by Lynn Ames
Brooke wrapped her fingers around Diana’s wrist. “Charles is Nora’s attorney. Perhaps she wants to discuss a business matter with him in private.”
Diana pulled away from Brooke’s grasp and seemed as though she would balk.
Nora knew she needed to do something. “Exactly so, my dear. Very perceptive of you. It’s nothing to concern yourself about, Diana,” she rushed on, seeing the wounded expression on her great-niece’s face. “Just tidying up some last-minute details.”
Diana finally lowered her arms to her sides. “You’ll call us if you need us?”
“I promise.” Nora crossed her heart with her fingers. “I’ll even keep the oxygen on.”
The doorbell rang and Nora called, “It’s open!”
Charles’ tall form filled the doorway. “Come in, come in, dear Charles. It’s so good to see you. You brought Emily?”
“I’m here.” A petite woman with a winning smile playfully pushed past Charles.
“Ah, excellent. You see?” Nora said to Diana, “I’m in wonderful hands. Charles, you’ve already met my great-niece, Diana. This is my dear friend and caregiver, Brooke Sheldon. Brooke, this is my favorite attorney, Charles Fitzgerald, and his wife, Emily.”
“I’m your only attorney, Nora.”
“Don’t quibble with me, Charles. I’m paying you a compliment.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you both,” Brooke said.
“Nice to meet you too,” Emily answered. “And you, Diana.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“Diana and Brooke were just on their way out to lunch,” Nora supplied. “Have fun, girls. No need to hurry back. Take your time.”
Diana looked questioningly at Brooke, who nodded. “Right. Call us if you need anything.”
“Don’t be such a worrywart. I’ll be fine.”
Diana grabbed her car keys off the table, and she and Brooke headed toward the door.
Brooke circled back. “If you have any questions or Nora needs anything, I’ll write my cell number down for you.” She grabbed a notepad and pen off the counter and scribbled down her number.
“We’ll take good care of her, we promise,” Emily said.
“We’ll be back in about an hour.” Diana and Brooke took their leave.
“Sit down, sit down, you two. It’s wonderful to see you both.” She did her best to sound upbeat, although her energy was waning again.
Charles put down his briefcase, brought over a kitchen chair for Emily, and pulled up another one for himself. “You look fabulous as always.”
She chuckled and it came out as a wheeze. “You’re a horrible liar, Charles. It’s one of the reasons I always knew you were giving me true advice. If you hadn’t been, I’d have known it.”
“I’m deeply wounded.”
“And here I thought all lawyers had thick skin.” She fought for another breath. “I’m so glad you were able to come.”
Emily took her hand. “Are you kidding? Wild horses couldn’t have kept us away.”
“She’s a good one, Charles. Hold on tightly to her.”
“I plan to.”
She nodded. They were good together. Diana and Brooke would be good together too, she knew. She just needed to give them a push.
She stirred as gentle hands settled a blanket over her. Had she fallen asleep? She struggled to open her eyes. Charles and Emily were standing over her, their faces a vision of sorrow and worry.
“You two look like you’ve been to a funeral.” She smiled, hoping it would lighten the mood. “I’m sorry. I seem to have trouble keeping my eyes open these days.”
“No apology necessary. We don’t want to wear you out.”
“Nonsense. I’ll have plenty of time to rest later. Right now, I need you to do something for me, Charles.”
He sat down and pulled his chair even closer. “Anything for you, my friend.”
“Did you bring your computer as I asked?”
“I did.”
“And my will is on that thing?”
“It is.”
“And you said you could print something on the spot?”
“I can. I have my portable printer right here.” He patted the briefcase.
“Excellent. I need to make a few changes to my will.”
He raised an eyebrow. “We can do that, but are you sure?”
“I’m sure you’ll tell me a codicil in this case would be ill-advised, and that revoking the existing will and replacing it with a new one is preferable.” She winked at him. “You see? All these years you thought I was ignoring your advice. Do I need witnesses?”
“You do.”
She nodded. “My next-door neighbors will be home. I’ll see if they can come over after we’ve got it down on paper. “I, Nora Lindstrom, being of sound mind and body…”
CHAPTER TEN
The moon played peek-a-boo with the water as the prevailing winds blew the clouds across the darkened sky. Tonight was even chillier than last night. Fall was settling in to stay.
As had become their custom, Diana and Brooke stood side by side on the deck after dinner. They’d tucked Nora into bed and then washed and dried the dishes together.
“I can’t believe I have to leave again tomorrow.” Diana said the words softly, almost to herself. “I thought it would get easier. Instead, every time I walk out that door I panic that it might be the last time I see her alive.”
Brooke wanted to touch her, to smooth the worry lines from her brow and reassure her. But Diana was right. Nora’s condition was worsening. She was deteriorating rapidly, and at this rate, Brooke estimated Nora’s life expectancy had dwindled to days and weeks, rather than months.
“You know I’ll do everything I can to keep her comfortable.”
Diana nodded. “I know. I just…”
Now she couldn’t help herself. She covered Diana’s hand where it rested on the railing. “I promise I’ll keep you in the loop every step of the way.”
Diana didn’t pull away. She searched Brooke’s face. “You’ll be honest with me?”
Brooke maintained the eye contact. “Always.” They were talking about Nora, but she meant the comment to be all-encompassing.
“I trust you.”
The air around them stood still as Diana leaned forward, cupped Brooke’s jaw with her free hand, and brought their mouths together.
Brooke’s heart pounded in her ears as she leaned into the gentle pressure. She heard a gasp and wasn’t sure whether it belonged to her or to Diana. Warmth spread throughout her body, and then, abruptly, cold air rushed back in. She opened her eyes. Diana stood a few feet away, wild-eyed and breathing heavily.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have… I had no business… I didn’t mean…”
“Please don’t finish that sentence,” Brooke choked out.
Diana stuffed her hands in her pockets. “I have to go.” She gave Brooke a wide berth as she made her way through the sliding glass doors. “Tell Aunt Nora I’ll stop by for breakfast on my way out of town.”
Before she could answer or move, Diana was gone.
She leaned back against the railing. Her hands shook and her body trembled. Part of her understood why Diana apologized. She was Nora’s nurse, and any involvement with Diana, while not technically inappropriate, certainly would complicate things.
But the rest of her felt bereft. The sensation of Diana’s lips, soft and supple, hungry but not demanding, was seared into her being. What was she supposed to do about that?
Diana paced back and forth in the living room of Brooke’s house. “Stupid, stupid, stupid. What were you thinking?” She turned and paced in the opposite direction. “You weren’t. That’s the problem.”
She still could smell Brooke’s perfume in her nostrils and taste the sweetness of her lips. None of that was helpful. What was she supposed to do now? Pretend nothing had transpired between them? No. She should address the issue head on.
“And say what? I couldn’t help myself? How lame i
s that?” But that was the truth. She hadn’t meant to lose control—hadn’t meant to act on her impulse. It just…happened. And now it couldn’t un-happen.
Finally, she plunked down in a chair and dropped her head into her hands. What a cluster this was. Then again… “It’s not like she didn’t respond to you.” She touched her lips. She still could feel the tingle of excitement.
That was also true. Brooke had met her overture without hesitation and matched her fervor. She felt Brooke tremble against her.
She jumped up and again began to pace. “It doesn’t matter whether the kiss was welcome or not. Your Aunt Nora is dying, and you’re acting like a horny teenager. Not only that, but Brooke is her nurse. Now you’ve screwed up everything.”
What was Brooke feeling right now? Was she appalled by Diana’s behavior? Was she packing her bags? Had she determined it was impossible to work for her after tonight?
Diana swallowed the lump in her throat. If Brooke walked away now… “Stop it.” Brooke was a woman of great integrity. She’d never abandon Aunt Nora when she needed her most.
Besides, Brooke didn’t work for her—she worked for Aunt Nora, who was sharp as a tack and fully capable of making such decisions. She was paying her salary. There was no employer/employee dynamic between her and Brooke.
Diana caught a glimpse at the clock. Two thirty in the morning? How had it gotten so late? Breakfast at Aunt Nora’s was less than six hours away. The thought of coming face to face with Brooke again made her go weak in the knees. Still, she couldn’t avoid her forever…
Nora glanced from Diana to Brooke and back again. The tension between them was palpable. Neither woman had made more than cursory eye contact with the other, and the usual lively conversation had been replaced by stony, uncomfortable silence.
“Please pass the salt.”
“Sure.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
What in the world had happened overnight? She couldn’t imagine, but this simply wouldn’t do. She cleared her throat. “Is everything all right between you two?”
Brooke blinked, and Diana looked as though she’d gotten caught with her hand in the cookie jar.
“Everything’s fine. Why wouldn’t it be?” Diana answered.
“Of course,” Brooke said, at the same time.
If she’d had the energy, she would’ve probed further. But her strength was waning. Air. Why couldn’t she get any air?
“Is she okay? What can I do?”
Nora heard the concern in Diana’s voice. She wanted to reassure her, but the words wouldn’t come. The room faded away. She felt someone’s gentle hands lift her and then a soft surface beneath her. It felt comforting and warm…
“How am I supposed to leave when she’s…” Diana ran her fingers through her hair and pointed at Nora’s still form in the bed.
“I promise I’ll let you know if there’s any change.” Brooke kept her voice even and calm. She had done everything she could to open and relax Nora’s airway and improve her oxygen flow. Then she’d administered morphine to make her more comfortable.
“She could die and I wouldn’t be here to hold her hand.”
“Conversely, she could linger like this for days or even weeks. She could rally again and improve for a bit. It’s impossible to say.”
“Is that supposed to be reassuring?”
Brooke closed her eyes against the harshness of Diana’s tone. “It’s the truth. It’s all I can give you. I’m sorry.”
“Me too. About a lot of things.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” She knew she shouldn’t react. Diana understandably was unnerved at the sight of watching Nora gasp for air and black out.
But Brooke was human. The situation already had been emotionally charged after last night, and Diana had barely given her the time of day at breakfast.
It wasn’t as though she’d begged Diana to kiss her, or even signaled her interest. Diana was the one who’d made a move on her, not the other way around. Now she was acting as though the kiss was the biggest mistake of her life.
“Never mind,” Diana said. “Please keep me informed. I’ll leave my cell phone on overnight.”
“Fine.”
“I’d like a minute alone with Aunt Nora.”
“Please remember to turn the monitor back on when you’re done.”
Brooke turned on her heel, snatched up her corresponding monitor, snapped it to the waistband of her jeans, and kept walking until she was out on the deck. The cold wind stung her face, but she barely noticed.
Several minutes passed and then she heard the front door click shut. Diana hadn’t even bothered to say goodbye. “Argh!” Brooke screamed in frustration, but the wind swallowed the sound whole.
She trudged back inside. The remnants of their aborted breakfast sat on the kitchen table. She scraped the food from the plates into the garbage can, washed the dishes, and wiped the table.
The monitor was quiet, save for the rattle in Nora’s chest every time she breathed. She felt compelled to do a visual check just in case. Nora’s mouth was slightly open and her hands fluttered over the covers. Other than that, she seemed peaceful and comfortable.
A rap on the front door nearly sent Brooke into orbit. She crept out of the bedroom and approached the door warily. “Who is it?”
“It’s Daniel, Brooke.”
“Daniel?” She swung the door open so fast that he practically fell over the threshold. “What are you doing here?”
“I missed you too.” He laughed easily. “Did you forget I told you I’d stop by on my way out of town this weekend?”
She closed her eyes. In fact, she had forgotten. His text had come in just as she and Diana were leaving the restaurant after lunch yesterday. She’d been so focused on what Diana was saying that she’d let the text go.
“Well? Can I come in?”
She shook her head to clear it. “Of course. Honestly, I’m glad you’re here.”
“Why? What’s going on?” He was all business now.
“Nora suffered a severe episode of dyspnea a little while ago. I followed protocol and she’s resting relatively comfortably now, but this one was bad. It took quite a while to get her breathing back under control. In general, her symptoms are worsening. She tires easily, and she’s not rebounding like she did before.”
“Is she complaining of joint or back pain?”
“You know Nora. She’s not complaining about anything. But her appetite is diminished, her energy levels are down, as is her strength, and she’s sleeping most of the time.”
“How’s her mind?”
“She’s still remarkably sharp.” Brooke furrowed her brow. “There is one thing, though. She’s been having vivid, terrifying nightmares almost nightly.”
“What does she say when you ask her about them?”
“She doesn’t. I asked her once and she blew me off. I haven’t asked again.”
He nodded. “Let’s have a look at her, shall we?”
When he was done with his exam, he bid Nora goodbye and motioned for Brooke to follow him out of the room. His face was grim.
“You look about the way I feel,” she said.
“No matter how many times we bear witness, this never gets any easier.”
“It’s especially hard when it’s someone we both love and admire.”
“Mmm. Stick with the morphine/Ativan combination for as long as it works, and if you think we need to change it, let me know.”
“Do you agree with me that we’re within a week or two?”
“I’d say we’re closer to the former than the latter,” he said. He glanced around. “I thought Diana would still be here.”
“No.” She knew she answered too quickly by the expression on his face. “I mean, she left just after breakfast.”
He crossed his arms. “Something you want to tell me?”
“No.” She averted her gaze. She’d never make a good poker player.
“What?”
He frowned. “What’s going on?”
Daniel was her best friend. If she couldn’t talk to him about it, who could she talk to? She sighed. “Got time for a cup of coffee?”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
They sat at the kitchen table and waited for the coffee to finish brewing. He waved away the cinnamon roll she offered him.
“I’ve known you a long time, my friend. The last time I saw you this upset was when Ellen forced you to choose between her and your job. That was six years ago, but I remember how lost you looked. It’s the same haunted expression you’re wearing right now.”
She swallowed hard. The breakup with Ellen had brought her to her knees. But now was not then, and one kiss from Diana Lindstrom was not seven years of a committed relationship being ripped to pieces.
The coffee finished percolating and she selected two mugs from the cupboard, filled them, and sat back down. “I’m sure you can imagine how tough it is watching Nora slip away.”
“Of course I can. But I sense there’s more to what’s up with you than that. I mentioned her great-niece and you practically jumped down my throat.”
“Did I?”
“You’re stalling.”
“Am I?”
“You are.”
“Okay.” Brooke squared her shoulders. It was time to come clean. “She kissed me last night.”
His brows rose in surprise. “And?”
“And, what?”
“A kiss doesn’t usually result in this much angst.”
“Well, the kiss wasn’t the thing that caused the turmoil…at least not for me.”
“I’m listening.”
She resisted the temptation to shred her napkin or otherwise fidget. “It’s not like I gave her an engraved invitation. I didn’t.”
“So, the kiss was unwelcome?”
“What? No. Yes. I don’t know.” She blew out an explosive breath.
“Well, that’s clear as mud.”
“I know. I’m not sure how I feel.”
“Conflicted?”
She nodded. “We were standing out on the deck after putting Nora to bed and Diana leaned forward and…you know.” She blushed.