Fan Fiction ❯ Of Earth and Fire ❯ Addy. December 18, 1993 ( Chapter 3 )

ADDY. December 18, 1993.

 

Hello, Wimberley Community Center, this is Adamina how can I help you? Yes he is, please hold. - Phillip? You have a call on line 3. - Hello, Wimberley Community Center, Adamina speaking, how can I help you? Yes ma'am, enrollment in aerobics classes begins January 3rd. Of course ma'am, have a good day.

 

I hang up the phone and lay my head on the desk. I am exhausted and it is only 11:30 am. The phone rings again, but I wait for someone else to answer it. The Center closes tomorrow for the Christmas Holidays. How wonderful a break sounds. I am about to doze off until I hear a sound in front of my desk, alarming me that someone is waiting for my attention.

 

“Miss Walker,” a quiet voice falls heavily on my ears. I lift my head up to find Ashley Moon, a workout-trainer-in-training. She is wearing her Wimberley Community Center work out windbreaker jacket and her hair is back in a neat ponytail. I glance at her in puzzlement.

 

What is it, Ashley?

 

“Have you seen Trainer Preston?”

 

I pause and blink a few times, taking in the name. Roger? He's not in yet? I shake my head. She explains nervously how his workout class started thirty minutes ago and that he has not yet arrived. I quit hearing what Ashley is saying as my mind expects the worst. Even since Roger got sick he hasn't missed work…After everything he's been through he's hardly ever missed a single day of work. He hasn't called or let me know any thing was going on. Where on earth could he be? Is he home? Is he conscious? Is he…

 

I stand up and nod at Ashley.

 

Go and keep teaching the class. You'll be alright. I'm going to check and…see if he's come in and is occupied elsewhere. Yes, of course I'll send him your way if I find him. No, you've been an assistant trainer for three months now, you'll be fine! Yes - Yes, of course, now go…

 

I grab my purse and car keys, telling the other secretary that I will be back later and to cover the phone for me. She nods and I run out the door. The cold, winter air bites at my arms. I forgot my coat. I don't have time to go get it.

 

I am scared.

 

I know Roger's shift starts at 9:00am…he's over two and a half hours late. I think for a second, perhaps hoping, that his alarm did not go off and he just slept in. The car can't go fast enough to get me to him. I wait impatiently at a red light. It turns green. The car in front of me is not moving. I honk the horn…wishing I could run them over. I notice for the first time the ice on the road and the other cars are carefully taking their time. I don't have time for this. I need to get to Roger.

 

Finally the slow mini-van with a family of four inside turns and I am home free. It's okay, I tell myself aloud, I'm on my way…

 

It takes me no more than twenty seconds to get inside Roger's house once I stop the car. The front door is unlocked and I rush inside to find him laying on the couch. At first I cannot tell if he is asleep or unconscious. The dog is barking hysterically at my sudden entrance, and he does not move. I glance at the floor and see a knocked over glass of juice and an empty plate, ripped to pieces by the dog, and I know.

 

I run to the phone that is hanging on the kitchen wall, nearly tripping over the barking cocker spaniel, and call for help.