Ever Present Danger by Kathy Herman Read Free Book Online

bandstand toward the ice rink, glad that the snow was quickly evaporating and patches of ground were already visible.

    She stopped for a moment and looked out at the colorful collage of skaters on the ice, and was flooded with memories of her childhood that suddenly didn’t seem all that long ago. She spotted her mother and Lu sitting on a bench and went over to them.

    “Hi, honey,” Carolyn said. “How’d your interview go with Jewel?”

    “Great. She hired me to work four days a week, starting tomorrow.”

    “Mom!”

    Ivy turned toward her son’s voice and spotted him skating next to a boy in a green stocking cap who was about his size. She waved.

    “Montana’s having a ball,” Carolyn said. “He and Ian Carter seem to have hit it off. Ian is Flint Carter’s son. You do remember Sheriff Carter?”

    “Yeah, but I wouldn’t have thought he’d have a kid that young. Doesn’t he have some that are practically grown?”

    Carolyn smiled. “Two in college. I’m guessing Ian was a big surprise. Flint is still sheriff, by the way. He and your dad have become good friends.”

    Ivy watched the boys skate around the bend, laughing happily and holding each other up. She couldn’t get over the irony that, of all the kids in Jacob’s Ear, Montana would connect first with the one boy she would’ve preferred he avoid.

    It bothered Ivy that Lu was so quiet. She glanced over at her and thought she looked drawn and listless. “We need to get you home so you can rest.”

    Carolyn gave Lu a double take. “Goodness, I didn’t realize we wore you out. Ivy, why don’t you drive Lu back to the house, and I’ll stay here with Montana? He’s getting along so well with Ian that I hate to cut it short.”

    “How will you get home?”

    “Why don’t you come back and pick us up at the deli at one? When the boys get hungry, I’ll ask if Ian can join us for lunch. If not, I’ll just enjoy the time with my grandson.”

    With my grandson . Her mother’s words penetrated her deepest fear like a healing balm. “Okay, Mom. Call if you need me to come sooner.”

    Ivy sat on the side of the guest room bed and pulled up the covers and tucked them around Lu. “I know the doctor said it would be a matter of weeks, but I kept hoping he was wrong.”

    “So did I,” Lu Ramirez said. “I’ve been trying really hard. I thought I could keep pushing myself until you got settled, but I just can’t anymore.”

    Ivy sighed and felt her own strength waning. “I’m going to have to tell my parents about your leukemia so we can break the news to Montana. He’s going to be so sad.”

    Lu looked up at her. Her dark eyes welled, and a tear trickled down the side of her face. “I’m sorry, Ivy girl. I wanted to see himgrow up. I wanted to be here to help you face the past.”

    “You’ve helped me more than you’ll ever know. Now it’s my turn.” Ivy wiped the tears off her cheeks. “Do you want to tell Montana, or do you want me to?”

    “I’ll tell him. But I’d like you to be there.”

    “Okay.”

    Lu held her gaze a long time, and then said, “I think it’s time for you to move me into hospice. I can’t help you with Montana anymore. And you don’t need to be worrying about me right now.”

    “You don’t have to move. You can rest right here. Mom will help with Montana.”

    “But I need help. You can’t take care of me. Your parents aren’t prepared to have a stranger die in their home, and I could never ask it of them. We’ve already been over this. You agreed to let me decide when it was time.”

    “No! I’m not ready to let you go!”

    “But God’s ready for me, Ivy girl.” Lu gently stroked her hair. “I’m not afraid. Really.”

    Ivy clutched Lu’s arm, unable to verbalize the agony she felt—or the impending abandonment she feared.

    “I know it’s hard. But if you won’t accept it, how can you expect Montana to?”

    Ivy knew the answer, but the choice wasn’t fair. Life