was a note from Veronica.
Rose,
I had to return to the office to take care of a few things. I'll be back in time for Jeopardy. Try to rest and don't be afraid to ask for more painkillers if you need them. Leave some room after dinner. I hope you like Chinese food.
Ronnie
The young woman's fingers slid over the textured paper. Where her own handwriting was small and neat, Veronica's was full of flourish and style. She grinned at the comment about leaving room after dinner. When it came to food, Rose knew she could always eat everything in front of her and then some. She pressed the remote for the television, once again silently grateful to her benefactor, and noted that the local news was on. That meant less than an hour before Veronica would return. Rose took the plastic comb off of the table and ran it through her thick golden hair, trying to make herself look a little more presentable to her new friend.
"My friend," she said aloud, smiling at the thought. She thought about the way she had cried so hard earlier and how good it felt to be held by Veronica. In her arms, she felt safe, cared for, comforted. Strangely, Rose found herself wishing for that feeling again, to be held in those strong arms, to smell the light scent of perfume on the tall woman's tanned neck, to feel the compassion and tenderness within her touch and voice. Rose still did not understand why Veronica had chosen to befriend her but she was grateful that she had.
Wheel of Fortune was half over when Rose was treated to the sight of Veronica entering the room, a small bag full of delightfully smelling food in one hand, the ever present attaché in the other. "Hi there."
"Hi," the young woman replied, happily sniffing the air as Veronica set the bag on the bed tray and, after tossing her leather bomber jacket across the back of the chair and setting the attaché on the floor, took her usual seat next to the bed. "Smells wonderful."
"Did you save room? I've got shrimp chow mein and boneless barbecued spare ribs," Ronnie said while pulling the white boxes out of the bag along with two sets of plastic utensils.
"When it comes to food, I always have room," Rose replied, taking the plastic fork offered to her. Her legs were throbbing but somehow the pain seemed to be diminished by the presence of her new friend.
"They didn't give me any bowls or plates so we'll just have to share," Veronica said as she opened the boxes to reveal steaming hot food. "I didn't know what you liked but I figured I couldn't go wrong with the ribs."
"I've never had shrimp chow mein but yeah, the ribs won't last long." Her fork was already headed for the box.
"Oh, you'll have to try it. It's really good." She pulled out a forkful of the chow mein and put it into her mouth, drawing air in at the same time to try and counteract the burning hot temperature of the food. Rose was making quick work of the barbecued pork ribs, pushing several small pieces of meat into her mouth and humming with delight.
"Oh, this is sooo good," she mumbled around the mouthful of pork. "Thank you."
"You're welcome. We've even got fortune cookies for dessert." Since Rose did not think anything of talking with food in her mouth, Veronica relaxed and did the same. "I didn't have time to stop anywhere for dinner so I figured I'd pick some up and have it here."
"Oh, I'm glad you did. This is delicious," Rose said. "Thank you." She pulled the box of chow mein close to her mouth and pulled out a forkful of vegetables and shrimp. "Oh, this is good."
"Told you," Veronica smiled, pleased that her choices were so well received. "So did you rest well? I'm sorry I had to leave but I had some matters to take care of at the office."
"Is everything all right? You're helping me isn't causing any problems, is it?" Rose asked with concern, not wanting to do anything to add stress to her new friend.
"No Rose, my problems are with one of the divisions." She set her fork down and gave a polite burp.
Rose,
I had to return to the office to take care of a few things. I'll be back in time for Jeopardy. Try to rest and don't be afraid to ask for more painkillers if you need them. Leave some room after dinner. I hope you like Chinese food.
Ronnie
The young woman's fingers slid over the textured paper. Where her own handwriting was small and neat, Veronica's was full of flourish and style. She grinned at the comment about leaving room after dinner. When it came to food, Rose knew she could always eat everything in front of her and then some. She pressed the remote for the television, once again silently grateful to her benefactor, and noted that the local news was on. That meant less than an hour before Veronica would return. Rose took the plastic comb off of the table and ran it through her thick golden hair, trying to make herself look a little more presentable to her new friend.
"My friend," she said aloud, smiling at the thought. She thought about the way she had cried so hard earlier and how good it felt to be held by Veronica. In her arms, she felt safe, cared for, comforted. Strangely, Rose found herself wishing for that feeling again, to be held in those strong arms, to smell the light scent of perfume on the tall woman's tanned neck, to feel the compassion and tenderness within her touch and voice. Rose still did not understand why Veronica had chosen to befriend her but she was grateful that she had.
Wheel of Fortune was half over when Rose was treated to the sight of Veronica entering the room, a small bag full of delightfully smelling food in one hand, the ever present attaché in the other. "Hi there."
"Hi," the young woman replied, happily sniffing the air as Veronica set the bag on the bed tray and, after tossing her leather bomber jacket across the back of the chair and setting the attaché on the floor, took her usual seat next to the bed. "Smells wonderful."
"Did you save room? I've got shrimp chow mein and boneless barbecued spare ribs," Ronnie said while pulling the white boxes out of the bag along with two sets of plastic utensils.
"When it comes to food, I always have room," Rose replied, taking the plastic fork offered to her. Her legs were throbbing but somehow the pain seemed to be diminished by the presence of her new friend.
"They didn't give me any bowls or plates so we'll just have to share," Veronica said as she opened the boxes to reveal steaming hot food. "I didn't know what you liked but I figured I couldn't go wrong with the ribs."
"I've never had shrimp chow mein but yeah, the ribs won't last long." Her fork was already headed for the box.
"Oh, you'll have to try it. It's really good." She pulled out a forkful of the chow mein and put it into her mouth, drawing air in at the same time to try and counteract the burning hot temperature of the food. Rose was making quick work of the barbecued pork ribs, pushing several small pieces of meat into her mouth and humming with delight.
"Oh, this is sooo good," she mumbled around the mouthful of pork. "Thank you."
"You're welcome. We've even got fortune cookies for dessert." Since Rose did not think anything of talking with food in her mouth, Veronica relaxed and did the same. "I didn't have time to stop anywhere for dinner so I figured I'd pick some up and have it here."
"Oh, I'm glad you did. This is delicious," Rose said. "Thank you." She pulled the box of chow mein close to her mouth and pulled out a forkful of vegetables and shrimp. "Oh, this is good."
"Told you," Veronica smiled, pleased that her choices were so well received. "So did you rest well? I'm sorry I had to leave but I had some matters to take care of at the office."
"Is everything all right? You're helping me isn't causing any problems, is it?" Rose asked with concern, not wanting to do anything to add stress to her new friend.
"No Rose, my problems are with one of the divisions." She set her fork down and gave a polite burp.
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