Now and Always by Lori Copeland Page A

door of the politician’s bedroom.
    â€œCome in,” a weak voice called.
    Katie opened the door to find Clara lying in bed, face pale, eyes closed. “How are you feeling?”
    â€œTerrible. I’m sorry about the caviar. I know it’s expensive, but my stomach just can’t handle it right now. I know the request was extravagant. I’ll have my people send you a check.”
    â€œThat would be deeply appreciated.” Ordinarily, Katie wouldn’t accept the offer, but this wasn’t a normal purchase.
    â€œYou and the others can eat it.”
    â€œActually, they tried it and didn’t like it, and before I could get to it, Cleo helped herself.”
    Clara opened her eyes. “The cat?”
    â€œThe cat.” That was fifty dollars down the drain. Or down the cat.
    â€œI hope she enjoyed it.” Katie could swear that she saw Clara’s lips twitch.
    â€œSeemed to.” Katie cleared her throat. She hated to suggest this, because it would mean a trip to town with Clara. Their celebrity politician needed to stay out of sight, but if she was ill, she needed to see a physician. “Would you like for me to take you to a doctor? Little Bush has a clinic.”
    Clara shook her head. “Tottie was just in here with a handful of zinc and vitamin C.” She indicated an empty mug. “She brought some kind of tea. I don’t know what it was, but it tasted good. She said it would help the nausea.”
    â€œAh. Well, Tottie knows her teas.” She had a great store of herbal lore passed down from mother to daughter, generation to generation, part of her Cherokee heritage. “If you change your mind, let me know.”
    â€œI’ll be all right. It’s just a bug. In time it will run its course.”
    â€œGet some rest then, and I’ll check on you later.” She turned toward the door, but Clara’s voice stopped her.
    â€œKatie?”
    â€œYes?”
    â€œThanks for buying the caviar. It was nice of you.”
    â€œNo problem.” She didn’t think the utility company would be as sympathetic, but she’d face that later. “You concentrate on getting well.”
    Katie left the room thinking this was the nicest Clara had been since she arrived at Candlelight. Too bad she had to be ill in order to behave herself. Katie passed the bathroom and heard someone being sick. Oh, please God, don’t let anyone else come down with this, whatever it is . A moment later the door opened and Janet tottered out.
    â€œI don’t feel well, Katie. Do you think what Clara has is contagious?”
    â€œIt’s possible. Why don’t you lie down, and I’ll have Tottie brew you a cup of peppermint tea to settle your stomach.”
    â€œI don’t think anything can settle my stomach. It feels like I’ve got a volcano rumbling around in there, and it just erupted.”
    Katie grinned at Janet’s sense of humor, and then realized she was serious. “That sounds terrible.”
    â€œIt is. Just pray you don’t get it.”
    Janet staggered back to bed, and as Katie went to the kitchen, she hoped neither she nor Tottie got sick. Who would keep things running if they were down? Tottie glanced up when Katie entered the kitchen. “Meg is sick too.”
    â€œOh, dear. Janet is too.”
    â€œI can treat the others, but Meg should see a doctor. She’s looking pretty bad.”
    â€œI’ll take her to the clinic. Is she awake?”
    â€œNo. She finally got to sleep around five.” Tottie rinsed a plate and placed it in the rack. “It can wait until she wakes.”
    Katie put a cup of water in the microwave, waited until the machine dinged, and dunked a peppermint tea bag in the cup. At Tottie’s questioning gaze, she shrugged. “There’s nothing wrong with me. I just like the taste of it. I told Janet that I’d bring her a cup.”
    â€œYou sit down and drink your