ll keep it.”  DeeDee smiled and waved good-bye to Essie and headed out the door.
    “Wait, Claudia!” crie d Essie to her younger daughter who was heading toward the bedroom.  “What’s going on?  I don’t want an answering machine.  I told you that.  And I don’t want anyone going through my closet or taking anything out of it!”
    Claudia froze mid-stride.  Pru stuck her head out of the bedroom.  Ned stopped his machinations on the floor behind Essie’s end table.  Bo and Dugan, who had been leaning against the wall by the front door looking a little sleepy, now perked up.
    “Mom,” said Claudia, sitting on the sofa beside the recliner and reaching over to grasp her mother’s hands, “I thought we had settled this last night at dinner.”
    “You and Pru settled it,” said Essie defiantly.  “I didn’t get a say in it.”
    “But, Mom…”
    Pru moved over to Essie’s recliner and kneeled beside it so she could touch her mother’s arm.  Now both daughters were focused on Essie.  The three young men were motionless as the sisters spoke to Essie.
    “Mom,” said Claudia, “we’ve gone over and over the answering machine business.  It really isn’t negotiable.  We need to be able to leave you messages.”
    “Yes, Mom,” agreed Pru, rubbing Essie’s arm.  “You’re hardly ever in your room.  Sometimes I call you ten or fifteen times before I finally find you here.”
    “And we both have families.  We can’t spend so much time trying to contact you just to find you not here.”
    “That’s ridiculous!” snorted Essie.  “I’m here a lot!  I’m here now!”
    “Mom,” continued Pru softly.  “It would be such a comfort to me, and I’m sure to Claudia, if we knew we could contact you more easily.”
    “But girls,” said Essie.  “I just don’t see how an answering machine makes it easier for you to contact me.  It just makes it easier for you to leave me