Internal Fixation - Tawdra Kandle Page 0,70
farm any time you like,” I reminded Gram. “All you had to do was ask. And since when is she feeling poorly? Why isn’t she driving?”
“Sissie didn’t want to ask you because she wanted to wait to come after church, of course, and the timing worked better with Emma’s schedule. As for her feeling poorly . . . I think it’s more that she doesn’t like to drive at night. Her eyesight isn’t what it used to be.”
“Well, I’ll be happy to carry her back home tonight.” I paused. “Is Emma staying long, or is she just dropping off Miss Sissie?”
“I don’t know, Deacon. It would be rude to ask something like that. I’ll invite her to lunch . . . and then we’ll see.” Gram shook her head at me. “Sometimes I worry that people think you were raised by wolves, the way you conveniently forget your manners.”
I ignored that. “Is Noah coming with her?”
“Well, I doubt it. She didn’t say anything, and Emma is real good about remembering her manners. She wouldn’t bring a date without checking with me. Also, I seem to remember that Noah had a football thing this weekend. A training camp? Or a mini camp? Something along those lines. He’s been working hard at his conditioning, he says, because he is bound and determined that they’ll make it further in the post-season next year.”
I was about to say something else, but I was distracted by the sound of a car in the distance. Emma’s little compact appeared at the bend in the drive, puttering up toward the house. I herded the goats further away from her path, using both legs and arms to keep them from darting toward her slow-moving vehicle.
She stopped next to the house, and both doors opened at once. Miss Sissie hopped out with alacrity that belied her age, her hands pressed to her face she headed my way.
“Oh, my! Look at these babies. Oh, Anna, they’re just as sweet as you said.” She spared me a quick glance. “Hello, Deacon, how are you, dear?”
“I’m well, Miss Sissie, and yourself?”
“I’m above the earth instead of six feet under, so no complaints here. Oh, my heavens, Emma, aren’t these goats just adorable?”
“They are.” I heard her voice, and against my better intentions, my head turned toward her, my eyes meeting hers. She offered me a slight smile. “Hey, Deacon. How are you?”
“Emma.” I nodded. “Fine and dandy. How was everything at the hospital?”
“Great. Rounds were uneventful today. Oh, but there was good news from the lab—George Brewer’s numbers have begun to show marked improvement again. They’re moving in the right direction.”
The relief that always accompanied a positive result for one of our patients made me grin. “Excellent. Did you let him know?”
Emma shook her head. “Not yet. I figured you might want to do it.”
“Maybe we can both video chat him tomorrow,” I suggested. “He’d like that.”
“Yes! And he can show off his baby, too. Jed’s a total doll.”
Above us, Gram coughed. “Sissie, are you going to play with the goats there for a while, or should I get to work on lunch?”
“I’ll come in now and help you. The goats will be here later.” Miss Sissie patted my cheek. “Deacon, mind you secure their pen. My father raised goats when I was a child, and I remember all too well how crafty they were at getting loose. We wouldn’t want to lose any of these sweet babies.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I promised.
“Don’t worry, Miss Sissie. These goats are partly mine, and you can bet I won’t let them go astray.” Emma leaned down to kiss the older woman’s cheek.
“Emma, will you stay for lunch, sweetheart?” Gram shaded her eyes from the sun as she called out the question.
She hesitated, and I didn’t miss the way her eyes darted to me. “Thank you for asking, Anna, but I don’t want to impose on your visit.” Whether she meant Gram’s time with Miss Sissie or with me, she didn’t specify, but I was pretty sure I knew the answer.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Emma. You’re family, so there’s no imposition. I made chicken salad for Sissie, because she enjoys my recipe, but the pasta salad is vegan friendly, and so is the pickle salad and the beets you favor so much. There’s plenty.”
“Thanks, Anna. I’d love to have lunch with you all. Do you need my help?”
Gram waved her hand. “No, you stay here and enjoy those little critters. Sissie and I will be fine. I’ll call