A Little Help from Above by Saralee Rosenberg

Author:Saralee Rosenberg
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780061748486
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2007-09-09T22:00:00+00:00

This is the great thing about eternity. You get to be around long enough to see everything!

Chapter Seventeen

Never underestimate the ability of hired help to make life blissful. Within days of Shelby’s reconciliation with her father, the formerly hostile Maria was not only pleasant to Shelby, she was completely at her service. Suddenly she was available to do Shelby’s laundry, take her phone messages, and as a licensed driver herself, take over the Waldbaum’s runs. At least she would remember to bring the coupons.

But when Maria also learned Shelby had apologized to Aunt Roz, as well as agreed to see a gynecologist on Lauren’s behalf, she unrolled the rest of the red carpet. She stocked the refrigerator with Shelby’s favorite-flavored yogurt, placed fresh flowers by her bed, and miraculously managed to pronounce her name correctly. No more Miss Shelly. It was Shelby Dear.

Shelby thanked Maria for her attentiveness, then was struck by an odd thought. Had anyone paid her since the accident? She’d never seen Lauren write out a check, or even mention an arrangement. Sure enough when Shelby inquired, Maria shrugged and said she was certain Mrs. L would settle up with her as soon as she was well enough. “In the meanwhile the good Lord will provide for me.”

“And I’m sure Visa will be happy to wait,” Shelby replied. Then she promptly asked her father for his ATM card and pin number. Upon handing the devoted woman a month’s pay, plus reimbursements for groceries, train fare, and what Shelby wryly called “combat pay,” a teary-eyed Maria clutched the wad of cash to her chest and thanked Shelby for her kindness and generosity.

“I don’t care what anybody says about you, Shelby Dear. You’ve got a big heart.”

It was a historic moment in Shelby’s life, as it had been ages since the words Shelby and big heart had been uttered in the same sentence. But, sadly, the lovefest was about to end. In spite of her great strides on the humanitarian front, she had made an executive decision. It was time to return to Chicago, where she was free to pursue her single, selfish existence. Not that life was nirvana there, either. It was just safer than living under the constant threat of being needed.

So although she felt relieved to be on speaking terms with her father and Aunt Roz, she was not interested in suddenly becoming the long-lost, dutiful daughter who sacrificed herself for their lengthy rehabilitation. Nor did she see herself playing the role of devoted sister, procreating from her loins, just for the sake of immortalizing the Lazarus family genes.

But there was something more. Being back on Majestic Drive was harder than she imagined, with each passing day turning her youthful, bittersweet memories into an obsession. She simply could not stop wondering what her life would have been like had it gone according to plan. If Dr. Weiner had done his job and her mother was alive to nurture her. If she and Matty remained in New York and in love.

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