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phone from his pocket, sighing at the number in the
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display. Barely seven-thirty, and Harold Bradley s
calling already. Is this man a micromanager, or
what?
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Chapter Thirteen
Lena stood to enjoy the rest of her coffee after
Jackson left in search of bagels. It really did hurt to
sit, but she was strangely glad of that fact.
After limping to the sitting room to fetch a
pillow, she placed it on the wooden kitchen chair.
When she sat gingerly on the pillow, she sighed.
Much better.
Grabbing the phone, she ordered the produce
and cheese, to be picked up later today. Now, she d
call her sister. The phone to Annie s room rang only
once before Ricky answered.
Ricky? Lena. How s she doing? Did she spend a
peaceful night?
She s raring to go this morning. She was
sleeping every time I checked on her last night the
stuff they gave her really knocked her out. This
morning, she s already grumbled for coffee and
refused to eat the gruel they put in front of her, so
you d better be ready to feed her when she comes
home.
Jackson s out picking up bagels, and I always
have the coffee pot on. Reassure her she won t
starve. I don t know where she puts all that food
she eats maybe in her hollow leg.
Ricky chuckled. She sure can pack it away, I ve
noticed. In a little while, they re going to outfit her
with crutches, and then we can be on our way.
Thanks for bringing her home for me, Ricky. If
it s not an inconvenience, I d be grateful if you could
stay here for a night or two to help her. Would you
be able to do that?
I d be glad to. I ll go home later to pack some
things I ll need. I have to run some catering errands
for Mr. P anyway. Do you need to sign her out of
this place?
She s legally an adult. She can sign herself out.
If they give you any trouble, have them call me on
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my cell phone. Annie has the number. Let me talk
to her, okay?
Annie came on the line. Hey, sis, how s it
going?
I m fine. How are you feeling?
Hungry and in need of caffeine. The food here
sucks.
Are you having any pain?
A little, Annie admitted. But they gave me a
ton of Darvocets, or something like that. I don t
want to take any till I ve eaten a good meal. In the
meantime, it s nothing I can t deal with.
But you are feeling well enough to come
home?
Really, Lena, you insult me. You think a little
thing like a broken leg is going to keep me down?
No, I guess not. Annie, I just realized
something. You don t have any clothing to wear.
Tell Ricky to run over here on the double, and I ll
supply him with some things for you.
Make sure you give him the purple, scoop-
necked jersey. I know he likes how that looks on
me. I have to wear a low-cut bra with it, so make
sure you send one.
Lena shook her head. Is there anytime at all
that you don t think of sex?
Nope. Also, send along with my very-unfavorite
baggy sweat pants. I doubt I can get anything else
up over this cast. I might even have to cut off one
of the legs to get them to fit. I ll need one sneaker
and two socks. No way any shoe I own is going over
this cast.
Check.
Are you there by yourself? She heard the
worry in Annie s voice.
Jackson s out getting food
Jackson? Hmm, sis, you been having some fun
behind my back?
Lena shifted on the pillow, patting the tender
areas on her bottom, and cleared her throat.
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Annie, really. He ll be here a lot while we prepare
for our catering job. Think you ll be up to helping
out by tomorrow morning?
I could do it today. I am woman, hear me
roar, she giggled. Like on that commercial for
Oprah or something.
Good to see this hasn t affected your mouth
and sense of humor.
Yeah, yeah. You okay, Lena?
Of course. Why wouldn t I be?
Ricky said something about your feet hurting.
I m fine. Don t worry about me. Annie, she
continued, I hope you know how much I love you
and, and that you don t think I abandoned you. I
would have stayed all night if I didn t have this job
to take care of.
Forget it. Ricky s been a lot more fun than you
would have been because, after all, he s a guy. I
hope this cast doesn t keep us from
I don t want to know, Lena interrupted.
Really, I don t.
Gosh, it is so easy to yank your chain! Annie
laughed. Chill. We didn t have sex here, if you re
worried about that. We just cuddled and kissed. The
nurse came in and looked at us pretty oddly,
though.
That s because I told them Ricky s your brother.
Gotta go I think I hear Jackson. Sign yourself out
and call me on the cell if they give you any trouble.
My brother?
A convenient fib so he could stay with you last
night. Bye for now.
The knocking on the front door became
insistent. Jackson must have forgotten to take keys
with him. She called, I m coming, hold your
horses, as she slowly limped down the hall.
Seeing Elyse Woodcock through the peephole
surprised her. She pulled the door open and leaned
around it, talking through the screen. Hello, Mrs.
Woodcock. How can I help you? As usual, Lena
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thought, she was dressed impeccably, today
sporting a cream-colored blouse and tan slacks that
looked like they cost four figures.
You can help me, dear, by letting me in. We
have something to talk about.
We do?
Lena, polite people ask other people in.
Images of getting another spanking for being
impolite flashed through Lena s head. Sorry. I m
having a little trouble getting around today.
Hopping on one foot, she moved so that she could
open the door fully. Please come in.
What happened? You didn t look hurt the last
time I saw you.
Oh, apparently I twisted my ankle or
something. Lena waved away Elyse s concern as
both moved towards the kitchen. I can t offer
anything beyond coffee at my kitchen table, unless
you d like a glass of juice.
Coffee, black, would be fine, dear. And I ll pour
it myself you sit. When Elyse saw Lena lower her
buttocks slowly onto the chair with a pillow, her
eyebrows shot up, and Lena couldn t help blushing
when Elyse said, If you want to sit, that is. Believe
me, dear, I understand. I m a little sore back there
myself this morning. Where do you keep your
cups?
In that cabinet over the coffeemaker.
Elyse examined them. These are exquisite,
Lena. Where did you find them?
They were my mother s.
She clearly had excellent taste. Elyse poured
coffee for herself and sat down opposite Lena. How
is your sister? Yesterday must have been dreadful
for you.
She spent the night in the hospital, but she s
fine, except for a broken leg. Ricky Jiminowski is
bringing her home later. Do you know him?
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Smiling a secret smile, she nodded, saying, Oh,
yes, I know Ricky. A wonderful boy. I didn t realize
he was dating your sister.
Dating? How did you ? Never mind. How can I
help you? Lena said.
I have this old Range Rover that my husband
used to drive. It s been sitting in the garage since
he died, and the only time it s ever used is when an
old friend of Walter s drives it to keep it oiled or
something. You would be doing me a favor if you
would take it off my hands.
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