Greene County Killer
Page 34
“Liar Jesse!” Billy grunted. “Heaven help us all!”
“I need a nap!” Helene sighed.
We all managed to get through Daniel’s funeral. It was a day we will never forget, and hope not to have to go through again for a very long time.
Two days after the service, I called Sarah and insisted that she go shopping with me. She was hesitant at first, but I told her that I wouldn’t take no for an answer. When I picked her up, all she talked about was the upcoming holiday. She was so excited until she mentioned that she would miss seeing Daniel’s smiling face sitting across from her at Christmas dinner. I told her that we all would.
“Let’s not talk about that today,” I said as I pulled into the doctor’s parking lot. “I have to make a quick stop first.”
“Oh, Jesse! Are you pregnant again?”
“No, I’m not. This visit isn’t for me, Sarah.”
She glared at me.
“Don’t go getting all huffy on me. I told the chief that I would get you to a doctor, and I keep my promises. When’s the last time you saw Dr. Joe?”
“It’s been a while. I’ve been busy.”
“Well, you’re not busy today.” I smiled at her. “I promise he won’t hurt you. If he does, I’ll shoot him.”
Sarah laughed at my silliness, and opened the car door. “If we’re going to do this, let’s do it now before I change my mind. Come on.”
Sarah’s doctor was certain from her symptoms that she had diabetes, but to confirm his suspicions, he did a blood workup. She wasn’t happy about that, but she agreed to the tests. Dr. Joe gave her a diet plan and said that if that didn’t work, she would most likely have to go on insulin.
“I’ve never had to take medication before, and I’m not taking any now,” she ranted as we left the doctor’s office. “He’s crazy if he thinks…”
“God, you sound just like my mother. Face it, Sarah. As you get older, your body changes. Just do what he says, or I’ll tell Billy.”
“You would not!”
“Don’t test me on this one, Sarah.”
“Okay, you win. I’ll make a deal with you. I’ll watch my diet and if that doesn’t work, I’ll take the insulin… if… you promise to have a house full of kids.”
“I see that my mother’s been talking to you.”
We both laughed all the way to the mall. We shopped until we were about ready to drop, and then we had a late lunch at Robert’s restaurant, The Rising Sun. All things considered, we had a nice time.
Sarah called me the next day and said that her tests had confirmed that she had diabetes. She thanked me for forcing her to go for a check-up. I told her that I would go with her anytime she wanted me to. She seemed relieved.
Billy and I managed to survive our first-year wedding anniversary on Christmas Eve. We are now so familiar with each other and know what the other one thinks, one might think we’d been married for thirty years.
We celebrated by spending our time at home with Helene, our children, the dogs, and the cat. Neither one of us wanted to go out and be away from them on Christmas Eve.
As an anniversary present, Billy presented me with a beautiful diamond bracelet. He said he knew that I didn’t care much for fancy jewelry, but he fell in love with the bracelet the minute he saw it.
I handed him a card, and as he was opening it, I said, “This bracelet will look lovely on my wrist when we dine at the Captain’s table on our cruise to Alaska.”
The airline tickets fell out from the card.
He held them up and said, “My thoughts exactly!”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
To my readers: Thank you for spending your time with my books. I enjoy bringing a smile to your face and, hopefully, a tear to your eye. A special thanks to Kelley Cleaton—Graphic Artist, and Elaine Barnett—Photographer. Thanks, Mom. You’re always in my heart.
Look for my next book:
Death on the Bella Constance
A Jesse Watson Mystery
Book #6
This book is dedicated to Elsie Joyner and Joyce Hayes.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Epilogue
Acknowledgments