Abide With Me by Delia Parr Read Free Book Online

“You should know you can’t use the word ‘good’ and the word ‘cancer’ in the same breath with Madge, so don’t get in a huff or holler at her for telling me. Russell isn’t coming home for another two weeks. She had to sit down and talk to somebody. She just came to me to try to understand what you had told her.”
    She gave Andrea a squeeze. “Your office was closed. I figured even if you had an appointment nearby or went shopping, you’d have to come back for your car eventually, and I waited for you.”
    Andrea’s body went slack for a moment. She gave Jenny a one-armed squeeze and stepped back. “I only told Madge because she caught me at home in bed. Another ten minutes, and I’d have been heading back to the office.”
    “She’s scared.”
    “Me, too.” Andrea sighed.
    “Me, three,” Jenny whispered. “You know that you’re going to beat this, right?”
    Andrea squared her shoulders. “That’s what Dr. Newton tells me.”
    “She’s right. I made a few calls earlier this afternoon and talked to two of the oncologists at the hospital. They both said—”
    “You look exhausted,” Andrea interrupted, changing the subject. “You’re supposed to sleep during the day, remember? It’s Thursday. You have to go to work tonight. Madge had no right to wake you up. Why didn’t Michael stop her?”
    Jenny grinned. “I switched with another nurse and worked a double on Tuesday, so I was off today. I don’t have to go to work again until Sunday night, although I’ve got a zillion errands and appointments between now and then. Michael’s got a great barbecue planned for six o’clock tonight—ribs, Silver Queen corn and a tomato-basil salad. Come for supper? The girls would love to see you.”
    Andrea toyed with her briefcase. “I have a stop to make. I can try, but I’m not sure if I can be there by six.”
    “We’ll wait for you.”
    “I don’t want to be a bother. Maybe another time would be better. I’ll grab something at home.”
    Jenny tilted up her chin. “Maybe you should think about being a little less independent. Or maybe, big sister,” she added with a grin, “you should think about the Blueberry Boy Bait that Michael made this afternoon for dessert.”
    Andrea groaned and switched her briefcase to her otherhand. “Mother’s cobbler recipe, I gather. The one Sandra loved so much?”
    Jenny chuckled. “Is there another?” She turned around, closed the passenger door, walked around and opened up the driver-side door. “I’ll tell Michael six-thirty would be better,” she offered. She watched the indecision on Andrea’s face give way to acquiescence.
    Andrea leaned into the car, tossed her briefcase to the passenger seat and slid behind the wheel. As soon as Jenny closed the door, Andrea lowered the window halfway, cranked the engine and turned the air-conditioning on full blast. A deep frown creased her cheeks. “Does Michael know?”
    Jenny shook her head. “I wanted to ask you if I could tell him, first.”
    Andrea chewed on her bottom lip and nodded. “It’s okay. He’s your husband. You shouldn’t keep secrets from one another. Just…just tell him not to say anything to anyone else. At least not for now, okay?”
    Jenny swallowed the lump in her throat, but her smile went straight from her heart to her lips. “Okay. Thanks.”
    Andrea reached through the open window and tugged on Jenny’s ponytail. “You’re not always going to get your way, you know. I…I have to do this my way, and sometimes that’s going to mean I’ll need to be alone.”
    Jenny lifted a brow. “Like when you’re cranky?”
    Andrea pulled back and put both hands on the wheel. “I don’t get cranky.” She turned to face Jenny, and her lips curled into a smile. “But I do get even. Wait till you see what I bought for Madge. I’ll show you after supper.”
    “Actually, I think Madge is coming for supper, too. With Russell away…”
    “Even better.” Andrea’s eyes