Page 76 of Last Call

“I can get it!”

“Ask who it is,” Ida reminded him.

“Who is it?” Owen called out.

“It’s your Uncle Pete.”

Owen turned to Ida with a giant grin. “I can open it?”

“Go ahead.”

Owen pulled with all his might to open the door. “Hi!”

“Hey, there, Owen,” Pete said, Hope’s feet dangling around his hip. “You ready to do some fishing?”

“Yep!”

“Got your pole?”

Owen grabbed his pole and held it up proudly.

Pete noted an unusual unsteadiness in Ida’s hands “Your seat is in the car,” he told Owen.

“Okay!”

“Put your pole on the floor before you climb in.”

“Kay!” Owen said. “Bye, Gwama!” He sprinted for the car.

“Don’t catch all the fish!” Ida called out.

“I will!”

Ida giggled. “Thanks for taking him.”

“Sure. Ida? Is everything okay?” Pete asked.

Ida sighed. She hated to spoil anyone’s fun. Word that Dora was at the hospital would spread like wildfire once Mary Branigan heard the news. “It’s Dora, Pete.”

Pete held his breath.

“I don’t know much. Dick just called. He said she took a tumble. It seems it might be more than that,” Ida explained. “They’re at UVMC. I’m going to head there now.”

“Call Andi.”

“Pete.”

“Ida, call Andi. She’s home. I know she is. She called me this morning. She’ll want to know. You know she will. And she’ll probably want to go with you.”

“I need to call Sylvia.” Ida’s heart dropped. “Pete.”

“Sit down. I’ll call Andi,” Pete offered.

“No. I will. I promise.”

“I can pick Evan up and take the kids to Riley and Beth, Ida.”

Ida smiled and reached for Pete’s hand. “No, sweetheart. You take the kids to the pond like you planned. I promise I will call Andi the minute I close the door.”

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