“Nope,” Teresa answered honestly. There wasn’t a thing romantic about alcoholism. She could preach sermons about the effect it had on the children of drunk parents.
“So . . . changing the subject, since you evidently don’t want to tell me what y’all were talkin’ about,” Kayla said, “have you thought about the idea of a senior citizens place?”
“That’s the reason I couldn’t go back to sleep this morning,” Teresa answered. “I doubt that Miss Janie is going to leave us enough to start up something like that, but it would sure be a dream come true. I’ve loved working with elderly folks, and Sam was right when he said this community could use a place like that. It’s hard to be housebound in Texas.”
Something had been going on out there on the porch. Kayla would bet every freckle on it. The air was almost too heavy to even get a breath when she’d stuck her head out the door. Both Noah and Teresa had looked like they’d gotten news that someone had died. Teresa might be telling her the truth about it not being romantic that time, but Kayla had seen and felt the sparks between them in other situations. Still, she wondered what they’d been talking about. If Teresa needed time to think about whatever they were discussing, she would give her the room to do just that—and then she’d get the whole story out of her.
They put breakfast on the table without any more conversation, right up until Miss Janie yelled out for the nurse. Teresa started in that direction, with Kayla right behind her. Then she heard the back door close, and Noah joined them in the bedroom.
“I need to go to the bathroom, and I’m hungry,” Miss Janie said. “Are you the doctor, young man?”
“I’m Noah,” he said.
“Well, I don’t care if you built the ark or not,” Miss Janie said. “You need to get out of here so I can go to the bathroom.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he chuckled, and left the room.
Kayla was better at getting her out of bed, and in a few seconds she had her turned around and sitting on the potty. While she did that, Teresa straightened the sheets, folded the throw that Miss Janie was partial to, and got everything squared away.
“When I’m done, I want to go to the kitchen in my new chair. Eating in bed don’t seem right. Mama never allowed such things, not even when I was sick. She said the table was made for meals.” Miss Janie was careful to keep her gown pulled down to cover her knees.
“Your mama’s not here, so we can do whatever we want,” Kayla told her.
“I’m all done.” Miss Janie reached for the toilet paper on a nearby table.
“How old are you today?” Teresa asked as she handed her a wet washcloth for her face and hands when she’d finished.
She drew her eyes down as if she was trying to remember, and then she smiled. “I was seventy-five on my last birthday. I’m glad you girls came home to help Noah with me. I’ve got cancer, you know, and he can’t take care of me proper-like—not like you girls can. How long can you stay? Do you have jobs that you need to get back to? Lordy, Lordy, it’s been years since I laid eyes on y’all.”
Kayla could hardly believe her ears. Miss Janie was lucid! “We’re glad to be here. You took care of us when we needed it, and we want to be here with you.”
Hearing Miss Janie say “Lordy, Lordy” brought back good memories.
“We can stay as long as you need us.” Teresa brushed Miss Janie’s wispy hair and added a little hair spray.
Kayla helped move her over to the wheelchair and tucked a throw around her legs. “And I’m here for as long as you need me.”
Miss Janie sighed and smiled. “We can catch up on everything at breakfast. Teresa, you can push me into the kitchen. Do I smell sausage? I love waffles and sausage.”
“That’s exactly what I made this morning,” Kayla said. “And Teresa is making beans and ham and fried potatoes for dinner. She’s going to fry up some okra, slice some tomatoes, and make some corn bread, too. I remember that’s one of your favorite meals.”
“I had a horrible time getting you to eat when you came to live with me. You wouldn’t try anything new, and you hated it when it was Teresa’s turn to choose what