To Sleep... Perchance to Die by Donald R. Grippo

Author:Donald R. Grippo [Grippo, Donald R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance
Goodreads: 17165401
Publisher: Turn the Page Publishing
Published: 2013-06-01T04:00:00+00:00

No longer mourn for me when I am dead...

Windham, Connecticut: Spring brought astounding beauty to Windham Center. Warm weather melted the last dregs of soot covered snow enticing crocuses to poke their heads from winter hiding places. Forsythia followed, its yellow blaze scorching the earth. Grass, chameleon-like, went from dull brown to lush green, and trees began to don their summer coats.

New greenery decorated the pathway between the Manley and Grimaldi yards. Snow and ice had made winter use impossible. With the arrival of the new season, it became the main route of travel between the two houses. Frankie used the path to walk to the Manley back door on a Saturday morning in May.

Mai was sleeping, but Bret was awake and heard the rapping at the door. It had to be Frankie. On weekends she came to their house for morning coffee. Frankie’s habit was to enter with the key Mai gave her and brew a pot of the special French roast that she ground at home and brought with her. The pungent aroma of coffee wafting throughout the house acted like giant elastic tentacles pulling the couple from their bed to the breakfast nook adjacent to the kitchen.

Bret put on his robe and went to the kitchen. Confirming it was Frankie, he opened the door. About to ask why she hadn’t used the key, he realized she was distraught. Frankie was shifting from one foot to the other, unable to stand in one place on the porch, and tears welled in her eyes.

“Sorry to bother you,” she said, “But I’m at my wits end.” Her palm was cradling the left side of her cheek.

Bret approached, placed a supporting arm around her shoulder, and said in a reassuring voice, “Come in and have a seat. I’ll take a look at you. The way you’re holding your cheek, I’d say you’ve got an infected tooth.”

Frankie’s eyes were wide and sweat beaded her forehead, “I’ve had one heck of a toothache since last evening. And I woke up with this swollen face.” She removed her palm from her cheek and turned the puffy area to Bret.

He used his hands to control her head as he did a visual examination. When finished, he said, “You should have called, or better, come over when it first started, no matter what time it was. The side of your face is all red and you’re beginning to swell under your jaw.” The latter was a serious problem. Bret wanted to examine her in detail. “Can I put pressure on the area that hurts?”

“Do whatever you have to do to get me out of pain.”

He began to palpate Frankie’s face and neck. At one point, she flinched from what she described as a feeling like a fiery jolt of electricity. When he finished his examination, Bret assured, “Don’t worry, I can help you. You’ll be fine soon.”

“Oh, good. I can’t begin to tell you how lucky I consider myself having an oral surgeon as a neighbor. Especially, one who’s such a nice guy.

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