14
R oman rose from the chair and walked over to the sandbox. “Are you hungry? How about I make you some lunch?”
Ava stood up from the sandbox and reached for Roman’s hand. “Okay.”
As they headed toward the house, Roman asked, “What would you like to eat?”
Ava looked up at him with her big brown eyes. “Do you have any chicken nuggets?”
“No, but I can order some,” Roman replied.
A slow smile crept across her face.
Roman reached for his phone in his back pocket, but it was missing. Once inside the house, he searched for it while Ava played with her toys. He eventually found his phone on the coffee table and noticed he had a missed call and a voicemail from Travis. He played the message.
“I just had a visit from Emily. What the hell is going on, Roman? She thinks you hired me to drug her. She didn’t even know you were there that night. She’s going to the police. I’m getting out of town before we get arrested. I suggest you do the same.”
“Shit!” Roman exclaimed, shoving the phone into his back pocket as he began to pace. He ran his hands through his hair, and whispered, “What are you going to do? Think, damn it, think!”
Ava appeared beside him and said, “You said a bad word.”
“I did. I’m sorry. Change of plans. Your mommy called. We’re going to meet her. We’ll pick up McDonald’s on the way.”
“Yay!”
The moment he stepped onto the front porch, he remembered that Emily had taken his car. “Shit!”
Ava’s eyes widened.
Roman quickly put a hand over his mouth and said, “Sorry.”
Roman took Ava by the hand and led her down the stairs, guiding her along the long dirt driveway. After several minutes of walking, Ava stopped and said, “I’m tired.”
“I know, sweetie. It’s just a little further,” Roman reassured her. “How about a horseback ride?” He lifted Ava onto his back and began to mimic a gallop.
After twenty minutes, the neighbor’s cabin came into view. “We’re almost there,” Roman announced.
Ava peeked her head around his shoulder and said, “That’s not McDonald’s.” with a note of disappointment.
“I know, sweetheart. I’ll take you to McDonald’s as soon as I can. We need a ride into town first.”
Roman approached the house, pounded on the door, and then gently set Ava down. Her tiny fingers clutched his pant leg. Minutes felt like hours as they waited until the faint sound of shuffling footsteps reached them, accompanied by a weary voice: “I’m coming.”
The door creaked open to reveal an elderly man, his once-vibrant eyes now clouded with age, skin marked with time. Roman felt a jolt as he took in the man’s frail appearance, a stark contrast to the robust figure of the man he remembered.
“May I help you, young man?” the old man asked, his voice a soft rasp.
Swallowing the sudden lump in his throat, Roman managed, “Hello, Mr. Longford. It’s Roman Martinez. Do you remember me?”
Mr. Longford adjusted his glasses, pushing them up on the bridge of his nose as he leaned in closer, squinting to get a better look at Roman. “Roman?” he questioned, uncertainty lacing his voice.
“Yes, it’s me, Roman,” he replied gently.
A slow smile crept across Mr. Longford’s face as recognition dawned. “Roman! How have you been? It’s been years since I last saw you.”
“I’m good.”
Opening the door wider, Mr. Longford invited, “Would you like to come in?”
Roman hesitated. “I would love to, but I’m short on time. I need to ask for a favor.” Roman couldn’t ignore Mr. Longford’s frail condition. A wave of guilt washed over him for needing to impose. Looking for an alternative, he asked, “Is Mrs. Longford home by any chance?” His hopes rested on the possibility that she might be in better health and able to lend a hand.
Mr. Longford’s expression grew somber as he shook his head. “Mrs. Longford passed away two years ago. Cancer.”
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t know,” Roman said, his voice filled with regret.
He contemplated abandoning his plan and calling an Uber, but the risk of his phone being tracked by the police made that option unwise. After a moment of consideration, he asked, “Could I use your phone? I need to call a cab.”
“Don’t be silly. I can give you a ride. Where do you need to go?”
Roman’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Are you still driving?” he asked, unable to hide his astonishment.
“Not often, but sometimes.” Mr. Longford bent down to Ava’s level and asked, “Who do we have here?”
“This is Ava. She’s my friend’s daughter. I’m looking after her for a while.”
Mr. Longford smiled, “Hi, Ava. Would you like a piece of candy? There’s a candy dish in the living room. Go check it out if you want.”
Ava released her grip on Roman’s pant leg and bolted into the house, her eyes darting around eagerly in search of the candy dish.
Mr. Longford straightened up, reached for his cane, and said, “Just let me grab my keys, and we can go.” With deliberate care, he turned and made his way down the hallway, each step measured and cautious.
Roman went to the living room in search of Ava and found her with cheeks puffed out, trying to stuff several pieces of candy into her mouth. “That’s enough candy, Ava. You’re going to spoil your lunch.”
Ava placed the lid back onto the candy dish and sighed, her shoulders slumping with disappointment.
Roman took Ava’s hand but quickly let go, grimacing. “You’re all sticky,” he remarked. “Let’s get you cleaned up.” He gently grasped her wrist and guided her into the kitchen.
“Mr. Longford, can I use your sink? Ava’s hands are...” Roman froze mid-sentence at the sight of Mr. Longford lying on the floor, his car keys beside him.
“Mr. Longford!” Roman exclaimed, rushing over and dropping to his knees beside him. “Are you okay?”
Roman lifted Mr. Longford’s head, resting it in his lap; he noticed blood on the side of his temple. He must have hit his head on the corner of the counter when he fell. “We need to get you to a hospital.”
Mr. Longford slowly opened his eyes, looking around in disorientation. “What happened?” he asked, his voice groggy.
“You fell. You have a gash on your head. I’m taking you to the hospital.”
Roman helped Mr. Longford into a sitting position before quickly running to the sink to grab a paper towel. He returned and gently pressed it against the gash on Mr. Longford’s head. “Do you think you can walk?” he asked with concern.
Mr. Longford nodded and took over, pressing the paper towel on his head.
“Okay, we’ll take it slow,” Roman said, grabbing the car keys before helping Mr. Longford to his feet. He wrapped an arm around the elderly man’s waist, supporting him as they slowly made their way out of the kitchen toward the front door, with Ava following closely behind.
“Get the door, Ava,” Roman said.
Ava ran ahead and opened the door for them.
On the drive to the hospital, Roman’s mind was consumed with worry over Mr. Longford’s condition. Yet, amidst the urgency, Emily’s face haunted him. What was she thinking? He needed to see her—there was much he had to explain. But for now, it would have to wait. Regret gnawed at him for dragging Mr. Longford into this mess. His health had to be the priority.