Where Water Lies by Hilary Tailor

Author:Hilary Tailor [Tailor, Hilary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Women, Family Life, General, Friendship
ISBN: 9781542036597
Google: VLo4zwEACAAJ
Amazon: B09X9JZDBH
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Published: 2023-06-26T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-Four

Mercifully, the back door is unlocked, so when Iris arrives, I shout for to her to use it and she can hear me through the window. I am still on the floor, still feeling sorry for myself, but my wish for Iris to be here far outweighs my desire for privacy.

‘OK, let’s sort you out,’ she says briskly, looking down at me kindly.

‘I’m sorry,’ I mumble, embarrassed.

‘If this is anyone’s fault, it’s mine. If I hadn’t backed into you . . .’

‘Let’s not start that again . . .’

‘No, you’re right. Let’s just get you cleaned up. Do you need me to take you to the toilet before we get you sorted?’

‘No,’ I say sadly.

With some difficulty, Iris gets me vertical and into the kitchen. She pulls down my joggers and underwear in a business-like fashion and throws them into the washing machine. Then she grabs the washing-up bowl from the sink and puts it on the floor, next to the kitchen countertop so I can lean against it.

‘Stand in that,’ she says. ‘Just your good leg, mind. We don’t want to get the plaster on your other leg too wet.’

I do as she says, and she gives me a wipe down with warm soapy water, handing me the sponge so I can wash above my knees. Then she wets another, smaller cloth with hot water. ‘For your face,’ she explains, gently, leaving it on the side. ‘Can you manage everything? I’m going to go upstairs and get you some clean clothes. Any preferences?’

‘There should be more jogging pants in the dresser,’ I say, grateful she is leaving me for a few moments while I wash. The water feels lovely, even though it is dripping all over the floor. I wipe my face, stiff with salt and snot, and I reach for the towel she has left on the countertop, feeling exhausted, and dry myself as best I can.

Iris returns, triumphant. ‘Right, let’s get these knickers on.’ She kneels on the floor and wrestles the knickers over my cast and onto my good leg. Then she does the same with my jogging pants. In the back of my mind I know I should be cringing, but her brisk, gentle manner makes the situation seem less mortifying than it is. I wonder if Iris has been a nurse in the past, and I am embarrassed to realise I know nothing about her, because I’ve never asked.

‘OK, let’s get you back into the sitting room,’ she says, ‘and figure out a better way to help you get around this house.’

‘Thanks,’ I mumble, relieved to have someone else in charge.

She helps me back into the armchair and disappears into the kitchen.

‘Leave everything,’ I say, feebly, ‘I can clean it all up later.’

‘Don’t be silly,’ she replies. ‘I’ve already used your washing machine once today, I’m a pro.’ She has a second sense for what I might want, making tea, delivering biscuits, and arranging cushions without asking questions. I feel myself bending gladly to her considerable will.

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.