pillows.
After arriving at the
hospital, they spent over three hours in the emergency room getting X-rays and
a CAT scan, and then waiting for a radiologist to read them, and a staff
physician to clean and stitch the wound. They hadn’t made it home until after
two.
“What time is it?” Rhetta
twisted to peer at the clock.
Randolph caressed his wife’s
cheek. “It’s nine-thirty, but don’t worry about what time it is. It’s Saturday
and you don’t have to go anywhere.”
Relieved, Rhetta lay back
against the pillow.
“Oh, great.” Rhetta squeezed
her eyes shut. “It’s the Saturday before Christmas. Yikes. I had shopping left
to do, and stuff to get ready for the open house,” Rhetta lamented. She began
to sit up.
“Let’s cancel the open house.
I don’t know what other shopping you need to do, but whatever it is, it can
wait until after Christmas. Besides, everything will be on sale the day after
Christmas.” He kissed her gently. “Don’t worry about it. Our friends will
certainly understand.”
She reached for her coffee.
“I really don’t feel all that bad, Randolph. Can’t we at least have the open
house? I was so looking forward to seeing everyone. That’s three days away.
I’ll be up to it.” She set her coffee down, and slid the covers back. She
searched the floor with her feet until she found her slippers. “That coffee
went right through me, so look out, I’m heading for the bathroom.” With that,
Randolph helped her to her feet. She listed to the left, but managed the rest
of the way unassisted.
As she made her way back,
Randolph said, “If you feel better and still want to do this, I bet Mrs. Koblyk
would probably love to help hostess the open house. She planned to bring some
of her famous baked goods anyway. If you’re better tomorrow, I’ll talk to her.”
He kissed Rhetta, then helped her back into bed. “But not until tomorrow, when
we see how you’re getting along. If you’re still walking like a drunken sailor,
then I’ll cancel.” He picked up the coffee cup. “You want a refill?”
“Please,” she said, smiling.
“Mrs. Koblyk would be perfect.”
Rhetta began practicing
walking straight as soon as Randolph left the room.
The phone startled her, but
she ignored its insistent ring. She knew better than to hurry to answer it. She
didn’t need to fall. Randolph could answer it. It stopped, but a minute later,
it began again and continued belligerently until she finally reached it. When
she picked it up, she heard only the steady hum of a dial tone.
Randolph returned just as she
set the phone down. “Who was that?” He handed her an oversized mug of steaming
coffee, which she accepted gratefully.
“There was no one on the
line. Probably a sales call or, worse, a political call.” She made a face as
she reached for her toast.
Randolph said, “By the way,
Woody and Jenn brought Streak home last night, so you don’t have to worry about
that.”
Crap. She had forgotten all
about her vehicle!
He went on. “I’m going to
feed the cats, then head to the studio. I have my cell,” Randolph said, as he
waved it at her. “Call me if you need me. That way you can practice walking and
I won’t disturb you.” He grinned, but his smile faded. “Your pistol is in your
nightstand. I may have to run to Albertson’s Supplies for some odorless paint
thinner, but I won’t be over ten minutes. Make sure you can get to your pistol.
I’m locking the house when I leave.”
Rhetta stretched across the
bed to the drawer in the nightstand and verified her weapon was at the ready.
Chapter 20
Saturday morning, December 22
After hoofing it around the bedroom until she could navigate without listing, falling or getting dizzy,
Rhetta headed for the shower.
After rummaging through her
travel bag, she produced a shower cap that she had scored from a hotel room
when they were on vacation a couple of years ago. She normally washed her hair
with every shower, and as
After arriving at the
hospital, they spent over three hours in the emergency room getting X-rays and
a CAT scan, and then waiting for a radiologist to read them, and a staff
physician to clean and stitch the wound. They hadn’t made it home until after
two.
“What time is it?” Rhetta
twisted to peer at the clock.
Randolph caressed his wife’s
cheek. “It’s nine-thirty, but don’t worry about what time it is. It’s Saturday
and you don’t have to go anywhere.”
Relieved, Rhetta lay back
against the pillow.
“Oh, great.” Rhetta squeezed
her eyes shut. “It’s the Saturday before Christmas. Yikes. I had shopping left
to do, and stuff to get ready for the open house,” Rhetta lamented. She began
to sit up.
“Let’s cancel the open house.
I don’t know what other shopping you need to do, but whatever it is, it can
wait until after Christmas. Besides, everything will be on sale the day after
Christmas.” He kissed her gently. “Don’t worry about it. Our friends will
certainly understand.”
She reached for her coffee.
“I really don’t feel all that bad, Randolph. Can’t we at least have the open
house? I was so looking forward to seeing everyone. That’s three days away.
I’ll be up to it.” She set her coffee down, and slid the covers back. She
searched the floor with her feet until she found her slippers. “That coffee
went right through me, so look out, I’m heading for the bathroom.” With that,
Randolph helped her to her feet. She listed to the left, but managed the rest
of the way unassisted.
As she made her way back,
Randolph said, “If you feel better and still want to do this, I bet Mrs. Koblyk
would probably love to help hostess the open house. She planned to bring some
of her famous baked goods anyway. If you’re better tomorrow, I’ll talk to her.”
He kissed Rhetta, then helped her back into bed. “But not until tomorrow, when
we see how you’re getting along. If you’re still walking like a drunken sailor,
then I’ll cancel.” He picked up the coffee cup. “You want a refill?”
“Please,” she said, smiling.
“Mrs. Koblyk would be perfect.”
Rhetta began practicing
walking straight as soon as Randolph left the room.
The phone startled her, but
she ignored its insistent ring. She knew better than to hurry to answer it. She
didn’t need to fall. Randolph could answer it. It stopped, but a minute later,
it began again and continued belligerently until she finally reached it. When
she picked it up, she heard only the steady hum of a dial tone.
Randolph returned just as she
set the phone down. “Who was that?” He handed her an oversized mug of steaming
coffee, which she accepted gratefully.
“There was no one on the
line. Probably a sales call or, worse, a political call.” She made a face as
she reached for her toast.
Randolph said, “By the way,
Woody and Jenn brought Streak home last night, so you don’t have to worry about
that.”
Crap. She had forgotten all
about her vehicle!
He went on. “I’m going to
feed the cats, then head to the studio. I have my cell,” Randolph said, as he
waved it at her. “Call me if you need me. That way you can practice walking and
I won’t disturb you.” He grinned, but his smile faded. “Your pistol is in your
nightstand. I may have to run to Albertson’s Supplies for some odorless paint
thinner, but I won’t be over ten minutes. Make sure you can get to your pistol.
I’m locking the house when I leave.”
Rhetta stretched across the
bed to the drawer in the nightstand and verified her weapon was at the ready.
Chapter 20
Saturday morning, December 22
After hoofing it around the bedroom until she could navigate without listing, falling or getting dizzy,
Rhetta headed for the shower.
After rummaging through her
travel bag, she produced a shower cap that she had scored from a hotel room
when they were on vacation a couple of years ago. She normally washed her hair
with every shower, and as
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