Cracks in the Sidewalk(87)

“I doubt we will,” the clerk replied, “and even if we did, that information is restricted. The law prohibits our releasing it to just anybody.”

“I’m not anybody, I’m his grandmother!”

“That may be,” the clerk replied, “but if Mister Caruthers wanted you to know where David is, I think he would have told you.”

After leaving the clerk, Claire and Mildred went in search of room 208 where Carolyn Platt taught first grade.

“We miss having David in our class,” she cooed. “How is he doing in his new school?”

“I wish I knew,” Claire replied sadly. “Our son-in-law has taken all three of the children and disappeared.”

“Disappeared?”

“Completely. No forwarding address, nothing.” Claire’s eyes began to grow teary. “I was wondering if David ever mentioned where they were going.”

“No, he didn’t,” Carolyn said sympathetically. “As a matter of fact, his father pulled him out of class one day and that was that. I never even had the opportunity to say goodbye.”

That evening Claire telephoned Jeffrey’s parents in Florida.

“I understand your loyalty to your son,” she explained, “but I’m not looking to cause trouble. I’m only interested in seeing my grandchildren and—”

Before she could mention helping Jeffrey with any financial problems, the irate Emma Caruthers began screaming in her ear.

“How dare you! What audacity! You have some nerve asking for my help after all the hateful things your family has done to my boy!”

“We’ve never done—”

“Don’t think you can lie to me! Jeffrey’s told me all about you and that miserly husband of yours!”

“I’m afraid you’ve been misinformed, Charlie actually helped Jeffrey to—”

“To drive him out of business! That’s what he helped do!”

“Maybe we can make things right with Jeffrey,” Claire said, sounding conciliatory. “If you could just give me his new address—”

Emma screamed, “Hell will freeze over first!”

~

No stone was left unturned in the search for the Caruthers family. Charlie spoke with banking associates and fellow members of the Chamber of Commerce, tactfully inquiring whether anyone had heard from Jeffrey or knew of his whereabouts. The answer was always a shake of the head. Claire and Mildred bundled themselves in sweaters and tromped up and down the streets questioning neighbors and conversing with children at play in hopes of finding David and Kimberly’s new address.

Shortly after Thanksgiving the weather became blustery, playgrounds emptied out, and the last vestige of leaves disappeared from trees, but still there was no word of David, Kimberly, or Christian. When the frosty winds of December drove everyone inside Claire made telephone calls. She called the children’s dentist, their pediatrician, even a children’s wear shop on the far side of Union, but the answer was always the same. No one, it seemed, knew anything. The family had simply vanished.

Although Claire grew teary-eyed at the mere mention of grandchildren she clung to a thread of hope and followed every imaginable lead, none of which proved successful.

Then on a day when the wind rattled windows and upended garbage cans Louise Farley, a frail wisp of a woman well into her eighties, came knocking at the door.

“What are you doing out in this weather?” Claire said as she tugged the tiny woman inside.

“I came to ask a favor,” Louise said in spurts, trying to catch her breath.

Claire took hold of her arm. “First sit down and have a cup of tea. You’ve no business being out in this weather.”

Still shivering, Louise said, “This isn’t so bad. In Minnesota over Thanksgiving it was so cold my bones nearly froze.”

“Minnesota?” Claire said. “What in the world were you doing in Minnesota?”

“Visiting my sister, Clovis. Minnesota’s a nice enough place but way too cold for the likes of me.” Louise wrapped her bony fingers around the steaming cup of tea. “When you and Charlie go out there be sure to bring plenty of warm clothes, because you’re gonna need them!”

Claire laughed. “Oh, I doubt we’ll be going to Minnesota.”

“You’re not planning to visit the grandchildren?”

“You mean our grandchildren?” Claire asked.

“Yes,” Louise answered, “David, Kimberly, and the little one—what’s his name?”

“Christian.”

“Yes, that’s it, Christian.”

Claire felt her heart jump. “You know where they live?”

“Not really. But they were at the Minnesota State fair when I saw Clovis in the fall, so I’d guess somewhere in Southern Minnesota or maybe Wisconsin.”

Claire gasped. “You’ve seen them?”

“Not since September.”

“Where?”

“The Minnesota State Fair,” Louise repeated. “It’s quite an event. There’s livestock shows, a big Ferris wheel, kiddie rides, and every kind of food imaginable, even fried cheese. Can you believe—”

“You saw Liz’s kids? Our grandchildren?” Claire asked again.

“Oh, yes. They were there, all three of them. They were with their daddy and some girl who looked to be half his age. David, he saw me before I saw him. He started waving and calling out ‘Hi, Miss Louise,’ but that girl yanked him and Kimberly away before I got a chance to talk to them.” The old woman’s face wrinkled with disdain. “That girl looked like a trashy sort.”