Read Online You Can Run... by Carlene Thompson - Free Book Online Page B

mother has worked for me for years but she had a mild heart attack, so Nan is taking her place for a while. Her demeanor is less than warm, but she does arrive on time. She’ll be here in the morning.”
    “Just get up when you please,” Diana added. “We don’t have a routine. If you’ll show Clarice to the bedroom, Uncle Simon, I’ll run upstairs and get something of mine for her to wear.”
    Ten minutes later, Clarice sat on the bed in a large, soft gray and dusky blue bedroom. “This is lovely, Diana! Simon said
you
decorated it?”
    “Yes. You should have seen it before—all velvet, tassels, valances, dried flowers under glass. It was my great-grandmother’s room during the last months of her life. I didn’t know her. I’ve heard she was rather stiff and formal, though, not at all like her daughter, my grandmother, who raised me after my parents died.”
    “Your grandmother was the sister Dr. Van Etton seems to have loved so much.”
    Diana smiled. “Yes. They quarreled constantly andenjoyed every minute of it. They seemed as different as night and day, but underneath, they were very similar. Simon was heartbroken when she died four years ago. He never married, and I’m afraid I’m the last of his family. That’s partly why I moved in with him. He would never admit to being lonely, but he was and it showed. Simon had always loved to entertain. He threw big parties for every possible occasion, but after Grandmother’s death, he never even had a small dinner party.
    “Two years ago, I was divorced, living in a small apartment and making do with a tiny bedroom for a darkroom. Simon did me a great favor by inviting me to live here, but he seemed to think he was the only one benefiting. He kept promising not to act like a parent and assuring me that this was a
big
house and he wouldn’t get in my way.” She smiled. “Not too long after I moved into the house, I asked Simon if I could redecorate this room.”
    “You did a fine job. The gray and blue are beautiful with the yellow and russet accents. You have excellent taste, Diana.” Then she looked dubiously at the nightwear Diana had brought for her. Diana always slept in one of her many mid-thigh-length T-shirts. The only other thing she’d been able to find was a bright pink nightgown and robe with chiffon flounces and satin ruffles at every opening, embroidered all over with bunches of cherries.
    “When I was married, my mother-in-law desperately wanted grandchildren,” Diana said. “She gave me this negligee for Christmas the last year of the marriage. I believe she thought it would drive my husband wild with passion.” Diana paused. “One of the last good times he and I had together was after his mother left and I tried it on for him. He said all I needed was a crown and a wand and I’d look like Glenda the Good Witch in
The Wizard of Oz
. We both howled with laughter.”
    Clarice smiled and held up the mass of chiffon and satin. “Well . . .” Her smile faded. “I was going to say something nice about it, but I can’t think of one thing.”
    Diana couldn’t help giggling. “I like your honesty. I’llget you some proper nightwear tomorrow. What do you prefer—pajamas or a nightgown without ruffles and embroidered cherries?”
    Clarice looked at her in surprise. “I wear short nightgowns so I won’t trip over them, but I’ll be going home tomorrow.”
    Diana said gently, “Your house suffered quite a bit of damage. You’ll need a second home for a few days, and Uncle Simon and I would love having you.” The woman looked unconvinced. “Frankly, Clarice, I think your presence would be good for Simon right now. He and I are close, but having someone nearer his own age to talk to at a time like this would be a blessing for him. I would really appreciate you staying.”
    “In that case, I’d be delighted.” Clarice smiled, then her expression turned quickly to one of concern. “Diana, you don’t need to play hostess to me.