Where Yesterday Lives Read Online Free

latest assignments. He had always been interested in the little-known details and behind-the-scenes anecdotes that went into her reporting. Now he was gone, and Ellen wondered if she would suffocate from the shock.
    “Are you okay, honey?”
    Her mother’s strained question pulled her back. “Mom, what happened?”
    “Well,” her mother drew a ragged breath. “He wasn’t feeling well when he woke up this morning, and he took a long nap inhis chair until about one o’clock. Then he got up and had something to eat. He was walking back to take a shower when he collapsed in the hallway.”
    Ellen closed her eyes, picturing the familiar house, its aging dark brown carpet and narrow hallways.
    “He didn’t have a chance. We lost him before the paramedics arrived.”
    Ellen was quiet for a moment. “When do you want me home, Mom? When’s the funeral?”
    “Oh, honey, I don’t know. I guess we’ll have the funeral next Saturday. That’s when your father’s sister can get here from California. I don’t know, it’s all happening so fast.” Her mom’s voice cracked and she began to cry “I guess none of us should be surprised, but it doesn’t make it any easier.”
    Hearing her mother cry triggered something in Ellen and she felt her eyes well up with tears. Her parents had been married thirty-two years. How did one let go of something like that?
    “Mom, you sure you’re all right? You shouldn’t be alone.”
    “I’m okay and I’m not alone. Listen, why don’t you try to get here Sunday Jane’s plane is coming in around noon at Detroit Metro. If you and Mike could get here about the same time you could all ride up to the house together. Then we’d have a week to take care of everything.”
    “Okay I’ll make the plans and call you back. Where will you be?”
    “At the house. I’ve already signed the death certificate so there isn’t much else I can do here.” Her mother sobbed softly and struggled to speak. “Dear, God, Ellen. How on earth am I going to get through life without him?”
    Ellen had no answers. She was too busy asking herself the same question.
    She finished talking with her mother and then moved into the next room. A shaky sigh escaped her and she stared at Mike. His long body was stretched out on the couch, his feet dangling over onto the floor. He had fallen asleep, still dressed in his designer shirt and tie, the magazine clutched in one hand. She wiped her tears and wondered why she was angry with him.
    “Mike.” The word came out flat, cool.
    He stirred and instantly sat up, wiping a trace of saliva from the corner of his mouth and trying to look awake. “Sorry, honey. What happened? How is he?”
    Ellen sat down in a chair across from him and leaned back, staring at the plant shelves that lined the high walls of their living room.
    “He’s dead. Died before the paramedics arrived.”
    Mike leaned back and sighed. “Ellen, I’m sorry.” He loosened his tie. “Come here.”
    She paused a moment. Mike had never made an effort to be close to her father, and now that he was gone, she was angry with Mike for not trying harder. He didn’t understand what she had just lost—and with all her being she wanted to refuse his comfort.
    Instead, she fell slowly to her knees and crawled the few steps that separated them. Then she dropped her head in his lap and gave way to the despair that gripped her.
    “Why didn’t he take better care of himself?” Her anger brought fresh tears, and they spilled from her eyes. “It makes me so
mad
at him.”
    Mike stroked her hair and said nothing. Finally, Ellen wiped her eyes and looked wearily up at him. He was her husband, and she believed God had brought him into her life. She loved Mike whatever his shortcomings, but she did not always feel loved byhim. He rarely made an effort on her behalf—especially where her family was concerned. Now his attempts to ease her grief seemed too little, too late.
    “My mom wants us to be there Sunday