Read Online Compass Rose by John Casey - Free Book Online

ones didn’t fall. When she did pick one she laid it in the basket as if she was making a flower arrangement. Then stood up, moved the basket, stooped, smoothed her skirt.
    May said, “You don’t need to be so dainty. Here.” May knelt beside her and picked three in short order.
    “I’m sure it’s going to be all right,” Phoebe said. “I mean, here you are with everything he could want. You’re so good and beautiful in a real way.” She held her hands out wide. “I mean, it’s as if all this is a part of you.”
    May felt the side of her mouth twitch down.
    Phoebe said, “I know, I know. I should just think those things.”
    May picked two tomatoes and another two. She said, “That’s more than enough. You’d better take some home with you.”
    “I’m going back to the office,” Phoebe said. “I’m probably late; I am late. They’ll be all right in the car?”
    Phoebe left in a flurry, shuffling to the back door with a pair of tomatoes in each hand, shaking off Tom’s boots, trotting out the front door in her high heels, waving out the car window.
    May stood on the porch, a little let down. At first she thought it was because she’d been talking too much. Then she thought, what ifDick was to find out? No, that made her cross, not sad. Dick was out to sea, where he didn’t answer to anybody but himself. No reason why she shouldn’t do what she pleased in her own place. Then she had a suspicion that Phoebe had got round her, had got the better of her. No to that, too. Phoebe was clever enough behind all that giddiness, but she didn’t think Phoebe meant her any harm. Phoebe was lonely, was aching to find a friend.
    So what did it mean that Phoebe picked her?

chapter twelve
    E lsie reread the instructions for hooking up the answering machine, one of the many small items on her list. In fact, they were all small, Lilliputians wrapping their tiny ropes around her just when she wished to do something big. She’d imagined that Miss Perry—Miss Perry’s situation—would require largeness of spirit, a beaming of will and encouragement. Instead she felt like an IBM typewriter ball tapping out one minuscule letter after another. The day nurse had immediately taken command of Miss Perry’s bedroom. On this first day she’d popped out four times to suggest things Elsie could do. All perfectly sensible. All elaborations of doctor’s orders. An electric heater, at least until Elsie got the plumber to bleed the radiators. A hot-water bottle. A tray with legs for meals in bed. As soon as Elsie arrived with one thing the woman would meet her in the front hall wanting another. And now this answering machine with instructions that seemed to be translated from Japanese.
    The day nurse came down the stairs and said, “Lydia’s asking for you. Don’t stay long. Oh, we need baby aspirin. And I couldn’t find coffee. There’s tea, but I prefer coffee.”
    “Baby aspirin?”
    “Yes. Adult-strength would irritate her stomach, but we need a small dose as an anticlotting agent.”
    “Okay. Baby aspirin. While I’m out, why don’t you see what you can do with this answering machine … It’d be a big help. I’ll put coffee on my list. Oh, by the way, it’s Miss Perry. We all say Miss Perry. Only Captain Teixeira … but he’s her oldest friend.” The nurse lifted a hand. Elsie said, “I’ll bring my coffeemaker, and we’ll have a chance to chat about everything tomorrow. Oh. We’re having meals brought over from Sawtooth Point, whatever’s the special. Once the answering machine is hooked up, just turn the ringer off and it won’t bother you anymore. And let me know if there’s anything you can’t eat. You’re okay with seafood? No problems with clams, lobster, squid?”
    “I haven’t ever had squid.”
    “Okay. No squid. After I see Miss Perry, I’ve got to run, but I’ll be back to meet the night nurse. Do you know her?”
    “No. I don’t know who—”
    “One of the Tran girls.