All That's Missing (25 page)

Arlo blushed. “It's just that you might not be too comfortable.”

“I appreciate your concern.” Ida placed her spoon sideways on her dessert plate and blotted the sides of her mouth with her napkin. “Maybe it would be best to figure things out after we get there. What do you say?”

“That sounds good,” Arlo said. He finished the rest of his pie and ice cream. As they were carrying dishes to the sink, he had another thought. Why had she decided to go now?

Why tomorrow morning, instead of yesterday or two days from now? OK, she said it was because she and Mr. Tretheway had made good progress. But what did that mean? What
kind
of progress had they made? Who had they talked to?

Wait a minute. What if going to Marshboro wasn't really about seeing Poppo at all? What if it was about something entirely different — something like where Arlo was supposed to stay?

“You didn't talk to anyone else, did you?” Arlo asked.

“A few people,” Ida said, smiling her tight little smile that sent chills down Arlo's spine.

He should have known something was up. He remembered that nurse at the hospital talking to Ida the day he first arrived. He remembered the look on Ida's face as she answered the nurse's questions.
I'm not sure about that,
she'd said.
How soon would you need to know?
Her face had gone white first, and then pink, and finally, bright crimson.

She must have had plans all along to turn him over to the authorities. Wasn't it obvious? No wonder she was so happy. One more day and she'd have Arlo off her hands.

“Do you mind if Augusta comes with us?” Ida asked.

Arlo looked at her. His mind was spinning. Would she really abandon him right when he needed her most?

“She offered to help with the driving.”

“What? Mrs. Stonestreet? Oh, sure. That's OK with me.” What difference did it make who went with them? If you were going to the guillotine, did it matter how many people climbed the steps to the platform with you?

“Fine. First we'll go to the hospital. We'll have a nice visit with Albert and then help him with the move.”

“Move?” Arlo asked.

“Yes. Didn't I tell you?” Ida said. “They're releasing him to a convalescent facility.”

Releasing
him? Geez, she made it sound like he was getting out of prison. “I didn't know.”

“Yes. Dr. Simon says they've done all they can for him in the hospital. He thinks it would be helpful if we were there to help Albert get settled in a new place.”

“But won't he miss Eldon?”

“We talked about that, too,” Ida said. “It seems that Eldon is being discharged at the same time. And the residential facility where Albert is going is actually part of the complex where Eldon is moving. They'll be within walking distance of each other.”

That was good news. At least Poppo would have a friend, even if things didn't work out so well for Arlo.

“I'm glad for that,” Arlo said.

“Yes. It's perfect, really, isn't it?” Ida said. “So, what we'll do is, we'll help him get settled in the new place tomorrow. Then you and I have an appointment at the hospital.”

“An appointment?”

“It's at four o'clock.”

Arlo's heart dropped even further in his chest. She had had it planned all along, hadn't she? “Who do we have to see at the hospital?”

“Don't worry. It's just a formality,” Ida said. “They told me it will only take a few minutes.”

To think he'd actually allowed himself to believe she wanted him. To think he could have been so foolish.

He'd allowed his imagination to go crazy, conjuring up all kinds of things — waking up in his father's old room and coming downstairs to find Ida sipping hot tea at the kitchen counter. Fixing hot chocolate for him. Fat chance of that. Arlo should have known better than to believe in fairy-tale endings. Life didn't happen that way. In real life, orphans didn't find a new home with a long-lost grandmother who was dying to take care of him.

He needed to stay calm and think clearly. He needed to stay in control of his life. If getting to Edgewater had been a challenge, imagine how hard escaping foster care would be when the person he had depended on for help turned out to be the person he needed to get away from. A measly mud-and-stick dam wasn't much protection.

It was time for a new plan. He needed the basics. Food and shelter. But he couldn't manage that on his own. He needed help.

And who did he have?

Maywood.

And, maybe, Sam.

Arlo racked his brain all afternoon and into the evening. And then, finally, the answer came to him.

“Arlo?”

“Hi, Sam.”

“Where are you?”

“Edgewater.”

“You made it?”

“Yeah.”

“Are you all right?”

“I'm OK.”

“What's going on? Did you find your grandmother? It's been two weeks.”

“I know. Sorry. I was going to call sooner, but it's been kind of crazy here. And I don't have a cell phone.”

“What's she like?”

“Who? My grandmother? She's uh . . . hard to describe, you know?”
Hint, hint.

“Oh, yeah. I get it. You think she's listening.”

“Exactly.” Arlo wasn't sure how much Ida could hear from the bathroom, but he knew he could hear every word she said on the phone from his father's room.

“Gotcha.”

“She said I could call you because we're coming to Marshboro tomorrow.”

“Seriously?”

You have no idea how serious I am,
Arlo thought. “We have to get together, OK?”

“Yeah. Definitely.”

Then Arlo lowered his voice to a whisper. “I need your help,” he said.

“What's wrong?”

“Remember that story you told me?”

“Which one?”

“About the rat.”

“Yeah?”

“Is it true?”

“Yeah. But what's that got to do with you? You're not going to a foster home, are you?”

“That's right. . . . I mean, I'm not sure. Maybe.”

“Oh, geez.”

“I know.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Meet me at the hospital.”

“When?”

“Four o'clock.”

“OK. But where in the hospital? It's a big place.”

“The machines in the snack bar in the basement,” Arlo whispered. “Do you know where they are?”

“Yeah. I think so. We went there when Aunt Betty's friend was sick.”

Arlo whipped around quickly when he thought he heard someone on the stairs, but it turned out to be a shutter creaking in the wind.

“I better go now. See you tomorrow. OK?”

“I'll be there,” Sam said.

For a moment after he'd hung up, Arlo sat there, working through each step of his plan. It was all coming together now. He still didn't know how long he could last once he'd escaped, but at least he'd figured out a way to stay out of Miss Hasslebarger's clutches for a while. He went over the plan in his head.

The idea of hiding in Aunt Betty's apartment had come to him when he'd been lying in bed, trying to figure out where he could go.
Where was a place that was close enough to Sam, but where nobody would think to look for a missing boy?
He'd started thinking about places where he and Sam had hidden when they'd known they were in trouble. He remembered the time they'd broken the knob off the banister in Sam's great-aunt's house. Sam had taken him to the garage apartment and told him they should stay there until Aunt Betty cooled down.

“She never comes up here,” Sam said. “We'll be safe.”

It was the perfect hideout.

Poppo wasn't doing so well when they called the hospital before dinner.

“Did I tell you about Eldon?” Poppo asked. “He used to be friends with Frankie.”

Arlo's heart skipped. “I think you mentioned him a couple of times.”

“I taught Eldon how to do layups. Now he turns up here in the hospital. Right down the hall.”

“I think you told me that the last time we talked.”

“Did I? Sometimes my memory gets confused.”

“That's OK.”

“Is somebody there with you?” Poppo asked. “I hear something moving.”

“That's just Steamboat trying to jump in my lap.”

“Who's Steamboat?”

“Ida's dog.”

Poppo chuffed out a sigh. “A dog, huh? Just like you always wanted. I should've gotten you one.”

“That's OK.” Arlo's heart bumped against his ribs. The last thing he wanted was to make Poppo feel bad.

“Are you still coming to see me?”

“We're leaving first thing in the morning,” Arlo said.

“When will you be here?”

“After lunch.”

“That's good. I haven't seen you for a long time.”

“Two weeks,” Arlo said.

“Is that how long it's been?”

Arlo's throat tightened. Poppo would probably have forgotten their conversation before Ida and Arlo finished eating dinner.

Poppo coughed. He was getting tired. Their conversations rarely lasted more than a few minutes these days.

“Maybe you should put that other lady on the phone,” he said.

“You mean Ida?”

“Is that her name?”

Arlo swallowed a moan. “I'll get her for you now,” he said.

“Thanks, buddy.”

“You're welcome. Love you, Poppo.”

“I love you, too.”

Arlo sat on the prickly sofa and listened to Ida's side of the conversation. All she said was
Yes
and
No
and
I'm not sure.
Finally, she told Poppo she was glad to hear him sounding so good and to be sure to tell his friend Eldon that she and Arlo were looking forward to meeting him.

“Is Steamboat coming with us?” Arlo asked after Ida hung up the phone.

“I wish he could, but we won't have anywhere to leave him while we're visiting with Albert in his room.”

“I didn't think about that,” Arlo said.

“Neither did I until Augusta pointed it out,” Ida said.

Steamboat jumped in Ida's lap and starting licking her cheek.

“Sorry, boy. You know we'd take you if we could,” she said.

Arlo reached over and scratched Steamboat behind his ears. “I don't guess we could leave him in the car, could we?”

Ida rolled her eyes. “I'm not trying that again,” she said.

“I guess not,” Arlo agreed. “So where will he stay?”

“With Maywood. Matthew and Lucius will keep an eye on him while she's in school.”

“That won't be so bad.” Arlo ruffled Steamboat's ears. “I'll miss you,” he said.

Steamboat barked and licked Arlo's cheek.

“He'll miss you, too,” Ida said.

A damp chill crept up Arlo's spine. How could she smile when she knew perfectly well Arlo was never going see Steamboat again?

Ida looked at him over Steamboat's head. “I know we should have done this sooner,” she said. “I'm sorry, Arlo. All this business about the house has had me in a tizzy.”

“That's OK,” Arlo said, keeping his eyes on the floor. He couldn't look at her. Two days ago, it would have meant so much to him to hear her apologize for not taking him to see Poppo sooner. But this trip wasn't really about visiting Poppo, was it?

“We'll leave right after breakfast. How does that sound?”

“Fine,” Arlo said. His voice was flat.

“Is something wrong?”

“No. Everything's fine.”

She studied his face for a moment until she seemed satisfied that everything was all right. Then she gave a nod.

“Good,” she said. “It's settled, then.”

The next morning, they had the car loaded and ready to go before seven. Ida packed a bag with Steamboat's dog food and treats, as well as his favorite blanket. They dropped him off at Frog Creek first. Then they swung around the corner and down the street to Augusta's house.

She was waiting for them on her front porch, sitting in her rocking chair with a suitcase and an ancient-looking thermos, which she informed them was filled with hot coffee.

“Right on time,” she said as they climbed the porch steps.

Arlo picked up her suitcase and carried it to the trunk of Ida's car.

Ida drove the first two hours. Then Augusta took the wheel and drove until they stopped in Lewisburg for lunch. Arlo's stomach rolled the whole time. What if his plan didn't work? What if Sam wasn't waiting for him at the hospital?