A Katherine Reay Collection by Katherine Reay

Author:Katherine Reay
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2016-04-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 26

I SAT ON THE BED, RESTING MY HAND ON A PILLOW, AND tried to explain the injury to Paul. “Sliced through the tops of all four fingers along the second joint, right where you fold your fingers to chop.” I held up my hand as if he could see it over the phone, but I refused to offer up FaceTime.

“How bad was it?”

“The surgeon needed to graft some skin from the side of my hand, but he says I’ll only be stiff, no permanent damage.”

“That’s good.”

“I know, but it means I’ll need another week at least.”

“I figured as much.” Paul’s voice sounded resigned.

“I’m sorry, Paul. You’re being so generous, and I’m so close. I mean I was close. I could feel it. Designing those meals, planning for them . . . I was alive. It’s what I’ve been after for—”

“I miss you, Elizabeth.” Paul cut across my words. “I know you don’t want to hear that. I know you’re focused on Jane and Feast and now your hand, and I certainly don’t want to divert you from that, but I need you here.”

“Why?” It slipped out before I could stop it. Part of me wanted to know his agenda even if it pressed an awkward moment.

“Myriad reasons. We won’t go into them now.” Paul didn’t have awkward moments.

“I’ll be back soon. Game on, I promise.”

“Good. Go heal, Elizabeth.” His quiet, firm tone surprised me. “Heal. Then come home.” And he was gone.

I clicked the phone off and closed my eyes, leaning back on the bed. Suddenly life felt complicated, and it had nothing to do with my injury.

I woke up four hours later, startled that I’d slept so long. I wandered to the living room and found Jane reading.

“I’ve been waiting for you. Dad looked in on you and said you were sound asleep.”

“Where is he?”

“He’s running some errands, then grabbing the kids at school. I think he sat by your side a full half hour before I could get him to move.”

“Why didn’t you wake me?”

“He said not to, and I understand. Sometimes I like to watch the kids sleep, knowing that in sleep they are safe and their bodies are healing.” Jane smiled more at the memories than at me. “He’ll be back with them after Danny’s soccer game.” She pointed to my hand. “Does it hurt?”

“Even on painkillers it hurts.” I plopped onto the couch, bouncing it—which hurt more. “I still can’t believe it.”

“What happened? I mean I know what happened, I got to clean it up, but why did it happen?” She curled up next to me, folding her knees to her chest.

“Someone, Brian or Donna perhaps, called Health Services on me. Reported me for running a business from a private kitchen. As a chef, that’s a big deal—at least in New York it would be.”

“Are you okay? Will you lose Feast?”

“No and no. And it’s all okay, really. The guy didn’t ask about my work, so I didn’t lie, and he let me off with a warning because I live across the country.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.