Mentally, she constructed her to-do list. She
needed to get to the office to confer with Vonnie about covering Henrietta’s
appointments. More importantly, she wanted to assure everyone that business as
usual would continue. She was familiar with the day-to-day workload after six
years at Henrietta’s side. She’d already taken on most of the manuscript review
and contract negotiations, and she’d just have to make room in her day for the
ones Henrietta still handled. She’d find a way. As soon as everyone was in,
she’d schedule a meeting with the division managers and get updates on all the
current projects. Thankfully, Winfield’s staff were experienced and
loyal—they’d all pull together until Henrietta returned.
Emily’s throat tightened. Of course she would
return. Resolutely, she washed her cup, set it on the drainboard, and dressed.
As much as she wanted to go directly to the hospital, she’d be doing more for
Henrietta to take care of the agency Henrietta had nurtured and grown for
thirty years than to sit outside her hospital room worrying. Besides, Derian
was there, Henrietta’s family, to take care of her. So she would take care of
the agency, her family.
Taking care of family was what mattered more
than anything else, and she had to put that first, as she always had.
She checked her watch. Seven p.m. in
Singapore. Pam would probably be in bed, but that didn’t matter. She just
needed to reach out to the rest of her family. Her call was picked up after
half a dozen rings.
“Alexandra Residential Care Center. How may I
direct your call?”
“Floor three, please.”
“Hold on.”
Another moment passed. “This is Adlina.”
“Adlina, hi. It’s Emily May. I just wanted to
check on Pam.”
“Hello!” Adlina’s smile came through the
line. “Let me get Yi Ling.”
“Thanks.” Emily smiled. No amount of money
could be too much for this kind of personal care, from men and women she
trusted with the person she loved most in all the world.
“Hi, Emily,” Yi Ling said brightly. “She had
a good day. A heron mating pair built a nest by the little pond at the far edge
of the back lawn. She sat outside most of the day, and you know how much she
loves to watch the birds.”
“I do, thanks.”
“When will you be coming by again?”
“Not for a few months, I’m afraid. But will
you tell her that I called?”
“Wait, wait.” After a pause. “Go ahead. Here
she is.”
“Pam? Hi, Pam.” Emily pressed the phone
harder to her ear, willing her sister to hear her voice in the silent world
where she dwelled. Every time she called, she waited, breathless and frozen in
place, for the sound of Pam’s voice, once so full of life and wild adventure.
“It’s Emily. I’ve been thinking about you. I love you, Pam.”