A Reckoning: A Novel by Sarton May

Author:Sarton, May [Sarton, May]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9781497647480
Publisher: Open Road Media
Published: 2014-07-22T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter XIII

“I feel you’re keeping us at bay, Laura.” Ann’s voice on the telephone the next morning had a tinge of asperity. “You know we want to help in any way we can.”

“Dear Ann, the cake was wonderful. Aunt Minna ate three pieces.” Laura knew she couldn’t leave it at that. “Mrs. O’Brien really wants to walk Grindle, and I can understand that she needs to get out of the house.”

“Oh, yes, I see.” But it was clear that Ann did not see. “So Aunt Minna was there?” (Aunt Minna was allowed in and I was not, was clearly what was meant.)

But how could Laura explain, possibly, to this dear, young, vulnerable daughter-in-law, that Aunt Minna was welcome partly at least because she was so old, and with her Laura could be a little child being read to. More, that Aunt Minna could be considered an intimate in a way none of Laura’s children was. How to explain anything at all, for that matter?

“I’m not going to try to explain everything I do, Ann. I’m feeling my way. Aunt Minna will come every other day for a while and read aloud to me. That is why she was there. She loves doing it—and honestly I just can’t have you interrupting your life every day to walk my dog!” The silence at the other end of the line was eloquent. “Ann, you’ve got to understand!” Laura was so angry suddenly that she blurted out more than she had meant to, or even knew she felt. “This is the first time ever that I can live my own life without thinking of other people. I mean to do just that.”

“You’re amazing, Laura, absolutely amazing,” said Ann, then she chuckled, and the chuckle became a laugh. “But you’ve made your point and ‘I hear you,’ as they say.”

“All right, dear. Now there is one thing you can do that would be a real help, and that is to come over today or tomorrow, when convenient, and take Mrs. O’Brien to the shops, show her where to get food, the farm for eggs and an occasional chicken. After that, she says she can drive herself.”

“I’ll come this afternoon,” Ann said cheerfully.

And that was that. But the effort, Laura realized when she put the receiver down, had been immense. Her nightgown was soaking wet, and for the first time in several days she had a fit of coughing.

“Stifling—” she managed to say when Mrs. O’Brien, silent as an Indian, was suddenly there by the bed.

“Let me lift you.” Somehow Mrs. O’Brien managed to get Laura into an upright position, then to stuff pillows behind her.

“Thank you,” Laura breathed. “That’s better.”

“Why don’t you let me answer the phone from now on, Mrs. Spelman? Then you can decide whether you want to receive the call or not.”

“Yes, please.”

So it was that Laura dozed for a while and heard the phone ring twice, thinking with great relief that she did not have to answer. When Mrs. O’Brien came

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