Page 101 of A Twist of Faith
“Slow and easy back to work,” Meg reminded, the nurse’s look brooking no argument.
Reese about thought he’d cry. Sure sign of an emotional day. He ignored Rainey’s teasing and appreciated the healthy smile on his brother’s face. “Well, praise God.” He locked gazes with his brother, sending him a certain message of gratitude. “I can finally get some worthwhile help from somebody around here.”
“Hey, now,” both sisters said in unison.
“But,” Rainey interjected, her finger pointed directly at Trigg’s chest. “The doctor said it’s going to take another six months for Trigg to be back to full strength.”
“Or more,” Meg added, shooting Trigg a sharp look. “I tried to get the doctor to tell Trigg it would take him a full year to keep the mule of a man slowed down, but I couldn’t convince him.”
Trigg’s lopsided grin grew into full-fledged pride. “Looks like Meg’s out of a job.”
Meg didn’t even flinch. “Trigg Mitchell, the only payment you’ve ever given me is a hard time. I gladly relinquish my job as your overprotective and underpaid nurse.”
“You really do bring out the worst in her, Trigg. She’s usually so mild-mannered and gentle.” Rainey laughed and picked up her glass of tea. “I guess fifteen years with this family is enough to try anyone’s patience, including Mother Margaret over here.”
Meg’s sweet smile encompassed the room. “You all are the best family I’ve ever known.” She slit Trigg a sideways glance. “Well, most of you anyway.”
“God knew she needed the older-brother sort.” Trigg took a healthy bite, eyes brimming with laughter he wouldn’t shed. “Toughen her up.”
She sent ahelp melook to Mama. “How on earth did such a grumpy man come from such a jewel of a woman?”
Reese sure did love this family, adopted ones and all. His thought turned to Dee. When he’d called the hospital earlier she was in the dining hall, most likely fussing about having to use crutches. He scooped some mashed potatoes and chicken on his own plate with a little too much force. The potatoes splattered onto Brandon’s high chair.
“Whoa, Reese, are you trying to start a food fight?” Emma laughed and wiped at Brandon’s chair.
“Sorry.” He shrugged off his clumsiness. “I reck … I am pretty hungry.”
He felt his Mama’s stare more than he actually saw it. “Heard from Dee today?”
“No.” He took a bite. “Her mama said she was down at the dining room for the first time. Said she wanted to go off on her own.” His grin lifted. “Stubborn woman.”
Mama chuckled. “We wouldn’t know nothin’ about stubborn women in this family, would we?”
“All I know is they’ve been giving her meds for sleeping better at night because her foot is causing her some pain. I think she’s supposed to be discharged tomorrow morning.”
Rainey poked him with her fork. “You two need to talk.”
A twinge of pain knifed at the edge of his forehead and he rubbed at it. “There’s not much to talk about. She’s leaving.”
The room fell silent except for Brandon’s fork scraping the last bit of mashed potatoes off his plate.
Emma found her voice first, of course. “Leaving? She still has a whole spring before her school year is over.”
“It seems an opening came available early and she impressed her supervisors enough.” He kept diving into his potatoes, not wanting to face them. “She’s going to Charlottesville in January.”
“January?” Rainey nearly stood from the table. “That can’t be right, Reese. What about her classes? Her clients? She might be desperate for Charlottesville, but she’s not a quitter.”
“They’ve already found a replacement, I believe.” Reese didn’t even look at Rainey. If she knew the chosen replacement, she’d probably blow a fuse right out of the top of her ponytail.
“Well, we all know she’s wanted this.” Mama sat back in her chair, fingers patting a soft rhythm on the table edge. “I imagine she’ll be happy about it, don’t you?”
The room fell quiet again, except for Brandon beating his spoon against his empty cup like a drummer.
“Your Uncle Ralph’s farm ain’t thirty minutes from Charlottesville,” Mama said, slicing a piece of apple cake onto a plate and handing it to Reese. “He could sure use some help up that way come summer.” She shrugged and looked up at him. “If not longer.”
Reese about choked on his potatoes.
Emma must have caught on to his mama’s madness. “Oh, right.” An elfish gleam tipped off her grin. “And since he and Aunt Libby don’t have any children to help, they’ve kind of adopted us as their own.”
