Page 7 of Inherited Light
I stared out over the park at the street. “I used to think Mabel was just a mean old woman who didn’t love us, but the more I learn about her, the more I realize she loved us more than we ever dreamed possible.”
My phone rang and I picked it up. “It’s Foster,” I said, answering it. “Hey, what’s up?”
“Hey, Lorenzo, I wanted to update you quickly before they take her back to surgery.”
I sat forward quickly, gripping the phone. “She needs surgery again?”
Cat put her warm hand on my leg as she listened to my side of the conversation.
“No, sorry, well yes, but not like you’re used to her having. Dr. Reed wants to look in her esophagus and stomach with the endoscope. By the description of her pain, he believes her Crohn’s may have flared up into the esophagus. He’s going to do the examination, and then we may have to change her medication or add back the one they discontinued after her last surgery.”
I blew out a frustrated breath. “She was getting better they said.”
“Back then yes, but you know how this disease works. It can flare at any moment and be in any part of the intestinal tract. Dr. Reed promises we’ll be out of here in a few hours. The scope only takes a few minutes and she will have a light sleeping medication. I know you’re worried, but she’s doing better since we got here and they gave her something for the discomfort. She’s sleeping now.”
I nodded. “Okay, I’ll head back to the shelter and let my parents know. They should be home from work by now.”
“Lorenzo?” he asked.
“Yeah, I’m still here,” I answered.
“Please ask them not to come down to the hospital. We’ll be out of here faster if they don’t. If they feel the need to help, ask them to go to the house and make sure the air is on and the house is cool. Cinn will need to sleep this off for the next day or so.”
“Of course, I’ll have them take Poopsie there and wait for you at the house. Keep us posted, okay?”
He promised he would and I hit the red button, flipping the phone off. “Sorry,” I said, running my hands through my hair. “I had to take the call.”
She kept her hand on my leg, but shook her head. “Don’t apologize. Cinn is my friend and I’m worried sick about her. What did he say?”
“Apparently, her doctor thinks her Crohn’s disease has flared up into the stomach and esophagus. He’s going to check with the endoscope and then change her medication depending on what he sees. The woman can’t catch a break.”
She frowned. “I wish I could do something to help. Cinn has always been good to me. I would like to repay the favor. What if I paint all three dogs and frame them for your family? Does Cinn have one of Brutus?”
I held my hand to my chest. “What a sweet offer, Cat. She does have one of Brutus, but it’s from Mabel’s collection. I know for sure they don’t have one of Brutus and Poopsie together. Maybe you could paint them as the best friends they are. I know they would love it since Brutus and Poopsie never leave each other’s side for long.”
Annabelle noticed Poopsie hadn’t joined her in the fun and came over to lay beside her, her head on Poopsie’s back. I pointed at them. “Maybe we should do all three together,” I said, laughing softly.
Without speaking, she lifted her camera and snapped several pictures of the two dogs from different angles. “Those two have to be the cutest, yet saddest, pair I’ve ever seen. It’s like Annabelle knows Poopsie is upset.”
“She does,” I agreed. “Poopsie has been around Cinn and Brutus long enough she knows when Cinn is ill. Annabelle has been around long enough to know when Brutus disappears, Poopsie needs a friend. When Poopsie sees Brutus leave she knows Cinn is sick and she’s instantly depressed.”
She nodded, but the smile on her face held sadness. “Buster had to be with me all the time, too. I miss him, so I know how she feels.”
I called Annabelle over and she pranced to me, cocking her head to the left and right as if asking what I wanted. Cat had the camera out already and snapped away as the little dog spun to face her. The whir of the shutter kept her wondering until Cat lowered the camera. “I think I have everything I need now. I can’t wait to get started.”
I snapped the leash on Poopsie and Annabelle. “I can’t wait to see them finished. Listen, I need to take the dogs back to the shelter and talk to my parents. I’m off tomorrow, since its Saturday. Would you like to have dinner together?”
She paused as she put her camera away in its case. “You mean me and you?”
I chuckled. “It’s usually what together means.”
She glanced down at the wheelchair and back to me. “Why would you want to go to dinner with me?”
I made a sound which sounded like a part-laugh part-snort. “Why wouldn’t I want to would be the better question. You’re gorgeous, vivacious, funny, and I would love to reconnect with you.”
She seemed embarrassed by the compliments, but sat up straighter in her chair and smiled. “Then I would love to go to dinner with you, Ren. What did you have in mind?”
“Leave the details to me. Where should I pick you up? What time works for you?” I asked, taking my phone out to make a note of her address.
