hurt my feelings? You ruined my day."
Aanders joined Tim near the door and put his arm around him. “It's ok. I'll stay away from him."
Theo sat erect and pulled his briefcase close to his chest. “Just what we need. Additional conflict. It's hard enough recalling Sadie's instructions without worrying about Rodney."
Sadie joined the boys. “You're not exactly my choice for a death coach, Aanders. I would have preferred someone more mature."
"I'm not going to do it.” Looking at the crossers sitting around the table, Aanders said, “I'm going to pretend I never saw you. Nobody asked if I wanted to be a death coach so I'm not going to do it.” Setting his jaw, he declared, “You're going to have to find someone else."
Sadie shook her head slowly. “You don't have a choice. You've been selected. That's all there is to it."
"You can do it, Aanders. You can learn from Sadie. She knows everything,” Tim said. “She's been doing it a long time and will be a good teacher."
Lora leaned forward. “Tim's right. I trust Sadie. She taught me how to make a death decision. I know what I want, but I have to wait to find someone on the brink before I can complete my journey."
Michael looked up at his mother and then at Sadie before scuffing his shoe against the wooden floor. He hid behind his mother and peeked out at Sadie with concern.
"I've got more years of experience than I care to remember,” Sadie said. “You've got a big job ahead of you, Aanders, but I'll be here to guide you as you learn."
Sadie winked at Michael. It was time to get Michael to admit his true feelings. Every time Lora talked about rejoining her husband, Michael appeared agitated. If she could get him to draw on his inner strength and admit his true feelings, it would give the child a chance to have a say in his death decision. Sadie knew it would be the opposite of his mother's. She also knew she needed to force the subject at the next round table session.
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12
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Paul Brink's secretary ushered Carl into Paul's office. She placed two folders on the hand-carved mahogany desk before asking Carl if he wanted a fresh cup of coffee.
"How'd you manage to train her to do that? Most secretaries won't offer coffee anymore. That equal rights thing is way overrated,” Carl said.
"No training involved. I hinted at what I liked during the interview and she listened."
"What else did you hint at?” Carl didn't need to ask because he often saw Paul's secretary leave the building after hours. Paul's previous secretary suddenly left his employ after an irate husband stopped by the office and found a locked door.
Paul's penchant for finding voluptuous secretaries chewed at Carl as envy crept back into his thoughts. When they were younger, every time Carl zeroed in on a new conquest, he was bombarded with questions about Paul. Without even trying, Paul fascinated women with his dark, brooding looks and penetrating green eyes, and Carl had to struggle to keep his jealousy at bay. Waiting for the opportunity to provide comfort to Paul's rejects seemed the best way to score.
"None of your damn business, Carl. What happens in this office stays in this office."
"Just like Vegas,” Carl said. He sat on the leather sofa and put one foot up on the coffee table.
Carl knew Paul had dropped a bundle of moola on the furniture in his office. The room contained leather items purchased from a showroom in New York. The furniture was grouped around an ornate area rug, imported from Italy, sitting under a heavy iron and glass coffee table. A mahogany desk finished out the room's grand design.
"Get your foot off the table. You'll scratch the glass.” Paul batted at Carl's boot.
Carl stretched his leg further over the table, placing his foot on a magazine. He pulled it over with the weight of his heel. “Satisfied?"
"I said put your foot on the floor."
"You're not threatening the future sheriff, are you?"
"Believe me Carl, your manners
Aanders joined Tim near the door and put his arm around him. “It's ok. I'll stay away from him."
Theo sat erect and pulled his briefcase close to his chest. “Just what we need. Additional conflict. It's hard enough recalling Sadie's instructions without worrying about Rodney."
Sadie joined the boys. “You're not exactly my choice for a death coach, Aanders. I would have preferred someone more mature."
"I'm not going to do it.” Looking at the crossers sitting around the table, Aanders said, “I'm going to pretend I never saw you. Nobody asked if I wanted to be a death coach so I'm not going to do it.” Setting his jaw, he declared, “You're going to have to find someone else."
Sadie shook her head slowly. “You don't have a choice. You've been selected. That's all there is to it."
"You can do it, Aanders. You can learn from Sadie. She knows everything,” Tim said. “She's been doing it a long time and will be a good teacher."
Lora leaned forward. “Tim's right. I trust Sadie. She taught me how to make a death decision. I know what I want, but I have to wait to find someone on the brink before I can complete my journey."
Michael looked up at his mother and then at Sadie before scuffing his shoe against the wooden floor. He hid behind his mother and peeked out at Sadie with concern.
"I've got more years of experience than I care to remember,” Sadie said. “You've got a big job ahead of you, Aanders, but I'll be here to guide you as you learn."
Sadie winked at Michael. It was time to get Michael to admit his true feelings. Every time Lora talked about rejoining her husband, Michael appeared agitated. If she could get him to draw on his inner strength and admit his true feelings, it would give the child a chance to have a say in his death decision. Sadie knew it would be the opposite of his mother's. She also knew she needed to force the subject at the next round table session.
[Back to Table of Contents]
12
-
Paul Brink's secretary ushered Carl into Paul's office. She placed two folders on the hand-carved mahogany desk before asking Carl if he wanted a fresh cup of coffee.
"How'd you manage to train her to do that? Most secretaries won't offer coffee anymore. That equal rights thing is way overrated,” Carl said.
"No training involved. I hinted at what I liked during the interview and she listened."
"What else did you hint at?” Carl didn't need to ask because he often saw Paul's secretary leave the building after hours. Paul's previous secretary suddenly left his employ after an irate husband stopped by the office and found a locked door.
Paul's penchant for finding voluptuous secretaries chewed at Carl as envy crept back into his thoughts. When they were younger, every time Carl zeroed in on a new conquest, he was bombarded with questions about Paul. Without even trying, Paul fascinated women with his dark, brooding looks and penetrating green eyes, and Carl had to struggle to keep his jealousy at bay. Waiting for the opportunity to provide comfort to Paul's rejects seemed the best way to score.
"None of your damn business, Carl. What happens in this office stays in this office."
"Just like Vegas,” Carl said. He sat on the leather sofa and put one foot up on the coffee table.
Carl knew Paul had dropped a bundle of moola on the furniture in his office. The room contained leather items purchased from a showroom in New York. The furniture was grouped around an ornate area rug, imported from Italy, sitting under a heavy iron and glass coffee table. A mahogany desk finished out the room's grand design.
"Get your foot off the table. You'll scratch the glass.” Paul batted at Carl's boot.
Carl stretched his leg further over the table, placing his foot on a magazine. He pulled it over with the weight of his heel. “Satisfied?"
"I said put your foot on the floor."
"You're not threatening the future sheriff, are you?"
"Believe me Carl, your manners
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