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She gave me a sly smile. “You mentioned something about ice?”
“Yes, I did. Tonight.”
She leaned into my chest and gazed up at me. “What sort of icy thing are you planning, my spicy, icy lord?”
I laughed and gave her a quick kiss, wishing we had time for more. “You’ll see.”
“Or feel.” She winked before she sauntered inside.
Grinning, I watched her for a moment before I turned and strode across the road, aiming for my truck. Inside, I called Sue, who answered and said she had a few minutes to talk if I came over now. After parking in her driveway, I walked up the path to the light green painted cottageplaced near the woods. Flowers overflowed the window boxes and the well-tended, narrow strips of garden along the path.
She opened the front door before I could knock. “Come on in, Elrik.” Inside, she took me into her kitchen. “Would you like some coffee?”
“No thank you.” I sat at the island while she fixed a cup for herself and brought it over, remaining standing. She added cream and sipped, placing her mug back on the counter after.
“How are you feeling?” I asked, noting a pile of papers and a manilla envelope labeled Sterling on the end of the island. Did it contain the beneficiary papers I’d seen at the hospital?
“I feel wonderful.” Her bright smile made her green eyes sparkle. “I’m much better.”
“I’m sorry about the progression of your disease.” This wasn’t the most delicate way to put it, but I wasn’t sure how else to bring this up without revealing that the nurse had shared confidential information.
“Thank you.”
“Melly’s really worried about you. She said you’re like a second grandmother to her.”
Her smile faded, and her gaze dropped from mine. “Yes.”
“You’re sure you won’t consider dialysis?”
She started pacing back and forth in the kitchen, her shoes squeaking on the linoleum. “My dad hated it. I always told myself I wouldn’t put myself through it.”
“I understand. Melly does too.”
“A lot of patients do fine with it, but it made himhorribly sick. He’d lay in bed all the next day, and then it was time to do it all over again the day after that.”
“Your wishes are important. The quality of your life is important.”
“Quality,” she huffed.
“It’s hard to lose someone you care about, but I know Melly understands. She’ll support you no matter what you choose to do.”
“Melly’s amazing.” Pausing in the middle of the kitchen, she cupped her face. When she lowered her hands back to her sides, her sorrow-filled gaze met mine. “I shouldn’t. I can’t.”
“Can’t what?”
With a shake of her head, she strode back over to the counter, leaning her arms on it.
“Can I confess something to you?” she whispered.
“Of course.”
I said nothing, waiting to see what she’d say. Would she confess to dumping Xylitol into the punch to gain sympathy?
“My kidney is fine,” she said in a rush.
“Really?” I tried to act surprised, but I wasn’t much of an actor.
“I fibbed.”
