Page 27 of Look for Me

Martin let him talk as they walked to the parking lot. He didn’t know what to say about that. Dad was getting up there in age too.

“Better enjoy life while we still can.” It was all Martin could say.

He heard squeals and peals of laughter from a bunch of kids behind him. The nursery must have let out. He wondered where they put the kids, but didn’t feel like he had any business asking.

“Mommy! Mommy!” The little girl’s voice sounded like bells.

“Dahlia! Dahlia!” a woman responded.

Martin froze. That voice.

Slowly he turned around.

Corinne’s back was toward him. Her arms were stretched out.

A little girl dressed in pretty pink, her wispy hair all askew, ran into those arms. She was about half the height of Corinne.

Tall for a girl who seemed to be about three years old.

I’m tall…

“My baby,” Corinne said. “Did you have a good time in Sunday school?”

“Yes, Mommy. We sang a lot of songs about Jesus!”

Hug, hug. Kiss, kiss.

Then Corinne held the little girl’s hand. They turned around and—

She froze.

Her eyes turned sad.

Like she was about to burst into tears.

She mumbled something that Martin couldn’t hear.

“Mr. Pete!” Dahlia broke away from Corinne and ran toward Old Man Pete, who was still standing next to Martin, right in the middle of the parking lot.

That one line played back in Martin’s mind as he turned his attention to the little girl—Dahlia was her name—now chatting away with Pete.

She looked like a miniature Corinne.

How old are you, little one?

Martin couldn’t get the question out. The words choked in his throat. “This is My Father’s World” played back in his mind.

Corinne walked toward them, slowly, as if trying not to stir him.

As she passed by him, she didn’t say a word to him.

Martin stared at the back of her head.

“We have to go, baby,” she said to her daughter. “Lunch is waiting for us.”

Martin almost asked if he could join them.

“Who’s cooking today?” Pete asked.

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