A Time to Love Read Online Free PDF Page B

mornings.
    "If you say so," Jenny told her. "My body doesn't say so."
    She poured a cup of coffee and moved carefully toward the table. Setting her cane beside it, she lowered herself into the chair. "Mmm, something smells good. Cinnamon rolls?"
    Phoebe raised a brow as she served her scrambled eggs."Cinnamon rolls?" She sniffed the air. "I don't smell cinnamon rolls."
    Jenny grinned. "Yeah, right. What are you baking?"
    She glanced toward the oven, watching as her grandmother pulled out a pan of warm cinnamon rolls and set it on the table before her. They looked perfect, but then her grandmother was spooning out vanilla-scented frosting that melted and oozed all over them .
    "My favorite. I'm going to be so fat," Jenny complained.
    But she had to try one. She bit into it, not caring that it was still a little too hot, and it melted on the tongue, all rich dough and cinnamony, sugary goodness. Licking the frosting from her fingers, she pulled the pinwheel roll apart and popped it bite by bite into her mouth.
    "I bet I've gained five pounds in two weeks."
    "And could stand to gain a lot more," Phoebe told her."You're still skin and bones."
    "Not for long," Jenny mumbled around a full mouth. Her appetite was coming back. She finished the roll and eggs, then found herself looking longingly at a second roll. Sighing, she took it. She could never resist her grandmother's cinnamon rolls.
    After she helped with cleanup, Jenny stood to look out a kitchen window.
    "Feeling restless?"
    Jenny glanced over her shoulder and nodded.
    "Join us this afternoon. Even if you don't like quilting, I think you'd enjoy meeting the women, especially the ones your age."
    Her hand went to her cheek. "I'm not ready to see anyone yet."
    Phoebe regarded her with steady eyes. "Jenny, can you show yourself to others only if you think you look perfect?"
    Jenny laughed ruefully. "No, I never thought I looked perfect before. But—this!" She gestured at her face and shook her head. "I'm just not ready yet."
    "Jenny, there is something we must speak of."
    "That sounds serious."
    "It is." Phoebe squeezed her hand. "Sometimes a parent—a grandparent—must push the baby bird from the nest so she can fly."
    "Oh, I'm sorry. Have I overstayed my welcome?"
    "No," Phoebe rushed to say. "But you have been hiding here and I have let you. And it's not the best thing for you."
    Jenny sighed. "I know."
    "The physical therapist left a phone message. I was going to talk to you about it later but perhaps now is the time."
    "Called?" Jenny looked around for a phone, wondering why she hadn't heard it ring, and then realized it was in the shanty outside. "I wonder how she got my number here?"
    "Your therapist at the hospital called her to do a follow-up."Phoebe stared at Jenny, her forehead creased in a frown.
    "I do the exercises she gave me." Jenny heard the defensiveness in her voice and fidgeted as her grandmother continued to stare at her.
    "I'm not going to say you're not. You're an honest young woman. But maybe they're not enough."
    Sighing, Jenny nodded. "Okay, I'll call her right away. Therapy isn't the most pleasant thing, but it helps."
    In fact, it had helped enough that the doctors had decided to take a wait-and-see attitude about whether Jenny would need more surgery on her hip.
    As Jenny reached for her coat, Phoebe did the same. "You don't need to come with me," she said hurriedly.
    "I'm not coming to check up on you," Phoebe told her. "I want to help you on the steps so you don't slip."
    "I'll be fine. And I don't want to worry about you slipping and breaking a hip."
    Phoebe made a harrumphing sound. "Are you saying I'm old?"
    Jenny made a face. "I didn't know I could get my foot all the way up into my mouth."
    "I know how to be careful."
    Putting her hand on her hip, Jenny just stared at her. "And I don't?"
    Tucking her hand in Jenny's arm, Phoebe started walking toward the door so Jenny had to follow. "We'll be careful together."
    Her tone brooked no