Covered Bridge Charm (26 page)

“No, for Pete’s sake,” Dad huffed, then gave him a sideways glance. “Your mom probably isn’t keen on her, either. There was a time she was jealous of Fannie.”

“Well there’s been a lot of water under the bridge since then. It’s time you both forgave Carly for something that wasn’t even her fault. You’re even members of the same church.”

“It’s got nothing to do with forgiveness. But I guess if anybody would know what’s going on under the bridge, it’d be you. You know I don’t approve, but at least be more discreet in the future.”

Dad opened the door and climbed out of the truck.

Adam went to the bed for their pruning tools. He wished he could lop off Dad’s hard-headed ways as easily as he could shape a tree for those who used it to celebrate the Lord’s birthday. But somewhere beneath all that crustiness, he thought he saw glimpses of a vulnerable man. Only, if Dad had never gotten over Fannie, then how did he expect Adam to get over Carly?

C
arly watched Nines conversing with Dot about her missing cat. Teacup was the only residential pet aside from the household bird, Magnificent, and Dot’s canary. Teacup must have been named as a kitten, because it was anything but tiny. It was as ancient as its owner and normally didn’t do anything but eat, sleep, and use its litter box. As long as Nines could care for the cat, it was allowed to stay at the center.

“I think that barking dog upset Teacup. He got off my bed in the middle of the night, and I haven’t seen him since.”

That day Martha had needed extra care for her worsening asthma, so the staff hadn’t made a search for the missing cat yet.

With a shaky hand, Dot carefully set down her decaf coffee. “He couldn’t have gotten far. He’s stiff as a board. Looks ready to croak. That’s why I’m not worried about him eating Birdie. He’s got to be in your room someplace. Did you look under the bed?”

“Of course I looked under the bed.” Nines smacked Dot’s arm with her spoon. “He could easily take your bird if he wanted to. He’s just too civilized. And he’s certainly not useless. He can still get on my lap.”

Dot pulled on her sleeve. “You got mashed potatoes on me.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re the one without any table manners. You never place your napkin on your lap.”

Dot snatched her napkin, dabbed at her sleeve then spread it out on her lap. “I guess I forget sometimes.”

“Got this?” Carly asked Miranda. “I need to give Martha her breathing treatment.”

“Sure, we’re good here.”

Carly started toward the hall. They’d been in and out of Martha’s room all day, and the resident nurse had even been called in earlier. Usually, Martha’s asthma worsened at night. If they didn’t get these symptoms under control soon, it would be a rough night.

Hall Patroller stopped wheeling her chair long enough to confront their tallest resident, the General. “Go put your pants on,” she scolded.

He seemed undeterred, with his long, Casper-white legs nude up to his paper underwear. “Huh?”

Carly raised her voice. “Put your pants on!”

“Lady. I swim in less than this.”

Hall Patroller gasped. She wheeled up to Carly. “He’s doing it again.”

“Thanks for pointing it out to me,” Carly mumbled. She caught his arm. “Jah, but we’re not swimming today. It’s November, the start of winter.” He’d been dressed earlier and had been one of the first ones finished with his breakfast. “What happened to your pants?” she asked, leading him back toward his room.

“I felt like dressing in uniform today.”

“You miss the air force, don’t you?”

He moved alongside her but cast a disapproving look at the Hall Patroller. “She thinks she’s in command,” he complained.

“I know. But she’s lonely, and it gives her something to do. She was once a high school principal.”

After she had the General clothed, Carly went to give Martha her breathing treatment.

She found the older woman in a recliner struggling to breathe. Martha tried to tell Carly something but went into a coughing fit. Seeing the asthma had worsened, Carly pressed the emergency intercom button. “I need the nurse at room 110 right away.”

Then she placed meds in the nebulizer and placed the mask on Martha, patting her purple-veined hand. “Don’t try to talk, dear. Just relax. You want me to call your daughter?”

Martha nodded vigorously, and Carly made the call. As they waited, she saw a lump moving on Martha’s bed. What on earth? She went to investigate. Teacup! No wonder Martha was having an asthma attack.

“Did you know Teacup was in here?”

Martha shook her head.

“Well that’s your breathing problem. I’ll get her out of here.” Snatching up the plump cat, she hurried it out of the room and placed it in Nines’s apartment, shutting the door. By the time she’d returned, Linda was taking Martha’s vitals.

“I called 911. They’re on their way.”

With tears welling, Carly knelt beside Martha’s chair and placed her hand on her knee. “Don’t worry. Once they give you a steroid shot and get you on a ventilator you’ll recover quickly and soon be back here good as new.”

Martha couldn’t talk anymore, but she squeezed her eyes shut as if she didn’t want to face the procedures that would soon occur.

Widow Martha felt scared. Torn between fighting for her life and releasing her spirit to go home to the Lord. To John. She hated the struggle of a body that wouldn’t cooperate. Her emotions hadn’t felt so out of control since she’d been a young wife carrying her first child. Helen had arrived squalling and precious. How she’d enjoyed the challenge that came with motherhood. But nobody had warned her that her own daughter would one day turn against her. Put her away in a home and never visit.

“I’m going to be eighty-five,” she’d told Helen.

“Yes, I know. Do you have something special in mind?”

Not if I have to spell it out,
she’d thought rebelliously. “Surprise me.”

“How about some warm slippers or a cozy blanket with winter coming?” Slippers! Suddenly she felt resentful that she’d been a December baby. “Not slippers, for Pete’s sake!” she’d replied.
I want you to take me home. To bring the grandkids more often.
But she was too proud to express her innermost needs. Gasping, she thought maybe it would just be best to end it all today. She sure didn’t want to go to the hospital and get all those needles attached and be prodded and poked. It was so much to bear. She closed her eyes and pleaded with the Lord.

When the paramedics arrived, Carly left the room. At the receptionist’s desk, she dialed housekeeping. “I need room 110 thoroughly cleaned, the bedding changed, and the filter replaced. Be sure it’s an allergy-proof one, whatever they’re called… Great. Thanks.”

By the time Carly was off the phone, Martha’s daughter Helen hurried through the lobby. “I was at my granddaughter’s school. Luckily it was nearby. How is she?”

“Sounds like they’ll take her to the hospital.”

“Oh, gracious. Let’s see, I’ll have to call Steve and see if he can…” Her words faded as she hurried down the hall to Martha’s room, but the scenario was all too familiar. Helen was always busy, busy, busy. Carly sucked her bottom lip. On the bright side, it would give the family some time together, and that was exactly what Martha desired.

Needing to clear the hallway, Carly coaxed Hall Patroller to follow her to the lobby. “I know you’re busy here, but I could really use your help for a minute or two. She situated her at the game table. “Just for one second.” Carly went to a bookshelf and brought over a puzzle box. “I need you to get this started. You know how some of the residents struggle, and you’re so good at getting those border pieces going.”

“I don’t know.” She gazed back at the hall, longingly.

“Please.”

“Oh, all right. You know we have to turn them all over first.”

“You get started on that. I’ll be right back.”

The emergency squad took Martha out through the emergency exit at the end of the hall, and thankfully her departure didn’t cause much of a stir. Except in Carly’s heart.

One night in the middle of the week, Adam was heating leftover soup Ann had given him when he saw Jimmy pull into his drive. He turned off the stove. Either Jimmy had come to make amends, or he’d heard about his date with Carly and was going to make even more threats.

“Hey. Come in.”

Jimmy went to Adam’s favorite chair and plopped down in it. He crossed his arms as if daring him to ask him to move, which normally would have happened. But under their strained friendship, Adam let it pass and moved onto the sofa.

“I’m fixing soup. You want to eat with me?”

“Nope. Won’t hold you up long.”

“You look beat.”

“Just pulled into town.”

“So what’s on your mind?”

“Just wanted to apologize for the way I acted before.”

Adam was suddenly glad he’d left the plane ticket in his truck after he’d gotten the mail. Wouldn’t have been good for Jimmy to see it when it didn’t mean anything. He really needed to send it back to Dale and somehow convince him that he wouldn’t be taking him up on his offer. “No problem. I get it.”

Jimmy explained, “When I was gone, I was thinking about how much I love being on the road. I understand how a new start would sound good to you. I don’t know how you’ve endured being under your dad’s thumb this long. If you go to Indiana, I’ll stop in and see you.”

“Apology accepted, but I won’t be going to Indiana. I’m serious about your sister. I’m just holding back until I get Dad’s blessing.”

“That could be a long time.”

“Believe me, I won’t wait forever.”

“I’m going to keep my nose out of this, but it would be better for you to tell Carly about Dale’s offer before she hears it from somebody else.”

“I was going to tell her, but things are going good between us, and I don’t want to bring any doubts into her mind.”

Jimmy jumped to his feet. “Maybe you’re right. I’ve gotta get home and shower. Hit the sack.”

As he watched Jimmy leave, he felt uneasy. It was as if Dale’s shadow hung over their budding relationship. Maybe Jimmy was right. Maybe Carly even wanted to talk about Dale. It might clear the air so they could move ahead without any qualms. And if Jimmy let it slip about Indiana, she’d be hurt. It would take forever to penetrate her stubbornness. In that respect she was like her brother. Adam would take her home from church on Sunday and set things straight before he went to the birthday party.