When I Close My Eyes by Elizabeth Musser

Author:Elizabeth Musser
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Women's Fiction;Suspense fiction;FIC042000;FIC026000;FIC044000
ISBN: 9781493421886
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2019-09-26T16:00:00+00:00

PAIGE

In spite of Momma’s amazing improvement, I felt an almost literal heaviness descend on my shoulders. Aunt Kit seemed to have that effect on me. I rode the elevator down to the main floor, slipped outside into the nippy October afternoon, and walked around the parking lot, staring out at the mountains surrounding me. Ten minutes later, I was chilled and ready for my afternoon cup of tea.

I had just put the plastic top on my cup of chai and stepped from The Bean Shop into the lobby when Henry’s wife came out of the bathroom across the way. She was blowing her nose and crying openly. Had Jase died? I touched her arm and said, “Can I get you anything, Mrs. . . . ?”

She looked up, startled, and brushed her hand across her face. “Libby. My name is Libby.” She kept pulling her arms around herself as if she were cold.

“Can I get you anything, Libby? A cup of coffee? A candy bar?”

At first I didn’t think she’d heard me. Then she looked me in the eyes and grabbed me in a hug so fierce I almost dropped my cup of tea.

“The doctor just gave me bad news.” She was shaking, trembling, as she talked. “Jase has pneumonia, really bad.” She gave a little hiccup-like sob. “And he’s real weak. I can tell they don’t think he’s going to pull through.” She looked so fragile that her fierce grip took me by surprise. Like she was hanging on to me for life.

“Oh, Libby, I’m so sorry.” She finally let go of me, and I said, “Let me get you something to drink.”

“I’ve got some water.” She pulled a bottle from her purse and took a slow sip. “Sorry to bother you like that. I’d best get on back to my boy.”

We walked to the elevators together, and when the doors opened we stepped in with four or five other people. Libby kept swiping at tears while everyone else had their eyes turned down. I got off with her on the third floor.

Libby asked, “Isn’t your mom on the fourth?”

“Yes, but I thought I might sit with you for a few minutes if that’s okay.”

She looked grateful.

The waiting room for the Pediatric ICU was much like the Neuro Trauma ICU waiting room above. Several healthy and vibrant Ficus trees sat in the corners of the room, and a picture window let in sunshine and a view of the mountains. A small fridge was available for families of the patients to use, as well as a microwave, an electric kettle, and packets of instant coffee and hot chocolate and tea bags. A boisterously colorful flower arrangement sat at the information desk, giving the room a faintly sweet scent of late fall roses.

Libby sank into a chair, buried her head in her hands, and sobbed. Loudly. A middle-aged couple and a teenaged boy looked over at us, sympathy on their faces. Then they looked away.

I surprised myself by setting down my

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.