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“Oh, Jesus,” he groaned He took the ice cream cone from her hand and tossed it out the

“What did you do that for?” She probably sounded like a whiny brat But that was her ice creaoodness sake

“Never ain reached over and removed her sticky hand froer hand between them on the console

The ride home was spent in co a toll on thenition He squeezed her hand tightly “Thanks again for sitting withhis hand froht nod

They walked up the back porch steps together He held the door for her Sadie and Jeb aiting up, sharing a pot of coffee at the kitchen table

Jeb rose from his chair and turned to Brody “How is she?” At the same time, Lou went to Sadie and walked into the old woman’s arms The stress of the day fell from Lou’s body like the slow rain of her tears Sadie patted her back and cooed to her like she was a child again Jeb held out a handkerchief that was always in his back pocket She took it and dried her eyes, thoroughlyby Brody

“Where’s Sarah?” she asked softly

“She’s in our bed,” Jeb said “Do you want et her?”

“No I can do it You just stay here”

Lou walked fro hallway that led to Jeb and Sadie’s apartment on the lower level She retrieved Sarah from atop the covers on their bed The child did not wake as she lifted her but just wrapped her legs around Lou’s waist Lou placed her hands beneath her bottoher Like most old homes, the stairas centered around the kitchen so she had to walk back to where the family was seated

Brody looked up from his coffee where he sat at the table with Jeb and Sadie and s child tucked against her

“’Night,” she said softly as she turned to go up the stairs

“’Night,” he said in response

Lou hauled the sleeping child up the stairs and entered her room Once she was safely stowed beneath the covers, Lou kissed her forehead and walked through the bathroom that connected the two bedroo door open so she could hear Sarah in the night

Lou shed the worries of the day as she shed her clothes and stepped beneath the spray of the shower The ater washed away her worries Her fears for Mrs Wester began to diminish as she reood hands at the hospital She lathered her hair with a lavender shauely the sa and yet helped to relax her at the same time