Page 51 of Fragile Love (Fragile 3)
“Yes.”
“As in, it was someplace else, and you physically moved it?”
“Yes! On one of those silly trucks that moves houses. Don’t they look ferocious? Anyway, the house isn’t very big, which is why I will use it as a guest house. For short-term guests only.”
“That’s great, Katharina,” Lillian replied, hoping she sounded enthusiastic enough to make the woman happy. “I bet it looks beautiful.”
“Actually, it looks like shit.”
Lillian’s eyes popped. “You say that very casually.”
“Well, it’s a fact. What can we do about it? Fix it
up, of course.”
Oh, this is why she called.
“This is why I have called you, Lily of the Valley.”
Please don’t call me that. “I’m really glad you called, and I’m also really happy that you like my work so much!”
“So, can you come?”
Don’t beat around the bush, Katharina. “Um, when were you thinking? Because—”
“This weekend. I have company arriving in two weeks, and it must be beautiful for them. It greatly needs your touch.”
“This weekend?” she repeated, surprised.
“Yes, this weekend.” Katharina never sounded taken aback by anything.
“I’m not sure. Andrew’s still wearing his brace and—”
“There is no one else in the world I would trust to transform my space but you,” Katharina interrupted. “And Andrew’s leg is going to be fine.”
Lillian had no idea how to respond. She looked outside at Andrew, who was still on the phone. His leg sat straight out in front of him, propped up on the edge of a clay flowerpot.
“Katharina, Andrew can’t really move around much. He’s still using crutches.”
“Can he shower?”
Lillian paused, wondering if she heard right. “What?”
“Can your brother shower?”
“Uh, yes, he can. He’s actually—”
“He can shower by himself?”
“Yes...”
“Do you have frozen meals that he can warm up for himself?”
“I mean, I have leftovers and—”
“He should be fine for a few days by himself. I’m sure he has plenty of things to keep himself occupied.”
Lillian’s brain collapsed. There was nothing else she could say that would be a valid excuse to not come back to Los Angeles. “Let me give it a think, all right?”
