No Place Like Home Ch 15

Rose wandered aimlessly around her new home.  The extreme boredom making her so miserable, she longed to return to work. Sturgis lounged on a cushion in the bay window soaking up a ray of sunshine, his red fur glowing a pale shade of amber.  Digging in her purse she pulled out the piece of paper with Margarite Talmadge’s name on it and placed a call to Charlie, but there was no answer.  1

She didn’t want to have to get dressed  to go to the library and put buying a new computer on her mental wish list.  Sitting down to a re-run of Jerry Springer, Rose was eating lunch when she saw a person walking up the stairs to her house.  She wondered why this stranger was just standing on her porch not ringing the doorbell.  Then she remembered that she’d removed the battery and walked to the door, hoping to figure out exactly who was stalking her.2

When she opened the door a woman she did not recognize in a brown leather overcoat immediately asked her if she was Rose Burkett.  Rose nodded and the woman handed her an envelope.  Before Rose could open it the stranger was headed down the stairs and back to her car.  She closed the front door and tore open the envelope with her thumb.  It was a subpoena with her name on it.  With everything else going on she’d almost forgot that she had made a deal with detective to testify in court and she was surprised no one had contacted her until now.  She had less than a week to prepare her testimony and decided that all she could do was tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth.  She wondered if Cassie had gotten hers yet and considered giving her a call, but as soon as she sat down the phone rang and it was Charlie.3

“I got your message.“ Charlie said, “Feel like taking a trip?”4

“Do I ever!” Rose said.  Are you wanting to leave right now?  I just got subpoenaed  for court.  I am supposed to testify, but nobody’s called me and although I think I’m a witness for the defense I don’t expect to stand up well in a cross examination, just because it is my professional opinion that she’s not of sound mind and I’ve got the ability to make that judgment call.  I’m really not looking forward to this Charlie.”5

“Don’t worry, I am sure that it will go alright.  If you‘re looking for a distraction you could come with me to Paola…I‘ve located Margarite Talmadge.  She‘s still alive and living in Stormont Convalescent Home  I haven‘t spoken to her directly, but the staff seemed to think she‘d be grateful for the company.  The person I spoke to says no ones been to see her in years.”6

After talking to Charlie Rose hung up the phone and put the batteries back in her doorbell.  Glad to break free from the boredom and with mention of taking a trip, Sturgis jumped from his sunny spot in the window and headed straight for the door.  7

“Not yet!” Rose said, laughing.  “We’ve got to wait on Charlie to pick us up.”  Sturgis let out a whine and plopped himself down in front of the door.  8

Rose washed a few apples in the kitchen and cut them into slices.  She was putting them in a Zip-lock when she heard Charlie pull up outside. Sturgis heard his truck to and immediately came to attention, greeting Charlie at the door by nearly knocking him over in a fury of fur and dog drool.9

“Before we go visit this woman, fill me in on what you know so I don’t feel stupid.”  Charlie asked, as Rose filled the cooler.10

“Well,” she said, “I’m pretty sure she’s related to Cindy Talmadge, judging by Gilbert’s reply the other day, she’s is aunt and since her last name is the same as Cindy’s I would bet she’s her father’s sister  or sister-in-law.  Should we see if Gilbert is at my parents house, maybe he should go with us”11

“Are you ready to go find out?” Charlie said, looking  curious.  Sometimes Rose forgot that Charlie was as interested in helping Gilbert as she was.12

Rose placed a call to her parents and asked if Gilbert felt like taking a trip.    No sooner had Rose gotten off the phone she saw Gilbert running down the stairs and across the street to her house. 13

The long trip to Paola was made a little better by Charlie’s taste in music.  The cab of his truck was packed with all of them squeezed in and Sturgis sitting on Rose’s lap, but it was warm and a feeling of excitement filled Rose’s stomach.. Her inner detective again coming to the surface, she couldn’t wait to meet Marguarite and hoped that she wouldn’t be so incapacitated that their trip was wasted.14

When they got to the nursing home, Rose jumped out of the truck and stretched her legs, Sturgis immediately found a bush, and Charlie checked the address to make sure they were at the right place, Gilbert however seemed to know  right where he was going so they followed him  As they walked in Rose remembered how she much she hated the smell and silently vowed to care for her parents as long possible.  The halls were long a skinny and the ceiling was covered with florescent lights, several of them flickering and near death themselves. Several Christmas decorations were still hanging on the walls and a man was sitting at the front desk. His stares made her uncomfortable and she averted her gaze..15

“No dog’s allowed,” he said, but you can tie him up over there in the lobby.  Sturgis whined as she tied him to the doorstop.  16

“I’ll be right back.” she said.17

The attendant led them to Margarite’s room and let them in.  A woman sat in a wheel chair facing the window.  Rose started to introduce herself but the lady did not respond.  18

“I don’t think she can hear you.” Charlie said,  walking over to the light switch and flipping it several times.19

The woman turned around and looked at her visitors.  Tears welled up in her eyes when she saw Gilbert.20

“Darlin’” she said and held out her hand. “Come here let me have a look at you.”21

Gilbert responded with so much affection, Rose was afraid he would crush the elderly woman.  She saw that Margarite was crying and handed her a box of tissues from off the nightstand.22

There was an awkward moment of silence where nobody was quite sure what to say.23