The Foursome by Celya Bowers

Author:Celya Bowers
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-58571-565-7
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2012-07-31T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“Dad, are you sure you feel okay?” Since arriving for her weekly visit, Darbi had noticed Otis sneezing constantly. “I can heat you some soup or something.” She knew something as simple as a common cold could be very costly to an Alzheimer’s patient.

“No, baby girl, I’m fine,” he tried to reassure his daughter. He sat on the couch reading the paper and sneezed again. He muttered a curse.

“Dad,” Darbi began, “the other day when you played golf with Curry, did you get cold?” Curry had mentioned Otis started sneezing while they were out on the course. Darbi walked over to her father and placed the back of her hand against his forehead. “I’m going to take your temperature,” she told him.

Before he could voice his objections, Darbi was already down the hall.

She returned with the digital thermometer and took her father’s temperature. “Okay, Dad. Go to bed.”

Otis stood and walked down the hall to his room, with Darbi following silently behind him. After Otis settled in bed, she went to the living room and waited for Darius to return from racquetball.

A while later, Darius walked into the living room. “Hey, Darbi. How did everything go?” Darius set his bag down in the hall closet.

Darbi looked up from her studies and closed her book. She stood and walked over to her brother. “I think Dad is coming down with a cold or something. I was thinking of taking him to the doctor if he’s not better by Tuesday.” She took their father’s health seriously no matter how slight Darius thought the problem might be.

Darius nodded. “Okay, whatever you think is best.”

“If he’s not better by next weekend, I’m not going to California.” Darbi waited for her practical brother to agree with her. His answer surprised her.

“Darbi, I know when it comes to Dad, you like to be in charge. But this time I’m taking over. I can watch Dad. Plus, the nurse is here. That’s her job,” he reminded his sister. Darius tried to console her. “Just wait and see how he’s doing by Monday. I’m sure he’s fine.”

Darbi walked back to the sofa and gathered her books to leave. “I’ll come over tomorrow after I get off work.”

“No, don’t. I’m working at the house tomorrow; I’ll be here. You have a date. I happen to know Curry’s put a lot of thought into this date, so you have to go.”

She looked at her brother and wondered what he and Curry were up to. “All right, Darius. I won’t break my date. I’ll come over Saturday morning after aerobics.”

Darius nodded. That smug grin he wore didn’t sit well with Darbi, but she’d wait until the bottom dropped out of her life, as it always did.

* * *

Friday night, Darbi watched as Curry drove them to the airport and parked. “What kind of date is this, Curry?” He’d only hinted it was a surprise.

“Just trust me,” Curry said with a hint of mischief, helping her out of the car.

Darbi was skeptical.

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