The Crying Bridge

The Crying Bridge--Chapter 6

  As she had thought earlier, Del didn't arrive home until almost 6:30 that evening. She unloaded the groceries and supplies she had purchased and had just started unpacking them when she heard a car coming into her driveway. She went to the porch to find Mr. Robertson coming towards her.

"'Evening, Ms. Granger," he said. "I hope I'm not disturbing you."

"Oh, of course not," Del said. "What brings you by?"

"I just wanted to check in with you, see if there was any damage from the storms last night," Mr. Robertson explained.

"Only that," Del said, indicating the limbs at the side of the driveway. "I guess I got lucky this time."

"Well, the storms weren't as bad as some I've seen," he told her, "so I guess we all got lucky. I'll get out of your hair now, just wanted to make sure you were okay."

Del was really touched by his thoughtfulness. "Thank you so much, Mr. Robertson. I really appreciate you stopping by."

"My pleasure. You just let me know if you need anything." He started down the porch steps towards his car.

"Oh, Mr. Robertson, wait!" Del called. "I wanted to ask you something."

"Yes?"

"Well, I almost forgot, but for the past two nights I could have sworn I heard a baby crying somewhere nearby. Do you know if anyone around here has a baby?"

For a split second, Del was sure she saw a strange look pass over the old man's face, but it was gone so fast she was then equally as sure it had been her imagination or a trick of the fading light.

"Baby?" he echoed. "No...as far as I know there's no one close enough with a baby for you to actually hear it crying...are you sure that's what you heard?"

Del shrugged. "Pretty sure, I can't think what else it would be. It was just as I was falling asleep both times. The first night, I thought it was a dream."

"Well, then maybe it was. Or could just have been a trick of sound. You know, out in a wooded area like this, sometimes one thing might sound like another."

"I suppose," Del said, not entirely convinced. "It's just sort of weird."

"Oh, I imagine there's nothing weird to it," Mr. Robertson assured her.

Inside Del's phone suddenly rang. She said good-bye to Mr. Robertson quickly, went inside, wondering who it could be. Not many people had her number. She wondered if maybe it was Jenny as she picked up the phone and said hello.

"Del, it's Evan."

"Oh, hi, Evan," Del said, pleasantly surprised. "I didn't expect to hear from you today."

"I got your number from the school list," he explained. "I hope you don't mind."

Del laughed. "Of course not, as long as you don't give it out to the whole town."

"I wouldn't think of it," Evan replied, silently thinking he would rather keep her to himself. "Am I bothering you?"

"No, I'm just unpacking some groceries and such."

"Well, I know it's really short notice and we didn't' have plans, but I have some take-out food here, more than enough for two, and thought maybe you'd like to drive in to town and join me for dinner here at my place."

Del was quiet for a moment, then said, "That's really thoughtful of you, Evan..."

"But?"

"Evan, I would love to see you, but I thought we agreed last night to stay in public as much as possible."