Lifestyles by Calhoun Jackie

Author:Calhoun, Jackie [Calhoun, Jackie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Lesbian
ISBN: 9780941483575
Amazon: B002EUMHKU
Goodreads: 1661308
Publisher: Naiad Pr
Published: 1990-01-01T13:00:00+00:00

They were all there — her brothers and mother, too. Pat studied her father’s pale face, the former strong man in her life. The role reversal disturbed her, as she knew it would torment him. He was not a man who knew how to relax for long.

Arthur panted and whined in anticipation when Kate parked in the visitor’s slot next to Pat’s car. Did he really know where he was? Was he anxious to see Pat? Who knew what lurked in his mind — or if he even had one? Maybe he just wanted out of the car.

The black, cold night sky was littered with stars. Opening the back door she grabbed Arthur’s leash as he bolted for the bushes. The wind was fierce, bearing down out of the northwest, and it didn’t take much persuading to get Arthur into the building.

Pat looked tired.

She was tired. Kate hugged her, and Pat found it difficult to let go as she returned the hug. “Am I glad to see you,” she said. “Want something warm to drink?”

“Sure.” Kate followed her into the kitchen.

Pat handed Arthur a rawhide bone, which he snatched and carried into the living room. Kate said, “No wonder he’s crazy about you. How’s your dad?”

“Better.” The weekend remained a nightmare in her mind. She felt as if she were waking up and wished it had been only a bad dream. “His arteries were blocked. He smokes, and he’s always eaten whatever he wanted without a thought about his health. If you could just control the lives of those you love.” She shrugged helplessly. “How was your weekend?”

“Better than yours. Gordie and I started teaching the girls bridge, and the girls and I went for long walks. But Gordie couldn’t go far, and he couldn’t tell the girls what was really wrong with him, so he faked a pulled muscle. Then he had to limp all weekend. He didn’t want to spoil the holiday.” It really had been a nice, relaxing weekend, one to remember when things went bad. “I’m truly sorry about your dad, Pat, but bypass surgery does prolong life.”

“I know. Let’s go into the living room,” Pat said.

They sipped coffee in companionable silence. Then Pat asked, “What was it like when your dad died?”

Kate recalled her mother’s voice on the phone in the night, so alone and lost. “It was his third heart attack, not exactly unexpected, but no matter how you prepare yourself for death it always surprises you — or me, anyway. I was worried about my mother. I tried to make it easier for her. I stayed at the lake with her for a week or more and then I had to go home to my family. You just keep on living. I know she was lonely, but she was too independent to live with us.”

“It’s nice of you to come, Kate.” She meant it. She had needed Kate, and she wasn’t going to analyze this need tonight. She was just going to accept it.

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