Read Online First Light by William G. Tapply, Philip R. Craig - Free Book Online Page A

Fairchild estate into the Fairchild Country Club, perchance?”
    She smiled wickedly. “Well, of course it does. You know perfectly well that I’d love to see that. Philip and Luis represent the Isle of Dreams Development Corporation. They’ve put together some lovely courses on Hilton Head and in Florida. They’ve brought some financial projections and computer models, and we were hoping—”
    I waved my hand. “Good-bye. Nice talking with you.” And I went back into the house.
    A woman carrying what looked like a doctor’s black bag was walking through the living room as I was walking into it. She was tall and slender and had short curly blonde hair. She wore a pink-and-white-striped blouse and a blue skirt that stopped at her knees. She looked to be in her late thirties or early forties.
    I said hello, and she stopped and nodded and smiled.
    I jerked my head at the bag she was carrying. “Are you the doctor?” I said.
    â€œNot quite.” She had a very pretty smile. “I’m the visiting nurse.”
    â€œWhere’s your funny-looking cap and your crisp white uniform?”
    She laughed softly. “Here on the Vineyard we visiting nurses don’t wear uniforms. We dress for glamour.”She held out her hand and said, “Molly Wood,” just about the time I read the plaque that was pinned over her left breast. It read AMELIA WOOD, RN.
    I shook hands with her. “Brady Coyne. I’m the family lawyer. How’s Sarah doing today?”
    She shrugged.
    â€œThat good, huh?”
    â€œI gave her her shots. She’s comfortable right now. She’s been very up and down lately.”
    â€œOkay if I visit with her?”
    â€œI’m sure she’d love it.”
    We stood there awkwardly for a minute, and then I said, “Well …” and she smiled and said, “Well,” and she headed for the front door and I headed for the sunporch.
    Sarah was in her wheelchair in front of the television, which was showing the Red Sox game with the sound turned off.
    I sat in the chair next to her. “Who’s winning?”
    â€œWe are,” she said. “I just love Nomar, don’t you? You should’ve seen the play he just made. Went way to his right, backhanded the ball on the short hop, and winged a bullet over to first.” She frowned at me. “What’s the matter?”
    â€œOh, nothing,” I said.
    â€œIt was Eliza and those two lapdogs of hers, right?”
    â€œShe brought them over to lobby me,” I said.
    â€œI guessed that’s what she was up to. Figured you could handle them. They appear to be a couple of lightweights.”
    â€œI didn’t really handle them,” I said. “I just walked away.”
    â€œThat’s what I meant.” She turned to look at me. Her face was pinched, and I saw the glow of pain deep in her eyes. She took a long breath, and the glow dimmed. “Please don’t hold it against Eliza,” she said. “I want you to make the best decision regardless of her.”
    I reached over and took her hand. It felt bony and flaccid. “I know that,” I said gently. “Personalities have nothing to do with it. This is business.”
    She laughed quickly. “You sound like the Godfather. Oh, look.”
    I glanced at the television in time to see a man in a Red Sox uniform jogging around the bases.
    â€œI always hoped they’d win a World Series before I died,” said Sarah. “Alas, if it’s not this year, it’s not going to happen.”
    â€œI hate to tell you,” I said.
    â€œI know,” she said. “It’s September and they’re nine games out. It’s not going to happen.”
    We watched the game in silence. Sarah held my hand in her lap with both of hers, and when I glanced at her a couple of minutes later, her eyes were closed and her chin had slumped down onto her chest. I gently