Linny's Sweet Dream List by Susan Schild Read Free Book Online Page A

mental picture of the pink jeep parked in the middle of her mother’s chaotic living room and shivered. “Mama’s house is getting worse.”
    Kate frowned. “I know. I try to talk to her about it, and she bites my head off.”
    Linny swatted away a mosquito. “Her yard sale-ing is out of control.”
    â€œI know. Maybe I’ll ask Jerry to talk to her.” She raised her eyes heavenward. “Mama listens to him like every word he says is a pearl of wisdom.”
    â€œOne other thing . . .” Linny started. “Have you noticed how Mama talks about Daddy? She sounds almost bitter when she reminisces.”
    Kate looked thoughtful. “I’ve noticed. Maybe it’s too hard for her to talk about him.”
    â€œMaybe.” Linny nodded, unconvinced. Something was going on.
    â€œRight now, I’m more worried about you.” Her sister gave her a searching look. “How are you holding up?”
    â€œI’m hanging in.” Linny felt her eyes prick, touched by her sister’s concern.
    â€œWhen are you going back to work?” Kate asked, pushing a stray lock of springy hair behind her ear.
    â€œWednesday of next week.” Linny felt bleak just thinking about it.
    She raised a brow. “Didn’t they give you two weeks of compassionate leave?”
    Linny shrugged. “They did, but it’s been hard for them to be short-staffed.”
    Kate snorted. “Linny, stop worrying about them. Take care of you.”
    â€œI know, I know. They need me, though.” Linny leaned heavily against the porch column. “I’m dreading it.” She rubbed her eyes with her fingers. “I’ve kept count. I’ve been involved in the layoffs of five hundred and sixty-two employees.”
    Kate winced. “Cleaning up after bloodshed has to be hard. Once things settle out, maybe you can look for another job.”
    Could she bear her job for much longer? She’d initially been hired by Kipling Outsourcing to do supervisory training, but a few years ago, her job changed. After small companies did layoffs, they sent her in to work with the shell-shocked, soon-to-be-ex-employees leading a class called Managing Career Change.
    Looking out over the fields, she sipped her water. After college, she’d worked for a few different companies, drifted into this job, and ended up staying twelve years. “Last month, I did a class and was on break in the bathroom. Through the wall to the men’s room I heard sobbing. It was a guy from my class.” Linny shivered. “These days, I’d rather clean rooms at Motel 6 than clean up after a layoff.”
    â€œPlease tell me you’re not going to quit.” Kate’s brows knit and she looked worried.
    â€œI won’t. I can’t afford to,” Linny said wearily, and turned to Kate. “Am I going to get through this?”
    â€œYou will. Everything will be all right, Linny.” Kate wound an arm around her shoulder and gave her a squeeze.
    For a moment, Linny closed her eyes and let herself believe it.
    Kate gave her a final pat. “I need to run.” After a prolonged goodbye smooch with Roy, she clicked on her seatbelt, and nosed the car down the driveway.
    Â 
    Monday afternoon, Linny wheeled the car into the tree-shaded lot of Red Oak Animal Hospital. After filling out the paperwork, she and the puppy took a seat and she tried to concentrate on the article, “Potty Train Your Puppy in Two Days.” A redhead wearing a uniform printed with fire hydrants beckoned her. “Dr. Avery is ready for you.”
    In the examining room, Linny said, “Thanks for working us in.”
    â€œWe’re happy to.” The smiling woman gave Roy’s rump a scratch, and left.
    The puppy wove in and out of her legs, and nibbled on the hem of her khakis. She grinned at him, extracted a chew toy from her purse, and tried to distract him from his pants-chewing