Gathering Roses

17.

Cass finally lifted her eyes, the scene in front of her a blur of activity. Every officer was working frantically. The sheriff was already talking to the PR lady while others photographed the body and took statements.

"Ma'am, sir." A voice interrupted Cass' silent observations. "We'll need your statements, too." The boyish junior officer led Cass and Tuck away from the main office area into a small office. Cass followed, dazed, gripping Tuck's hand for dear life.

He didn't complain, just squeezed her hand periodically to let her know he was there. Cass had no idea what the officer was saying. His voice washed over her, nothing processing. Everything sounded fuzzy. She stared at the wall, unresponsive. Only one thought was on her mind—where was Emmy? Was she ok?

The thought that had sprouted in her brain soon became an obsession. Emmy. Where was she? Was she still in danger? Cass' anxiety grew. She was vaguely aware of Tuck talking to the officer, but she slowly stood up. Her agitated state prompted Tuck to stop talking.

"I need to find Emmy." Cass opened the door of the small office, as if in a daze, ignoring the protests of the police officer. She strode out of the police station, gaining purpose and direction to her nervous energy. Tuck followed close behind. "Cass, slow down. I'm sure Emmy's fine. I don't think you should be driving right now, especially with everything we just saw." His concern, though well-intentioned, only further irritated her.

"No one is going to stop me from finding Emmy! I need to know that she is ok! Jimmy could have sent someone to hurt her!" Cass was yelling now, jogging down the sidewalk towards Tina's sedan. Tuck followed her, getting in her way to open the driver's door. She was about to push him out of the way when she heard a little girl's voice call out to her.

"Mama!" Cass whipped her head around and saw Emmy racing towards her as fast as her little legs would carry her, Tina trailing behind.

"Emmy!" Cass ran to meet her, scooping her up and squeezing her tight. "I love you." She whispered, kissing her soft head.

"Why you cry, Mama?" Emmy wiped away the tears that Cass had not even known were there. Cass chuckled weakly.

"Mama missed you." She said, hugging Emmy again. The young girl had had enough, however. She squirmed to get down out of Cass' grip.

"Tuck!" She ran to the man who had watched the tearful reunion and threw herself at his legs, catching him momentarily off-guard. He recovered quickly and scooped Emmy up, tickling her and making her laugh.

"It's lucky you guys got here when you did. I thought I was going to have to get the police officers to arrest Cass." He said, only half-joking. Cass stuck her tongue out at him.

"Yeah, what happened here? Everyone is going nuts!" Tina said, looking concernedly towards the station.

"Long story. Some really terrible things happened in there. Things we won't forget any time soon. But, later." Cass said, motioning towards Emmy. The weight of everything they'd seen finally finding her.

Although she did look surprised, Tina's face was not what Cass had expected to see. She looked as if what Cass had said had confirmed some assumption she had. Cass gave her a look of questioning, to which Tina also said, "Later."

"I think this little lady needs lunch." Tuck said, shifting Emmy in his arms. Cass smiled and reached for Emmy. He reluctantly gave her to Cass, but wrapped his arm around her waist, sending sparks through her whole body.

"Lunch sounds good." Cass said, although her appetite was gone. She really just wanted to close her eyes and forget the day. She could still see Jimmy pointing his gun at Tuck.

Tina looked back and forth between them, smiling. "I'll make some mac and cheese. We need a little pick-me-up too." Emmy clapped her hands.

"Yay! Ketchup?" This made everyone laugh, and the events of the day seemed farther away as they walked back towards the car. Their trauma would not fade quickly, but their new bonds of friendship and family would make strides in healing their hearts and minds. Cass buckled Emmy in, and caught herself instinctively checking her surroundings. She caught herself, realizing it would be a while before she could accept that Jimmy could no longer hurt them. She caught Tuck's eye as she walked around the car. She wouldn't mind figuring out this new way of life, she supposed. They buckled their seatbelts and drove back to Tuck's house, away from the police station, and away from the chains that had held Cass to her past.