Emma's Deliverance by Susan Vance Page A

one believed her. She felt the panic building up within her and her heart began to race wildly. She worried that he would be coming in the door at any minute and she became very afraid. She wanted her dad and the police to come there to protect them. She started to panic and began pacing the floor. Jody tried to calm her down, but to no avail. Emma could feel herself losing control. She hated that feeling, but she felt she had crossed over the line and there was no stopping what was to come next. Her throat began to tighten and she felt as if her heart would beat so fast it would just climb up her throat and out her mouth and flop out onto the floor. She held her chest, but she couldn’t calm down. She heard the words coming from her lips, but it was as if someone else was speaking. “Jody, call the police. He’s out there. Oh, God, he’s going to kill us all. Where’s Louie? Hide the baby. Oh, God, hide the baby.”
    Emma was screaming and there was nothing Jody could do to stop her. Emma ’s eyes rolled back and Jody guided her to the chair. The room began to spin and then Emma was out cold. Jody tried to waken her, but Emma only murmured, “Please, don’t hurt Mommy. Please, don’t hurt them.”
    Jody wasn ’t sure what to do this time. Emma was more out of control than ever before. She did what she always did and prayed it would work. She put her arms around her and softly whispered, “Shhh, Emma, Shhh. No one will hurt you while I am around. Shhh, Mommy is coming to save you.”
    Emma continued to softly whisper the same words over and over. Jody was doing what she had always done, but Emma was not coming around. It just wasn ’t working this time. Jody continued to hold her as she tried to comfort her, but it still wasn’t working. Jody was crying and barely above a whisper she cried out, “Oh, God, how can I help her? Shhh, Emma, Shhh. No one will hurt you while I am around. Shhh, Mommy is coming to save you.” She said it over and over until Emma began to quiet down and then she became very still.
    Marilyn came in and looked saddened to see her daughter sitting in the chair so quietly, not responding. “I called your father. He’s on his way. We need to get Emma to the hospital. I called Dr. Williams last week and he said he will admit her if this happens again. I just got off the phone with him. He will meet us there.”
    “ Mom…”
    “ Jody, we have to do this. Your dad is coming and we are going to take her to the hospital. Don’t argue with me. You know we have to do this,” she said crying.
    Mom, did you actually see Mr. Elliot? When I looked out I didn ’t see anyone.”
    “ Jody, it had to be Mr. Elliot. Ask Teri, she was at the door when this all happened,” Marilyn said looking puzzled.
    Emma was beginning to come around. Jody took her hand and smiled.
    “Emma, you need to go see Dr. Williams. He wants to help you get through this,” Jody said looking at her mother for help.
    “ Get through what?” Emma asked Jody. “I’m fine. I don’t like Dr. Williams. You know that. I won’t go. Forget it, Mom, I won’t go. I’m not a child anymore. You can’t make me see him. No way, I’m not going.”
    Howard came into the office in time to hear Emma. He knelt in front of her and whispered, “Sweetie, you have to go. You know I would never ask you to do anything that would hurt you. I love you more than you know. You are my daughter and I only want what is best for you. Please, let me drive you. Just you and me, okay?”
    Marilyn pleaded, “I want to go with you, please, Howard.”
    Emma was frightened. She didn ’t know what was going on and why everyone was so excited. She remembered nothing of what had happened. “Dad, I’m fine, really. We’ll close up the shop and go have some dinner, okay?” she pleaded with him.
    “ I insist, Sweetheart. Just come with me and everything will be okay. You trust me, don’t you?” her father asked.
    Howard reached for her hand and