Weaving the Strands (9 page)

“Does she even know who I am?” he asked as he
helped her with her jacket.

“Of course she does,” Gloria said, as they walked
back to her place. “I’ve told her all about you.”

Glenn’s step lightened. He hoped that Gloria would
elaborate, but she remained silent. They reached her door and Glenn stood
quietly as she unlocked it. “Goodnight, then,” he said with a sigh, turning to
retreat to his house. Gloria reached out and touched his elbow.

“Before you go, Glenn,” she said gently, “I want
you to know that I was deeply moved by your note and that I’m thinking about
what you asked. I’m not being coy. I value your friendship too much for that. I
just need time to consider your offer—carefully. Do you understand?” she
asked, with a soft, inquisitive look.

He met and held her gaze. “Indeed I do, Gloria. I
meant every word of that note. I’m in no rush. Take your time. I’m content with
that,” he assured her as he rested his hand over hers and held it briefly.

Gloria nodded and let out a sigh of relief.

With renewed hope, Glenn turned toward home.

***

Gloria shifted the phone from one
ear to the other. Her cousin had called every day for the past week. The woman
just wore her out. The voice on the other end stopped abruptly.

“Gloria. Are you all right?”

“Yes, fine. I’ve had a lot on my mind recently.”

“That’s a first. I’ve never known everything
not
to be perfect in your world.”

Then you haven’t been paying attention,
Gloria thought.
I was a widow with nine children—how perfect could
that have been?
She kept these feelings to herself and said, “There’s
turmoil about the leases here. And Glenn wants to be my boyfriend, if you can
believe that.”

The other woman let out a low whistle. “Why didn’t
you say so? That’s big stuff.”

“I know,” Gloria replied. “The lease will get worked
out, I’m not really worried about that. It’s Glenn. I’m not sure what to do.”

“I can tell you one thing. You’re crazy about
him.”

Gloria laughed. “Why in the world do you say
that?” she asked.

“You talk about him every time I call. I can’t
remember you doing that with anyone else. Ever.”

“That’s just because we’ve become such good
friends.”

“Nonsense. There’s something different in your
voice when you talk about him. You gush. Takes seventy years off your life.
Truth be told, I thought you were already going together.”

“I really do care for him,” Gloria conceded.
“Don’t you think it’s sort of ridiculous for us to start a romance at our ages?
Aren’t we past all that?”

“Evidently not,” she replied. “And a good thing,
too. I’ve hoped for—prayed for—this for years. Gloria, if you can
live out the rest of your days in love with a good, kind man like Glenn, you’d
be crazy not to.”

“You really think so? This is such foreign
territory for me.”

“I do. Quit sitting on the fence. Let him know,
okay?”

Gloria paused. “You’re right. I’ve got to go. I
need to make myself presentable before dinner.”

***

Glenn tapped on Gloria’s door as
usual. It had been a week since he made his overture to her. Other than that initial
response, he had heard nothing more. Disappointed, he was resigning himself to
the fact that they would just remain friends. At this point in his life, he
knew he was lucky to have that.

Gloria stepped across her threshold and he caught
a whiff of a familiar heady fragrance. He couldn’t put his finger on exactly
what it was, but he liked it. “Whatever perfume you’re wearing smells nice,” he
remarked.

Gloria beamed. “Glad you approve. I always like
putting on scent when I go out on a date,” she replied as she slipped her hand
in his.

Glenn stopped and turned to her. Their eyes met
and they stood quietly as the happy realization washed over Glenn. His smile
mirrored hers. He brought her hand to his lips and brushed it with a gentle
kiss.

Hand-in-hand, they proceeded to dinner.

Chapter 21

Maggie strode through the lobby of
Town Hall an hour before the town’s administrative departments opened. Given
the bad press she had been barraged with recently, she liked to get to her
office before the building filled with constituents who had questions
or—as was happening more and more frequently—wanted to give her a
piece of their mind. She noted the tall man lingering outside of the juvenile
court department and was surprised when she got close enough to identify him as
the activist from Fairview Terraces.
Glenn something, wasn’t it?
If she
was going to be a politician, she’d have to get better at remembering names,
she chastised herself.

She approached him, holding out her hand. “Good
morning. I didn’t expect to see you here this early in the morning. Is
something scheduled concerning Fairview?”

“Mayor Martin,” he said, shaking her hand warmly.
“Glenn Vaughn. Nice to see you again. No. I’m not here on Terraces business.
I’m hoping to meet with one of the juvenile court case workers.”

“Oh … I see,” Maggie said, attempting to conceal
her bewilderment.

“I’m a mentor in the court-ordered diversion
program, and the boy I’m working with is having a very difficult time.”

Maggie regarded him thoughtfully. How many people
at his age had the energy and willingness to work with a troubled young person?
Glenn Vaughn was gaining in her estimation at every turn. “That’s admirable,
Mr. Vaughn. The juvenile court doesn’t open until eight. Is there anything I
can do to help?”

Glenn shook his head. “I was so anxious to talk to
somebody that I jumped the gun. Maybe you can point me to the coffee machine?”

Maggie smiled. “I’ll do better than that. Ride the
elevator upstairs with me, and I’ll make us coffee in my office.”

“You don’t have to do that; I don’t want to be a
bother.”

“Nonsense. I’m making a pot for myself, anyway.
Come on,” she insisted, steering him to the bank of elevators.

“You know,” he said as they stepped onto her
floor, “maybe you can help me. This boy is a good kid—very intelligent.
His life has been turned upside down through no fault of his own. He feels
betrayed by the person he looked up to most, and now that person has died. He’s
feeling rudderless, and he’s acting out in destructive ways. I want to break
that cycle before he gets himself in too deep.”

Maggie nodded. “William Wheeler’s son?” she asked.

“That’s supposed to be confidential,” Glenn said.
“But, yes.”

“I’ve heard that he’s having a terrible time with
all of this. Who can blame him? It’s a lot for a thirteen-year-old to handle.
What do you have in mind?”

“He needs a project of some sort; something active
to do with his mind and his energy. I’m supposed to be leading him through a
workbook of lessons. It’s a terrific tool, but studying a workbook won’t help
him now. He’s smart enough to answer all the questions correctly and get back
to making mischief or worse. I want him involved with others less fortunate
than himself—he needs to have someone depending on him. Something to care
about. I think he’ll rise to the occasion.”

“How do you think he’d like to work with stray
animals at a shelter?”

A smile slowly erased the worry from Glenn’s brow.
“I think that just might be the ticket.”

“Did you know that Frank Haynes is the founder of
Forever Friends? And, of course, he knows David Wheeler. Ask him if the boy can
volunteer at the shelter.”

Chapter 22

Maggie made her way through her
back door, wrangling her purse on her shoulder, her briefcase on her arm, and a
bag from the supermarket in her hands. Raindrops trailed across the tile floor
as she shuffled her way to the kitchen island and deposited the load in a
jumbled heap on the counter. It was good to be home early for a change. The
caustic email she’d received midafternoon from yet another disgruntled
pensioner had convinced her that she needed to take a break. If he wanted to
start a movement to get her impeached, more power to him.

She instinctively bent down to pet the
ever-effusive Eve, but her dog was nowhere to be found. Maggie abandoned her
groceries and walked to the dining room.

“Eve?
Eve?
” she called. “Mommy’s home!”

Her pace quickened and her voice became a shrill
cry as she rushed through Rosemont. Eve had never failed to greet her return
home with unrestrained affection.

Maggie’s panic mounted as she turned to the
stairway that swept up the side of the living room. She started climbing,
taking the stairs two at a time, when she heard the plaintive whine.
From
the library?
She had already looked there.

Maggie tore into the room. This time she noticed a
bulge under the long drapery by the French doors. She pulled the fabric aside
and fell to her knees. Eve lay on her side, eyes wide and scared. She lifted
her head a fraction and wagged her tail infinitesimally.

“Oh, sweetheart! What’s happened to you?” Maggie
whispered softly as fear wedged into her chest. “No, don’t try to move.” She
stemmed her tears as she gently stroked her beloved companion. “We’ve got to
get you to the doctor.”

Maggie rose to retrieve a towel to use as a
stretcher. Eve dutifully tried to follow her master. “No,” Maggie commanded a
bit too shrilly. “You stay. I’ll be right back.” Her tone was firm and Eve
obeyed.

After placing Eve gently onto a towel and
carefully carrying her to the car, Maggie set off for Westbury Animal Hospital
and the capable hands of Dr. John Allen, DVM. Seeing John might be awkward. She
had wondered if she should find a new veterinarian following their breakup, but
right now her only concern was getting the best care for Eve. Without question,
that would be John.

Maggie pulled into the parking lot shortly before
closing. She didn’t have an appointment, but she knew John would see them. She
gathered Eve into her arms and was grateful when another pet owner held the
door for her. She rushed to the counter. The receptionist was checking out a
patient. Maggie hailed a technician.

“Eve was in this terrible state when I got home a
few minutes ago. I don’t know what’s happened to her, but something’s terribly
wrong.”

“Dr. Allen just left; there’s nothing we can do
for you here,” he said, looking at the miserable creature lying in Maggie’s
arms. “She definitely needs to be seen right away. There’s an emergency animal
hospital about thirty minutes from here. Take her there. I’ll give you
directions.”

“No. That won’t do. She needs help before then.”
She reached into her purse, pulled out her phone, dialed John’s cell phone,
talking right over his greeting when he picked up.

“Eve’s terribly sick. I’m here at your office.
Please, please, John, come back. I’m so scared. I don’t think she’ll make it to
the emergency hospital.”

Maggie looked at the technician. “Your technician
is shaking his head,” she choked out the words. “He thinks I’m right.”

Maggie put her head in her hands and listened.

“He’s coming back, isn’t he?” the technician
asked.

Maggie nodded. He disappeared into an examining
room with Eve while Maggie sat in the reception area for what seemed like an
eternity.

***

Waiting in a hospital for news of a
loved one—human or not—was a lonely experience. She quietly prayed
for her sweet companion. The animal that had adopted her upon her arrival those
months ago and had, in truth, turned Maggie’s life in a new direction.
Introduced her to Dr. John Allen. Brought her comfort as she started over.

A door finally opened and John emerged looking
tired and serious. Maggie steeled herself for the worst. He took a seat on the
bench next to her. “She’s resting comfortably. I believe she’s going to be
fine, but we’ll need to keep her here for a few days for observation. And when
she goes home, she’ll need a long course of antibiotics.”

Maggie released the breath she had been holding.
She tried to talk but found herself sobbing instead.

John reached over and took her hand. “I think
she’ll be fine in a few days,” he reiterated.

“What happened to her?” Maggie choked.

“Looks like she was bitten by a spider and it got
infected. The infection had taken hold.”

“I should have noticed,” Maggie cut in. “I’ve been
so negligent.” She was crying harder now.

“That’s not true,” John quickly reassured her.
“There really aren’t any signs that you could have seen. It comes on fast. Was
she eating and acting normally?”

Maggie nodded.

“Then you couldn’t have known. Don’t beat yourself
up over this.”

She nodded again.

“Eve knows you love her,” he continued gently.

Maggie lifted her eyes to his and attempted a
smile.

“Infections in animals are like infections in
people these days—they can be resistant to antibiotics. We’ll keep her
here until we’re sure that the antibiotic is working. Then we’ll send her
home.” He squeezed her hand before he let go.

***

Maggie stepped through the back
door at Rosemont and hung her purse on its usual peg by the door. She trudged
to the laundry room and tossed the towel she had used as a makeshift stretcher
into the hamper.

Exhaustion and hunger were both vying for her
attention. She leaned into her open refrigerator, looking for something
appealing. Nothing presented itself. She retrieved an egg and decided to fix an
egg sandwich. Her bread looked dubious, so she settled for a scrambled egg and
saltines. Halfway through the meal, she chucked it down the disposal.

The sterility of the house without Eve’s
companionship settled on her like a shroud. Maggie took the stairs to her room
slowly.
She’s going to be fine,
she repeated to herself.
John’s got
her; she’ll be fine.

***

Maggie was hard at work at her desk
at Town Hall when her cell phone rang. The caller ID showed Westbury Animal
Hospital. She punched the answer button and brought the phone to her ear, expecting
to hear the technician who had called her daily with positive reports about Eve’s
progress. Her eyes widened when she heard Dr. John Allen say, “Maggie. It’s
John.”

She smiled. “I recognize your voice, John.”

He hesitated, and then continued. “Eve’s all set
to come home. She’s done very well. You’ll have to give her antibiotics for another
week, but that’s all. She’s fine.”

“Oh, John, that’s such great news! You can’t
believe how much I’ve missed her. I hate being at Rosemont without Eve. When
can I pick her up?”

“Anytime today. Just stop in and the technician
will go over her medication with you.”

“So I won’t be seeing you?” Maggie asked, unable
to hide her disappointment.

“No, you don’t need an appointment.”

Did his voice suddenly seem a bit brighter or was
she imagining that?

“Okay. Well, then,” she stammered. “John, thank
you so much for coming back to the clinic to see Eve and for taking such good
care of her. I’m convinced she wouldn’t have made it without you.”

John smiled. He didn’t tell her that he didn’t
think she would have made it either. He had spent that first night at the
clinic with Eve when things had been touch and go. Her fever, left untreated,
would have killed her. John simply replied, “You might be right. The main thing
is, she’s fine now.”

He hesitated and Maggie waited, hoping he would
continue. John finally drew a breath and said, “Call if she has any problems.
Goodbye, Maggie.”