Page 47 of Hoodoo House
“Oh God, please don’t do that,” Mrs Cameron begged. “You know how long it took to get her in there!”
“I know your concerns and I’m fully behind you on that. I was thinking that if you could come in for a visit, maybe talk about old times, it could snap her out of it. Would you be able to do that?”
The wheels of Mrs Cameron’s mind began to turn. Henry gave her a glance then whispered, “Is everything okay?”
She nodded then motioned for her coffee, which he ran to her. She took a swig.
“Mrs Cameron. Are you still there?”
“Yes, I’m still here,” she said, trying not to sound annoyed. “I’m just figuring out what to do with my ward, here. He’s thirteen and not used to being on his own.”
“I can go with you!” Henry cried. She could hear the hope in his voice. He rarely got the opportunity to leave the property, but she would not expose him to Red Deer Retirement Mansion. Not Henry.
“I, um, guess I could leave him by himself for a while,” Mrs Cameron said. “That’s legal, isn’t it? To leave a thirteen-year-old on his own? I mean I’ll only be gone for the afternoon and into the early evening.”
“I believe that’s up to you to decide.”
“I’ll be okay by myself. I’ll be fine. Honestly!” Henry said, dancing around.
“Well,” Carol continued, “I’ll have to prepare his dinner and arrange for a driver…I could be there around four. Yes. Five at the latest.”
“That would be wonderful. I’ll let Florence know. That might help to shake her out of her state.”
“Well, in the meantime, keep an eye on her. I don’t want her running away like the last time,” Mrs Cameron snapped.
Miss Sweet hung up.
What a mess.
Mrs Cameron would have to press her best dress and do up her hair, although a hat covered many sins. Then there was Henry.
“When do you have to leave?” he said in excitement.
“Don’t be so quick to kick me out of the door. Some day when I’m gone, you’ll miss me all the time.”
“Don’t say that. Never say that,” Henry said, running up to her and giving her a hug. She wasn’t normally the hugging kind, but for Henry, she’d always make an exception.
“Don’t worry. I’m not done teaching you everything you need to know just yet. Be a good boy and call Lem Franklin. Tell him I need a ride to Red Deer.”
“Mr Franklin’s a bit sweet on you, isn’t he?”
“Now, what are you insinuating? That I would take advantage of Mr Franklin just because he may or may not harbour feelings for me?”
Henry grinned. “Nope. Just calling ‘em as I sees ‘em.”
“And I’ll be home later this evening, so you can occupy yourself with a bit of homework and maybe one of your puzzles.”
“I’ll be fine, Gramma Carol. I’m practically a grown man. I can take care of myself.”
Henry ran over to the phone and arranged for her ride as she fussed in the kitchen, preparing a cold dinner and hoping that Henry would stay out of mischief while she was away.
It’s only a few hours. What could possibly go wrong?
Chapter Nineteen
After Sinclair Yamada had left, Charlie pulled together notes on what he had gleaned during the interview then popped his head back into Declan’s office.
“Cody White is scheduled to arrive at three. Is there anything I should prepare?”
