Page 55 of Distant Shores
The ringing stopped, then started again.
I snatched my phone from the top of the speaker and ran out the door, straight to Jillie’s desk, tap shoes scraping on the floor as I went.
Then I remembered she already went home and wanted to scream. Luckily, her replacement asked no questions when I explained that I had to go and agreed to make sure the Zinnia House residents in my class got to where they needed to be.
I changed shoes as quickly as possible, put the lanyard with my keycard around my neck, and then hurried out the back doors of the Locc.
I called Wilbur back as I crossed the courtyard on my board, heading straight for Zinnia House. Seeing that it was him calling and not the Zinnia House number made everything worse.
The call connected after just one ring.
“Ireland, hey.”
I nearly stumbled off my board at the sound of the deep, calm voice that was definitely not Wilbur Smith’s slow, measured drawl. “Adair?”
“Yeah, listen, Mr. Beck is having a bit of a hard time, and Pops gave me his phone and said I should call you.”
My heart dropped to my stomach. “Where are you?” I asked as I pushed my card against the sensor by the doors to Zinnia House.
“In the cafeteria,” he answered, but whatever he said next was drowned out by yelling.
“No, you don’t understand!”
That was Dad.
“I’ll be right there,” I said, my voice surprisingly level, before I ended the call and stepped into the lobby. I scooped up my board, put it under my arm, and shoved my phone into the little pocket on the side of my dance pants.
The nurse at reception tried to greet me, but I breezed past her in something between a walk and a run until I made it to the cafeteria.
I heard him before I saw him.
“I need to gonow!” Dad yelled.
I whipped my head toward the sound and slowed my steps, taking in the scene.
It was important that I thought before acting when Dad was in a fit. Sometimes my instincts only made it worse.
Nurse Kelly was there, trying to talk to Dad, but wasn’t having much luck.
I was not surprised. He was by far my least favorite of the care staff, but thankfully he wasn’t part of our team. He must be the other nurse on duty on this floor today.
Wilbur and Adair stood together a few feet away from Dad, and I didn’t see Adeline anywhere, which was a relief.
The fewer involved in this, the better.
“I don’t know who you think you are, keeping me here like this, but I’m going to be late if I don’t go now!” Dad’s voice was quieter now, not quite yelling, but it definitely had a threatening edge to it.
“Mr. Sewell, I need you to calm down,” Nurse Kelly said placatingly, like he was talking to a child.
Adair turned toward me, his dark hair falling over his glasses. He pushed it out of the way as he closed the distance between us.
My eyes widened in shock before I even knew why, and I glanced down to see his foot was in a walking boot now.
“How long has he been upset like this?” I asked quietly, keeping half my attention on Dad and Nurse Kelly, ready to intervene if the nurse stepped out of line.
Adair came to my side and turned so he could watch, too, his pine scent almost a comfort.
“Not long. Mr. Sewell and Pops were having lunch when we came in, but as soon as your dad saw Delly, he got upset, asking her what she was doing here. I asked her to step out, and that seemed to help. But then Mr. Sewell started saying he needed to get to a party. He isn’t as flushed as he was at the beginning, and he ate all of his lunch before it happened, so I’m thinking he was triggered by something. When Pops saw that the nurse wasn’t making progress with him, he told me to call you.”
