The Mercy of Snakes by Koontz Dean

Author:Koontz, Dean
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3, mobi
Published: 2019-11-11T16:00:00+00:00

10

Emma Marie Mulholland absolutely adores Dr. Pennyman. He is such a caring man. Whether she has an appointment in his office or he pays a casual how-are-you-doing visit to her apartment, as now, he always gives her his undivided attention, as if she’s special to him. He’s quite handsome, with a fit physique for a man of fifty, and a glorious head of salt-and-pepper hair. If Emma were sixty instead of eighty-seven, she might jump his bones, she really might, just be all over him, though that is not the kind of woman she’s ever been. She chides herself for having become such a naughty creature.

However, her Harry has been gone for more than twenty years. No matter how many friends she has—and Emma has many friends here at Oakshore Park—she’s from a generation and a social strata of women who value having a special man, one relationship above all others, a true love. The worst thing about being a widow of an exceptional man like Harry is that, having once had the best, her standards have ever since been too high for another man to meet them.

Until dear Dr. Pennyman. The age difference is too great, of course. She has no illusions. But while he’s paying this visit, sitting here beside her on the sofa, she can drink in the splendid look of him and be soothed by his deep yet gentle voice and admire his strong hands as he shows her what he’s brought that he wants her to add to her daily regimen.

The health drink he has for her is a vitamin-packed smoothie of some kind. He’s brought a box of six. “Refrigerate them,” he tells her. “They taste best when cold. If you like the flavor, I’ll bring a full case of twenty-four. No charge. This isn’t about that. It’s about keeping you well and spry. After you’ve been having one of these every night before bed, for a month, then I want to see how your blood-work numbers improve. I know they will. And as a bonus, you’ll find that your skin will be clearer and firmer. You have remarkable skin for your age, Emma, but of course”—he indicates a nearby photo of her and Harry, when they were achingly young—“you always have had beautiful skin.”

He is the dearest man. She doesn’t feel like a young girl again in his company—she’s not a fool—but she feels sort of middle-aged, which is amazing enough.

“Promise me you’ll have one tonight, Emma, right before bed. What time do you usually go to bed?”

“I’ve got my programs to watch. But I’m usually asleep by nine o’clock.”

“Well, in fact, it’s best if you drink it while in bed, then go to sleep half sitting up with your back against a pile of pillows. I don’t think you’ll have acid reflux from it, but sleeping in that position for the first couple of hours ensures you won’t.”

“I’ll start tonight,” she promises. “I always do exactly what you tell me, Dr. Pennyman. You’ve never had a more devoted patient.

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.