Read Online Between Breaths (The Seattle Sound Series Book 2) by Alexa Padgett - Free Book Online
Authors: Alexa Padgett
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when we found out my brother-in-law was dying.”
“Lord,” Rosie laughed, though it quickly turned into a dry, painful cough. “You’d make the worst doctor. You’re too nice. I mean, look at Ken. He’s top of his profession because he doesn’t care.”
“Not really helping.” I sighed.
“Well, what do you like to do?”
“Besides chat with you?” I smiled. “I told you, I like having a purpose. Knowing I’m doing something worthwhile.”
“That wouldn’t be sitting with me, dear.” Rosie’s eyes sparkled and her lips curved upward just a bit. The hint of a smile. I’d done that—helped her feel better. If only for a moment.
“I disagree,” I said, softly. “I think this—helping individuals die,” my voice broke, but I held back the sob. Rosie deserved my strength as she lost her own. “Helping their loved ones get through it, this might be exactly what I’m supposed to do.”
Rosie considered me for a long moment. “You mentioned this last year when you were covering a story about the new cancer center. I liked the idea then.”
I nodded, lowering my eyes. She didn’t need to see the hurt in them. She wasn’t choosing to die. “I want to do something real. Something that actually makes a difference. For all that Ken’s emotionally stilted, he’s doing that. He’s helping people.”
“If you want to, you will. Ken’s a good man, just not the right one for you. He’d try to ramrod you into doing things his way and that’ll do nothing but make you both miserable. He needs a society wife—a woman like his mother. Now”—she smoothed her hands over her blankets, dismissing Ken and the rest of her family from our conversation—“tell me about Princess. I miss that ragamuffin.”
Not wanting to tell her how thin the cat was, I launched into the story about visiting Princess last night. I’d never owned a pet, and after Princess, I probably never would. To say it went poorly was an understatement.
“Then she darted into the living room and used her claws to mutilate one of the sofa cushions. She’d obviously been shredding it for days.”
“What? Did she have anything to eat?”
“A bowl full of food.” I paused. Rosie waited, too still. Best to simply tell Rosie all of it. “Your neighbor came by last night after work. She couldn’t get Princess to eat and she’d tried all kinds of different foods.”
“I left her enough money to make sure Princess was taken care of.” Rosie’s voice rose in agitation.
“It’s fine—everything’s fine. I’d bought some salmon at the market. Once I gave some to Princess she even purred a little. She sounds like a big dually truck when she gets going.”
Rosie chuckled a little, the sound weak but happy. “She likes you. Always has. I’m glad you’re watching her now.”
“I’ll make sure she eats.” I didn’t tell her I’d shut the bedroom door, terrified the cat would maul me in the night. Some things just didn’t need to be shared.
“Good,” Rosie sighed. “I’m glad I talked you into staying at my condo.”
She slid back into sleep, holding my hand. With slow precision, I extricated myself and stood. I bent to gather my purse.
“Hello, Briar.”
I stiffened my back but turned to face him. “Ken.”
“I called earlier. The doctor said you’ve practically been living here.” He cocked his head, eying me in that way most people look at a puzzle they can’t figure out. “She’s my aunt.”
“She’s like a mother to me,” I said.
“So you’re just trying to worm your way into her fortune? My money wasn’t enough for you. You want Rosie’s instead.”
My jaw snapped closed with a firm click. “I don’t want you because you tried to manipulate me. I’m here for Rosie because she’s my friend. A dear one.”
“I’m calling bullshit, Briar. You left us both without explanation.”
“Because you tried to force me into pregnancy,” I snarled.
“Now you’re all cozied up with my aunt
“Lord,” Rosie laughed, though it quickly turned into a dry, painful cough. “You’d make the worst doctor. You’re too nice. I mean, look at Ken. He’s top of his profession because he doesn’t care.”
“Not really helping.” I sighed.
“Well, what do you like to do?”
“Besides chat with you?” I smiled. “I told you, I like having a purpose. Knowing I’m doing something worthwhile.”
“That wouldn’t be sitting with me, dear.” Rosie’s eyes sparkled and her lips curved upward just a bit. The hint of a smile. I’d done that—helped her feel better. If only for a moment.
“I disagree,” I said, softly. “I think this—helping individuals die,” my voice broke, but I held back the sob. Rosie deserved my strength as she lost her own. “Helping their loved ones get through it, this might be exactly what I’m supposed to do.”
Rosie considered me for a long moment. “You mentioned this last year when you were covering a story about the new cancer center. I liked the idea then.”
I nodded, lowering my eyes. She didn’t need to see the hurt in them. She wasn’t choosing to die. “I want to do something real. Something that actually makes a difference. For all that Ken’s emotionally stilted, he’s doing that. He’s helping people.”
“If you want to, you will. Ken’s a good man, just not the right one for you. He’d try to ramrod you into doing things his way and that’ll do nothing but make you both miserable. He needs a society wife—a woman like his mother. Now”—she smoothed her hands over her blankets, dismissing Ken and the rest of her family from our conversation—“tell me about Princess. I miss that ragamuffin.”
Not wanting to tell her how thin the cat was, I launched into the story about visiting Princess last night. I’d never owned a pet, and after Princess, I probably never would. To say it went poorly was an understatement.
“Then she darted into the living room and used her claws to mutilate one of the sofa cushions. She’d obviously been shredding it for days.”
“What? Did she have anything to eat?”
“A bowl full of food.” I paused. Rosie waited, too still. Best to simply tell Rosie all of it. “Your neighbor came by last night after work. She couldn’t get Princess to eat and she’d tried all kinds of different foods.”
“I left her enough money to make sure Princess was taken care of.” Rosie’s voice rose in agitation.
“It’s fine—everything’s fine. I’d bought some salmon at the market. Once I gave some to Princess she even purred a little. She sounds like a big dually truck when she gets going.”
Rosie chuckled a little, the sound weak but happy. “She likes you. Always has. I’m glad you’re watching her now.”
“I’ll make sure she eats.” I didn’t tell her I’d shut the bedroom door, terrified the cat would maul me in the night. Some things just didn’t need to be shared.
“Good,” Rosie sighed. “I’m glad I talked you into staying at my condo.”
She slid back into sleep, holding my hand. With slow precision, I extricated myself and stood. I bent to gather my purse.
“Hello, Briar.”
I stiffened my back but turned to face him. “Ken.”
“I called earlier. The doctor said you’ve practically been living here.” He cocked his head, eying me in that way most people look at a puzzle they can’t figure out. “She’s my aunt.”
“She’s like a mother to me,” I said.
“So you’re just trying to worm your way into her fortune? My money wasn’t enough for you. You want Rosie’s instead.”
My jaw snapped closed with a firm click. “I don’t want you because you tried to manipulate me. I’m here for Rosie because she’s my friend. A dear one.”
“I’m calling bullshit, Briar. You left us both without explanation.”
“Because you tried to force me into pregnancy,” I snarled.
“Now you’re all cozied up with my aunt
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