“If I eat, I think I will throw up.”
“Toast then. Coffee?”
“Fred wants his coffee first thing. He would have set the coffeemaker on the timer.” Tears started again, her whole body drooping. She sniffed and reached for the box of tissues on the nightstand between the beds.
“A shower might help you feel better.”
“No. I’ll go upstairs and get dressed.”
“Your clothes will probably smell of smoke.”
“Who cares?”
“Who do you have your homeowner’s with?”
“Why?”
“Smoke cleanup is covered under most homeowner’s insurance policies. Either Sam or I can call them and get the cleaning process started.”
“I don’t remember who I have. What a dumb move that was.”
Amalia decided to ignore that comment. “Does Sam know?”
“I suppose.” She levered herself upright and stood for a moment.
“You dizzy?”
“Just for a second. I always stand and wait like that for my balance to catch up with me. PT taught me to do that.”
Habit can be a good thing. “I am going up to scramble some eggs. Maybe you could eat a few bites. I’ll make the coffee too, just in case. Unless you’d rather have tea.”
She heard Spook at the door and went to let him in on her way upstairs. Her phone, set on vibrate in her pocket, caught her attention. “Good morning.”
It was MJ. “How is she?”
“Up and getting dressed. Sam will be here any time. Mike is coming at ten.”
“Can we bring you anything?”
“Not that I know of. Going to try to get her to eat a bit.”
“How bad is the smoke?”
“Air is clear but the odor needs cleaning, I’m afraid. I need to take care of that. I’ll get the insurance called to start as soon as possible. I’m sure everything needs to be scrubbed down or commercially cleaned.”
“Did she sleep?”
“Didn’t want to wake up.”
“Don’t blame her. I think we are all in a state of shock. How will we handle all the food that people will want to bring if you can’t use the upstairs?”
“No idea. Hadn’t thought about it. Let me know if you come up with a plan.” She smiled as she said it. MJ always had a way to do things. “Talk later. Thanks.” She clicked off.
Ginny’s phone chimed again. Amalia let it go to voice mail. She was tempted to turn it off. She’d see what Sam wanted to do.
Upstairs she ignored the stink and set about fixing breakfast. When she didn’t hear any activity, she went down the hall to the master bedroom. Ginny was half dressed and lying on the bed.
“You need some help?”
“Can you bring Fred back?”
“Sorry, my friend, sure wish I could.”
“I know. Stinks in here.”
Amalia picked up the blouse Ginny had pulled off the hanger. “Here, stick your arm in.” Ginny did as told, but when it came to buttoning, her hands stayed braced against the comforter. Amalia buttoned the shirt, put shoes in front of her feet. “Slide your foot in those, then go wash your face and brush your teeth, comb your hair.”
The tears dripped off Ginny’s chin.
Amalia took a couple of tissues and mopped her friend’s face. She picked up her hand and pulled her upright, then steered her to the master bath. “Can you manage? I can comb your hair and wash your face but you have to brush your own teeth. Oh, my dear friend. I know everything feels like too much. We’ll get you through today and then one day at a time.”
Ginny propped herself, arms rigid on the sink counter, her head hanging. She sucked in a deep breath and, being careful not to look in the mirror, got out the toothpaste and brush.
From below came, “Mom?”
“Sam’s here.”
She nodded and started brushing.
Amalia reminded her, “You need help, I’m in the kitchen.”
Another nod. The tears continued to drip.
Chapter Ten
I always thought this room was cavernous,” MJ commented as they looked out across a churning crowd of crafty people working on UFOs. “But it seems too small now.”
Roxie nodded. “I never dreamed this many people would be interested.”
“And listen to the chatter. It’s a great social occasion too. I just wish the room were bigger.”
Roxie pointed. “It doesn’t help that Jeff brought his peapod inside. There’s eight feet of floor space right there.”
“But look at the progress he’s making in such a short time.” MJ leading the way, the two wandered over to Jeff. He was stroking white paint on the bulging sides.
MJ saw from the label that the paint was marine primer. “Do you have a name for her yet?”
Jeff grinned. “Sure do. Remember the baby in the old Popeye cartoons?”
Roxie laughed out loud. “Swee’Pea! Perfect!”
Jeff got serious. “I want to thank you two. I was just dawdling along with this thing and thinking maybe I’d never get it finished. But with this UFO party, I got excited about my peapod all over again. I’ll be sailing her out on the lake pretty soon. And it’s because of you.”
MJ smiled. “I’m very glad.”
They checked on a few other workers and paused by the door.
“Have you heard anything from Ginny?” MJ asked.
“No, but I’m sure that now that the memorial and everything are over and the kids have gone home, this is really hitting her.”
MJ agreed, in spades. “I stopped by a couple times but she was napping. Amalia says she sleeps a lot. On the positive side, I had a nice long chat with Amalia. Would you believe she rescued a cat? You know she’s not a cat person.”
“I’d believe every word. She’d rescue a hyena if the hyena needed it. I tried calling but no answer. Her messages are full. Maybe I should call Sam.”
“He and Erica and the twins are up at the lake,” MJ said. “He said he tried to talk his mom into coming with them but she was adamant.”
“So she is at home by herself now?” Roxie frowned.
“She insisted. He gave in. At least the house is all cleaned and the smoke stench gone. After all, she’s a big girl now and knows what she wants, even if it’s not what we want for her.”
Maureen joined them. “The lady in the corner there is knitting a stuffed lamb, but she didn’t have any stuffing. So I opened up the front to sell her some. And you’ll notice I got the storefront spiffed up.”
“I noticed. New paint and hanging baskets. They’re beautiful. It’s all beautiful.” Roxie leaned back against the wall.
“Fred delivered the baskets the day that he died.” Maureen blinked several times. “There are memorials to him all over town, in pots and gardens. Ginny’s flowers are blooming and his veggies will soon begin producing. Every day someone mentions something he did for them and how they miss him. I’ve not seen Ginny. Is anyone checking on her?”
“Off and on. I know she has her phone turned off.” MJ tipped her head back.
“Guess I don’t blame her. Please say hi to her when you see her.” Maureen walked off to get another chair as a new crafter came in.
“I’m out that way looking at a house,” Roxie said. “I’ll go by and bust the door down if I have to. I’m glad that Sam and his family are up at the lake. The kids said they wished they could have stayed longer, but they have lives too.”
“Amalia offered to stay with her but Ginny insisted she just needed to be by herself.” MJ shook her head. “So, who is taking care of the chickens? I don’t know how she would be able to go in that chicken house.”
“One of us should have gotten a key.” Roxie pulled out her cell phone and hit Amalia’s number. She shook her head. “No answer, and she’s not here tonight.” Waiting for the voice mail prompt, she said into the phone, “Amalia, did you get a key to Ginny’s house in case she has locked the doors? Thanks.” She clicked off.
> Roxie looked up Sam’s number and tapped it in. “At least someone is answering. Hey, Sam, Roxie. I’m going out to your mom’s tomorrow. If she has locked the doors, is there a key anywhere?”
Sam’s voice was strong, so he had good cell service wherever he was. “Third pot from the steps by the front stoop.”
“Good. Thank you. Oh, do you know anything about their chickens and animals? Is someone there to take care of them?”
“Mom said she would be okay. Chores were not a problem. Why, do you know something I don’t know?”
“I—I just don’t know how she can go in that chicken house. I don’t think I would have been able to.”
“There are automatic waterers for all the animals and…I checked on everything before we left. I think you are worrying needlessly.”
“How long since you’ve talked with her?”
“Ah, yesterday. I’ve left messages on her phone but you know her and that cell phone and keeping it charged.”
“I know.” Roxie felt super-sad all over again. “Fred took care of that. I’ll make sure her phone is plugged in.”
“Besides, she promised me she would be all right; she didn’t want us changing our plans.”
“Yup, that’s Ginny. Thank you, Sam.” She closed the line.
“You want me to go with?” MJ asked.
“Not necessary, but I will call you.”
The next morning, Roxie prepped for her house appointment as Sir Charles wiggled his butt and tried to look cute enough to be taken along.
“Sorry, Sir Charles. Not this morning.” She chose rust linen pants, an off-white silk blouse, and some of her funky jewelry, refilled Sir Charles’s water dish, gave him a treat, and made sure she had all the appropriate paperwork in her briefcase before heading to the car. The ringing of her phone made her pause. The furniture store.
“Mrs. Gilburn, this is Nate from The Fond Furniture. I just wanted to tell you that your rug is here and ready for you to pick up.”
“Marvelous. I’ll see if we can come in this evening.”
“I could deliver it.”
“Ah, okay, would after six work?” Loren would be home by then, maybe…
“I will make it work. See you then.”
She clicked off and turned on to the street of the house she was viewing, thinking about the phone call. For some reason, she felt really good about Nate’s delivering the rug. Surely he could stay for coffee.
After punching the address into her GPS, she headed out of town. All the while she drove north, her mind kept running ahead to Ginny, then going backward to when Greg died. She had been devastated, even though she’d known it was coming. Known on one hand and kept praying for healing on the other. Those months she’d cared for him, driven him to doctors, then specialists, then radiation. He’d done his best to fight it, but the tumor in his brain had metastasized from a spot on his lungs that had been growing undetected.
Yes, she knew how Ginny was feeling. But at least for Roxie, Loren was still living at home. She had been finishing high school then and going into the University of Wisconsin. Having another body in the house to provide for, talk with, even cook for helped. That was when she decided to go into the real estate business and got her license a year later. Studying for the certification had helped her too, the demands of assignments, and the tests. So many times she had wished she’d never started, but she finished.
* * *
An hour later, she and the owner had signed the agreement for her to list the house, after he did what she suggested—repaint the front door and the shutters, spruce up the yard for curb appeal, pack away much of the clutter of living in one home for twenty years, and get an inspection. She was fairly certain the house would sell quickly, in today’s market.
She reset the GPS for Ginny’s, although once she was back on the main road, she knew where to turn off. The corn in the fields along the road was leafing out bright green and the alfalfa was on the way to a first cutting. The lovely day buoyed her spirits, until she turned into the driveway.
She blew out a breath and blinked back tears. The lawn needed mowing. The flower beds, which were normally immaculate, really needed attention. This early summer was always weed season. How would Ginny ever keep up this place without Fred?
One thing she knew, she would encourage Ginny not to make any major decisions for the first year and preferably two. She knew too many widows who regretted major decisions like selling a place, or moving, or marrying again. There were gold diggers, gigolos out there who preyed on grieving women, milked them dry, and moved on. Or lived off their new wife.
She could hear Spook announcing her arrival from inside the house. She found the house key under the third pot from the steps as Sam had told her and knocked. With no answer, she let herself in the door to a dog overjoyed to see her.
She dropped her purse on the floor and petted and calmed the dog. “You want to go outside?” Spook immediately put his nose to the screen door. “Good boy.” She let him out, and set her purse down on the sofa. “Ginny? Ginny, are you here?” With no answer, she checked the master bedroom. Empty, the bed made, and everything spotless. Fred’s office and the guest room were the same. “Ginny, where are you?”
She found her downstairs in the twin bed she’d slept in because of the smoke. The other bed was all made up as Amalia had left it. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she laid a hand on Ginny’s hip. “Ginny, it’s me, Roxie.” She shook gently. “Come on, I know you can hear me. I let Spook out. Did you feed him this morning? What about the chickens and the animals? Ginny, if you can hear me, you have to respond or I will call 911.”
“I hear you.” Her voice was scratchy. “Now go away.”
“No, I’m here and you’re stuck with me. Remember, I’ve been in the same position you are. Like Amalia. We do know how you feel.”
“Just leave me alone.” Ginny sniffed and snagged a tissue from the mound between her and the wall. “Please.” Her voice broke on the “please.”
Roxie fought the tears, then gave up and reached for the tissue box. Empty. “Where do you keep your tissues?”
“Bathroom.”
Roxie patted her friend’s hip and fetched another box from under the sink. Better a big box than the small square ones. Pulling one out for herself, she set the box on the nightstand. “Have you had anything to eat today? Drink?” The water bottle on the stand was empty. “Where’s your recycle? No, I’ll just go fill this one.” Another trip to the bathroom. She could hear Spook at the door upstairs. “I’m coming.” Up the stairs, let the dog in, refill his water dish, coffeepot was empty, no grounds in the basket so she went ahead and started coffee. How much easier a Keurig was. She’d have coffee to take back down immediately.
Instead she poured some orange juice out of the pitcher and took the glass back downstairs. She’d get fluids into her friend one way or another.
Ginny had not moved.
Forcing cheer into her voice, Roxie set the glass of juice on the nightstand. “Okay, my friend, roll over here and let’s talk.”
“Go away.”
“Sorry. I’m here and you are going to sit up and drink the juice or the water or both.”
“Now you sound like MJ.” Ginny rolled on to her back.
Roxie grabbed the pillow off the other bed and stuffed it behind her friend. “There. Now, here.” She held out the glass.
“In answer to your question, I opened and closed the chicken house door, I fed the pony and donkey, and the dog and the cat.”
“Did you pick the eggs?”
“No, I—I can’t go—” She shook her head and gave in to the tears.
“I wouldn’t be able to either.” Roxie reached for her and Ginny leaned into her arms to sob against her shoulder. Roxie let her cry it out, her own tears running down her face. As the sobs and shaking abated, Roxie mopped her eyes. “So much for waterproof makeup.”
Ginny sat back against the pillows. “You look beautiful even with raccoon e
yes.”
“Thanks.” Roxie handed the glass of juice back. “Ginny, my love, you have to drink or you’ll be in the hospital with dehydration, all loony, and need an IV, at least. We really can’t let that happen. Crying can dehydrate you, you know.”
“I do not want to go to the hospital.”
“I know. So drink. I started the coffeepot. Would you like a cup of coffee?”
“Maybe later.”
“Fine, now, how long since you had anything to eat?”
“I don’t know.”
“We probably need to go through your refrigerator and decide what food is still good. But in the meantime, how about I fix you eggs and toast?”
“I—I can’t.”
“Okay, do you have any applesauce?”
“In the pantry.”
“Good. I will make you toast and a dish of applesauce; both are easy on the stomach. Now, while I am doing that, how about you coming upstairs to eat with me?”
“What will you have?”
“Something. I’ll see what is up there.”
Ginny heaved a sigh. “All right.”
As Roxie climbed the stairs, she kept a hand on Spook’s head as he followed her up. Thank you, Lord. A step in the right direction—I hope.
Chapter Eleven
Nate is going to deliver the rug tonight,” Roxie announced on the phone.
“So?” was Loren’s response.
Roxie glared at her phone. “So, I thought perhaps we could invite him to stay for a cup of coffee, or iced tea.” You know, so we, meaning you, could get to know him better. Her daughter could be so obtuse.
“If you want. Perhaps you should ask him to move the furniture too.”
“Oh, good idea.”
“Mother, I was being sarcastic.”
Roxie smiled to herself. She knew that. “Oh. Look, he offered.”
“Sorry. I’ll see you shortly after five. Just working on another design.”
“Okay. I’m on my way home from Ginny’s.”
“How is she?”
“Tell you when I see you. Oh, and the house I looked at, it’s a go. They have some work to do but nothing major, that we know of. They’ve not had an inspection yet.”
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