by Bonnie Tharp
The confidence in Megan’s voice made Regina wonder what was going on inside that little girl’s mind. Of the three children, Megan had always been the most like Annabelle, soft hearted. Regina said a silent prayer.
I hope for all their sakes Annabelle recovers and soon.
Tad shook his head. “Little sister, you are very weird, but in a good way.” He dodged Peggy’s punch, but not by much.
“Can we see her again later?” Peggy asked.
“Let’s go home and let her rest. We’ll come up in the morning before school,” Regina said. “Tillie, do you and Joe want to come by the house for a while?”
Shaking her head, Tillie hugged her friend. “No, I think my man and I will go home. It’s been a tough day for all of us.”
“About tomorrow, I have a commitment, but if you want me to, I can cancel,” Joe said.
“No, I’ll come up after I finish at the bistro. You don’t have to change your plans. Annabelle will probably be here a few days,” Tillie said.
“Probably,” Regina agreed. “Let’s go kids.”
“Go where?” Tad asked.
Megan slipped her hand back into Regina’s. “Home.”
Tad and Peggy got up from the waiting room couch.
“It’ll seem weird without Gram,” Tad whispered.
“A-huh. Nobody’s been in Cousin Regina’s room since she left. I’ll bet the dust is pretty deep.”
“Nope. Gram dusts it every week,” Tad said. “I’ve seen her. It’s weird, like she’s been waiting for her to come back or something.”
“Well, it is Regina’s house.”
“Do you think Regina will ever kick us out?” Tad asked Peggy.
“I don’t know, but she could.” Peggy caught up with Regina and Megan at the car.
“Don’t worry, you two. We’ll be back tomorrow,” Regina said.
Megan got into the front passenger seat and buckled her seat belt. “Will you stay with us until Gram is all better?”
“Do you want me to?”
“Yes.”
Looking in the rear view mirror, Regina saw Tad and Peggy exchange a look, but didn’t know what it meant. She couldn’t anticipate what might happen next in a house with two teens and a tween.
It’s past time to have a long conversation with my cousin, Annabelle.
Chapter 7
THE HOUSE WAS quiet except for the ticking of the mantle clock. When it chimed two, Regina decided she’d lain awake long enough. Donning her robe, she slipped out of her room, pausing before Tad’s door. Hearing no sounds, she stepped to the girls’ door next.
Nothing.
Gliding down the stairs, Regina avoided the creaky spots and hoped no new ones had developed since she’d moved out. She’d missed the voice of the family house. It had kept her company for many lonely years after her parents then her husband died. Stepping into the parlor, Regina saw that the light of the moon had turned the room gray. The house seemed the same as the night she’d left. The portrait of her mother she had removed from the mantel had not been returned. That was the night Regina took control of her life, gave her family home to her cousins and moved in with Sam. Regina never had a single regret, until now.
“Oh, Sam.” She pulled the robe closer around her. “Why couldn’t you tell me what’s going on?”
I can’t think about Sam now.
Her thoughts roamed to when Annabelle showed up on the doorstep, battered and homeless, two years ago.
This family has had too much pain and loss.
Feeling a chill, Regina lifted the afghan off the sofa, wrapping it around her shoulders.
Maybe tea or warm milk will help.
Stopping in the kitchen doorway, her eyes scanned the cluttered room. Daylight would reveal just how much things had altered. “It doesn’t matter. This isn’t my home anymore.”
Crossing to the cabinet, she pulled out a pan to warm the milk. “I’ll use Tillie’s recipe for a good night’s sleep.”
Reaching up to the top shelf behind the cookbooks, she took down a bottle of brandy that had been stored there forever. First, Grandmere had kept a bottle, her mother, then Tillie, now Annabelle. “Nice to see some traditions still exist.”
Pouring a splash in the glass, she sniffed the amber liquid then downed it in one gulp. Liquid heat burned her throat, sliding down through her chest, into her stomach. She shivered at the sensation, capped the bottle and restored it to its hiding place.
The smell of warming milk told her it would scorch soon. So, she took her cup to the stove and turned off the burner. A tiny motor sounded as a silky gray form stepped between her feet.
“Hello there, cat. I see your nose works.” Regina bent down to stroke the kitty’s now arching back. “Sucking up? No need, I’ll share.” She poured part of the milk into the cat’s bowl on the floor. The remainder went into her cup with a pinch of nutmeg and honey. “We ought to sleep after this, eh, Ms. Pickles?”
Pausing from her snack, tiny beads of milk dotted her whiskers. Ms. Pickles mewed in agreement before she resumed lapping.
“I miss Sam and Sugar.” Regina pulled the afghan tighter and sat on the floor with her back to the cabinets. When Ms. Pickles finished, she balanced on her remaining back leg and used her front paws to clean her whiskers.
“You are a bit more tidy than Sugar, but I miss her none the less. Doubt you do, though. I’ve seen you watch her from a safe distance, of course. She just wants to play, you know.”
Shifting her gaze to Regina’s face, the cat sneezed in disagreement.
“Whatever. Let’s get to bed.” Regina got up from the floor, put her cup in the dishwasher, and led the way up the stairs. “If I can’t sleep with Sam, I’ll sleep alone, thank you.” And she shut the bedroom door in the cat’s whiskered face.
THE RINGING PHONE woke Regina. She glanced at the clock but couldn’t read the numbers. She picked up the receiver. “This better be good.”
“Excuse me,” said a male voice she didn’t recognize. “Who is this?”
“If you don’t know who I am, then you’ve got a wrong number.” Regina slammed down the phone. She had no more than pulled up the covers when it rang again. Snatching it up, she said through clenched teeth, “You have the wrong number.”
“Doesn’t Annabelle Hubbard live there?”
Regina sat up in the bed. “Yes. Who is this?”
“I’m her son-in-law, Tom Malone.”
“What do you want at this hour?”
“Where’s Annabelle? Is everything okay?” Tom asked.
“I was sleeping before some cretin called at dawn.” She swiped the hair out of her eyes.
“Cretin? Aren’t you Rebecca or Rosalind or something with an ‘R’? You were at Liddy’s and my wedding.”
“Yes, not that it matters, now. What do you want?”
He chuckled. “I want to see my kids.”
“Bull! You just want trouble or money.” Her hand clenched the receiver.
“I could definitely use some money. I’m between jobs. But I am family and I haven’t seen my kids in a long time.”
“Sperm donors don’t count. Go away. Get a job. Then you can move somewhere tropical.” She waved her hand in dismissal even though he couldn’t see it.
“See, that’s just the problem. Potential employers just aren’t that understanding . . .”
“About what? Drinking? Drugs?” Regina knew full well that Tom had been either drunk or stoned while he’d lived with Annabelle’s daughter, Lydia.
“Nah, I’ve been clean ten years now. But I do enjoy an ice-cold beer, now and again.”
She rolled her eyes heavenward. “Go away, Tom. Hustle someone else.” Regina hung up the phone.
It rang immediately. In full temper, s
he shouted into the receiver, “Leave us alone!”
“Regina?”
Sam’s warm tone penetrated her anger.
“Sam?”
“Are you alright?” His voice was like cashmere, rich and soft.
“Yes. No. I’m sorry. I thought . . .” She folded the blanket back.
“You thought what? What’s happened? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m sorry I shouted.” She sighed.
“I couldn’t sleep so I went by the hospital early and caught the doctor.”
She swung her legs over the side of the bed. “He talked to you? What did he say?”
“Yeah, I told him I was a cousin. He said that Annabelle’s stable. But this was a warning.”
“Damn. What did he suggest?”
“Bed rest for the next few days. No stress. When she’s on her feet again she’s supposed to start walking. Nothing strenuous. He’ll send her home in a day or two if she continues to improve, but she’ll need help with the house, the kids . . .” he trailed off.
“I’ll do it.” Regina fingered the cord.
“Sugar and I’ll miss you. Regina?”
“Ahuh.” Her thoughts jumped to Annabelle and the secret his oath had prevented him from revealing.
“Everything happened so fast . . .”
“I know. She told me.” Regina smiled.
He’d always be there for her, for all of them.
“Do you forgive me?”
“What’s to forgive? You did what she asked you to do. Now I’m glad you did.” She walked to the window to see the morning break.
“You are?”
“Yes. The children’s father called. That’s who I thought was on the phone just now.”
“I’m coming over.”
“No, that’s not necessary. We’re going to the hospital before I take the kids to school. Annabelle had a meeting with the assistant principal later this morning, which I’ll take for her. It would seem that on top of everything else, Peggy has been skipping classes.”
“Then I’ll bring Sugar. She’ll protect you during the day. I’ll come by each evening after work.” Warmness filled her heart.
“Sam. Thank you, but no. I’ll alert Joe and Tillie. They’ll keep watch from across the street.”
“What did Malone want?”
“The kids. Money, I think.”
“There’s not much the law can do unless he poses a threat.”
“I know.” She crossed the room and lay back across the bed.
“Reg, did you talk to Annabelle?”
“Yes, but Nurse Ratchet shooed us out before we could finish.”
“Talk to her when you think she’s strong enough, okay. Let me know if you need me to do something about Tom.”
“If the bastard tries to get the kids, Ms. Pickles and I will scratch his eyes out.” She glared at the ceiling, blue gray with predawn light.
“If he bothers any of you, call the police. Isn’t he a substance abuser?”
“He used to be. I don’t know about now. It’s been a decade since anyone’s seen or heard from him.” Regina hugged the comforter, pulling it to her chin.
“Make sure the doors are locked and tell the kids to . . .”
“He’s their father. What do I tell them?” She twisted the corner of the blanket around her fist.
“Talk to Annabelle, and see what she thinks. She knows the kids better than anyone.”
“Good idea. I’ll speak to her this morning. Will I see you later?”
“Damn right, woman. I love you.”
“I love you, too.” Regina hung up the phone. She sat up on the edge of the bed, worrying that they expected too much from Annabelle. If her cousin couldn’t make a decision about Tom, she would be forced to do it for her. And what about Peggy? What did Regina know about teenagers? She didn’t feel as though she’d ever even been one.
I would never have dared skip school. In fact, I never missed school at all. Time to pay more attention. If Annabelle’s heart gives out, I’ll be their guardian. Crap on a cupcake. I don’t think I’m prepared for this. I can’t just wing it. How does Annabelle do this day after day? No wonder her heart is tired. She’s tougher than I ever gave her credit for. Now it’s time to see what I’m really made of . . .
Chapter 8
DECIDING WHAT TO tell the kids weighed on Regina’s mind.
How much should I say about Annabelle’s condition? What should I say to Peggy? Should I mention their father? Will they want to see him after all this time? Too many questions and no answers.
“Regina?” Megan asked.
“Yes, dear?” Regina sat down her coffee cup and smiled.
“I tore the hem of my jacket. Could you sew it for me?” She held up the dangling edge.
“I’m afraid not. That’s your grandmother’s skill, not mine. Here, let’s put a safety pin in it until she can fix it properly.”
“Okay, thanks.”
The little girl watched while Regina dug a safety pin out of the kitchen drawer, pinning the fabric back together. Tad and Peggy joined them at the table with wet heads and sleepy eyes.
“Let’s sit down and eat a quick bite of breakfast. I need to talk to all of you.” Regina straightened her gauzy skirt before relating the conversation Sam had with Annabelle’s doctor.
She could almost see their minds churn as they listened to her retell what Sam had learned from the doctor.
“What else?” Peggy finally asked.
“It’ll take a while to get her strength back,” Regina said.
“What does that mean?” Tad crumpled his napkin.
“She’ll have to go slow, taking it easy.” Scanning their faces, Regina saw storm clouds building on Tad’s.
“What do we have to do?” Tad asked, tossing the napkin on the table.
“We’ll need to do the heavy lifting, laundry baskets and groceries.” Regina said. “You’ll need to keep your things picked up. We don’t want to risk her falling.”
“When will she be better?” Megan asked.
“If we can encourage her to take walks, she’ll get stronger more quickly. And we’ll have to revise the menu. No more pizza or high fat foods like burgers and fries. They’re bad for the heart.”
“I can’t live without pizza.” Tad scowled. “And no burgers or fries is un-American.”
Regina struggled not to roll her eyes. The kids grabbed their backpacks and followed her out to the car.
“More fruits and vegetables, too, I’ll bet,” Peggy said.
“I don’t like to eat green stuff. It always tastes like dirt.” He glared at his giggling baby sister.
“Maybe we can make a grocery list once we find out the doctor’s orders,” Regina suggested.
“What about cookies?” Megan asked. “Would oatmeal raisin be okay? Gram says they’re healthy.”
“Well, maybe.” Regina smiled.
Probably wouldn’t hurt me to eat healthier, either.
Megan sat in the backseat, gazing through the window at the passing scenery. “Maybe she can help me walk Ms. Pickles.”
“And she can walk with Tillie,” Peggy said.
“Tillie hustles.” Tad pumped his arms to illustrate. “She doesn’t just walk.”
Regina sent an icy stare over her shoulder. “She will probably slow down until your grandmother gets stronger.”
Arriving at the hospital, they stopped at the information desk to get Annabelle’s new room number.
“She’s on the cardiac ward,” the receptionist explained, writing the room number on a map for them.
“At least she’s out of CICU,” Peggy said. “We’ll be able to stay longer.”
“That’s a good sign,” Reg
ina said. “We don’t want to tire her out, though. Rest will help her body to heal.”
“I thought we grow when we sleep,” Megan said.
Regina smiled. “That’s true for children, sweetie, but your grandmother’s already grown.”
“That makes sense. Can we take her flowers?”
“Absolutely. The gift shop is just around the next corner.”
After making their purchases, Regina preceded the children into Annabelle’s room. Each child had chosen something different. Tad placed a vase of yellow daisies on her nightstand. Peggy set an arrangement of purple Dutch irises and pink carnations on the windowsill. Megan’s red rose bud took up residence on the bed tray.
“Oh, how beautiful,” Annabelle said. “They smell so good. Thank you.”
The children surrounded the bed while Regina stood to the side.
“Are you feeling better?” Peggy asked. “You look better without all those tubes everywhere.”
Annabelle’s eyes glistened. “I’m better now that I see your smiling faces.”
“Is the food any good?” Tad asked.
She wrinkled her nose at him. “Not particularly.”
“When will they let you come home?” Peggy asked.
“Soon.”
“Regina thinks we’ll all have to go on a diet and eat green things,” Megan said.
“Oh, dear. I . . . well . . . I don’t quite know . . . a nutritionist is supposed to come visit me.”
“Will it make your heart better if we eat more cauliflower?” Megan said. “I don’t like cauliflower. I think it smells funny and looks like the picture of a brain in my science book. I couldn’t eat a brain.”
Annabelle clutched a pillow to her chest and laughed so hard tears fell down her pink cheeks.
“Kids.” Regina rifled her hobo bag for money. “Go back down to the gift shop. Get your grandmother a magazine and a crossword.”
Peggy took the money at Regina’s nod.
“But we just got here,” Megan said. “I want to stay with Gram.”
“I don’t know anything about old lady magazines.” Tad crossed his arms over his chest. “Why do I have to go?”
Peggy grabbed her siblings’ arms and pulled. “We’ll be back in a few minutes.”