No One Can Know by LaCava Adrienne

Author:LaCava, Adrienne [LaCava, Adrienne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-01-09T05:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-ONE

Ivy Jean

DAHL HOUSE

Ivy slid her aunt’s meal tray onto the makeshift table by the bed where Miss Summers rested. The little lamp threatened to topple, but she caught it in time. Miss Summers seemed to be asleep, so Ivy whispered her name as a question. It was a great relief when she saw an arm lift and reach out. Ivy took her hand, startled that it felt like the heating pad her father used on his back, always set on high. Miss Summers tried to sit up and Ivy helped ease her into position on the bed to take some food.

She slicked her hair back with pale hands and took a deep breath. Her pupils looked starkly bigger in her pale-gray eyes than before, but she showed interest in the chicken soup and, encouraged, Ivy lifted the bowl to help her.

“You’ll feel better after eating.”

Hearing herself made Ivy think of her brother—Wade knew how to be tender.

The bowl was too heavy for Miss Summers, so Ivy started feeding her with the spoon. Knowing what to do, how to care for her friend, felt natural, even though she’d never done it before. She hoped the horse and pool smells on her didn’t offend the patient’s appetite.

Miss Summers watched her face. “Did you get some sun?”

She sounded tired. Ivy buttered a saltine and nodded.

The older woman spread her hands over her body. “Ain’t this a kick in the butt?” Meaning her illness, Ivy guessed. She cast a sympathetic smile and fed Miss Summers soup until she didn’t want any more and eased back under the covers.

Her head had dropped more than once like her chin was too heavy. Maybe Joanne or Debra gave her a pill or something.

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