Read Online Jane Eyre Austen by Doyle MacBrayne - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Doyle MacBrayne
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tea.
Susannah whispered, “Just the last twenty minutes. It was like a switch was flipped. She was washing the dishes and then suddenly started searching for towels. When I pointed to the drawer, it was like she didn’t recognize the towels there. She started yelling about the linens, ‘what have I done with her linens!’”
“Should we take her to the hospital?” Jane asked.
Susannah shook her head, “James called the doctor. He’ll let us know what he says.”
Jane brought the tea and shortbread cookies into her mother’s room. She was sitting beside the fireplace working on a cross stitch when Jane set the tray down. She kissed her mother’s cheek but said nothing, afraid to start a fight.
When she returned to the kitchen Susannah and James were hugging. James looked up. “I’ll bring her in tomorrow. Jane, if she gets violent…”
Tears stung at her eyes, “I know James, I’m so sorry to ask you to do this.”
“I love your mother too, Jane. We both do. I’ll call you after we meet with the doctor.” He looked at her and sighed, “We should keep her sedated until then, ok?”
She nodded, “Yes, of course.” She leaned against the kitchen counter. “Their anniversary is coming up. Maybe the stress…”
Susannah nodded, “Sure. That’s probably all it is.”
Jane nodded gratefully, “I’ve got it from here. You guys enjoy your evening.”
Susannah hugged her quickly, “Call us if you need us.”
James added, “We could stay here if you want.”
“No, no, that’s ok. You need some space. She’ll be asleep in twenty minutes and I’ll keep her sedated all evening.”
They nodded and left. Jane headed upstairs to change into sweats and listened carefully outside her mother’s door. When she heard the cross stitch hoop fall to the floor, she went in, scooped her mother up, and settled her in bed.
She sat by the fireplace watching her mother sleep peacefully, amazed at how her evening had begun and ended. She wondered if she was going to go insane like her mother. Was there some kind of test? God knows she wouldn’t want to burden future generations. She groaned, disgusted at her own callousness. Her mother was not a burden.
She crawled into her own bed, setting the alarm for three and half hours-- her mother’s next dosage.
After a restless night, Jane did her best to hide the circles under her eyes before returning to work. During lunch she called James from the conference room and was shocked at the news. The doctor felt her mother had suffered a stroke and probably had had several small strokes over the past few years. It explained the crazy behavior. The doctor had admitted her to the hospital and was running tests to be sure. James said she freaked out and they had to sedate her. She was barely able to keep her eyes open now.
Jane hung up and sat dazed for a few minutes when the door opened and Mr. Poole walked in. He gave her a surprised look; she stood up hastily and exited, passing several suits along the way.
“Jane!” He called after her.
She stopped, turned slowly and walked back, her eyes cast down, afraid to look at him.
“Jane, what is wrong? Have I upset you?”
She met his gaze immediately, reassuring him, “My mother is ill. It’s nothing I’m sure.”
He relaxed and his eyes softened, “I’m giving the presentation you prepared. It’s excellent work, Jane. You give my words life.”
She returned his smile, nodded and left. She had no energy left to be witty or smart.
Jane returned to her desk to work on a project for one of the in-house lawyers. His notes, however, were not as logical as Mr. Poole’s and his final conclusion bothered her. She spent an afternoon researching his project and came up with what she thought was a better solution and emailed him. Disguising her suggestion as a question regarding formatting, she was disappointed but not surprised that he never replied.
Susannah whispered, “Just the last twenty minutes. It was like a switch was flipped. She was washing the dishes and then suddenly started searching for towels. When I pointed to the drawer, it was like she didn’t recognize the towels there. She started yelling about the linens, ‘what have I done with her linens!’”
“Should we take her to the hospital?” Jane asked.
Susannah shook her head, “James called the doctor. He’ll let us know what he says.”
Jane brought the tea and shortbread cookies into her mother’s room. She was sitting beside the fireplace working on a cross stitch when Jane set the tray down. She kissed her mother’s cheek but said nothing, afraid to start a fight.
When she returned to the kitchen Susannah and James were hugging. James looked up. “I’ll bring her in tomorrow. Jane, if she gets violent…”
Tears stung at her eyes, “I know James, I’m so sorry to ask you to do this.”
“I love your mother too, Jane. We both do. I’ll call you after we meet with the doctor.” He looked at her and sighed, “We should keep her sedated until then, ok?”
She nodded, “Yes, of course.” She leaned against the kitchen counter. “Their anniversary is coming up. Maybe the stress…”
Susannah nodded, “Sure. That’s probably all it is.”
Jane nodded gratefully, “I’ve got it from here. You guys enjoy your evening.”
Susannah hugged her quickly, “Call us if you need us.”
James added, “We could stay here if you want.”
“No, no, that’s ok. You need some space. She’ll be asleep in twenty minutes and I’ll keep her sedated all evening.”
They nodded and left. Jane headed upstairs to change into sweats and listened carefully outside her mother’s door. When she heard the cross stitch hoop fall to the floor, she went in, scooped her mother up, and settled her in bed.
She sat by the fireplace watching her mother sleep peacefully, amazed at how her evening had begun and ended. She wondered if she was going to go insane like her mother. Was there some kind of test? God knows she wouldn’t want to burden future generations. She groaned, disgusted at her own callousness. Her mother was not a burden.
She crawled into her own bed, setting the alarm for three and half hours-- her mother’s next dosage.
After a restless night, Jane did her best to hide the circles under her eyes before returning to work. During lunch she called James from the conference room and was shocked at the news. The doctor felt her mother had suffered a stroke and probably had had several small strokes over the past few years. It explained the crazy behavior. The doctor had admitted her to the hospital and was running tests to be sure. James said she freaked out and they had to sedate her. She was barely able to keep her eyes open now.
Jane hung up and sat dazed for a few minutes when the door opened and Mr. Poole walked in. He gave her a surprised look; she stood up hastily and exited, passing several suits along the way.
“Jane!” He called after her.
She stopped, turned slowly and walked back, her eyes cast down, afraid to look at him.
“Jane, what is wrong? Have I upset you?”
She met his gaze immediately, reassuring him, “My mother is ill. It’s nothing I’m sure.”
He relaxed and his eyes softened, “I’m giving the presentation you prepared. It’s excellent work, Jane. You give my words life.”
She returned his smile, nodded and left. She had no energy left to be witty or smart.
Jane returned to her desk to work on a project for one of the in-house lawyers. His notes, however, were not as logical as Mr. Poole’s and his final conclusion bothered her. She spent an afternoon researching his project and came up with what she thought was a better solution and emailed him. Disguising her suggestion as a question regarding formatting, she was disappointed but not surprised that he never replied.
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