Along Came A Needle: A Mercy Mares Cozy Mystery Read Online Free PDF Page A

find it odd that his symptoms were so all over the place. He could have been suffering from any number of common ailments. There was no reason to be too concerned until he specifically requested my assistance. Those words would be etched in my memory for the rest of my days.
     
    “Well, this definitely wasn't what I had in mind when I decided to take a solo vacation,” Jessica mused. “I do hope that this won't ruin your vacation. It seems like you really are in need of some time off from your busy schedule. I wonder if Chip will ask us to leave or if he'll expect us to continue on without him and the classes he has scheduled for all of us.”
     
    Please, send me home! I'll walk if I have to.
     
    I put my hand on her shoulder. “I'm sure whatever he decides, will be for the best.”
     
    “Well, dear, I suppose I should try to get some sleep. These old bones aren't what they used to be,” Jessica grinned, patting my arm.
     
    “Sleep well. I'm right down the hall if you need anything.” I told her before returning to my room.
     
    “Is she okay?” Diana asked.
     
    I nodded. About as okay as any of us are.
     
    Ruby clapped her hands. “What do you say we call it a night and try to salvage what's left of our day and our spirits? Meaning, go to bed and forget our troubles for the night.”
     
    For the first time all day long, I wanted to hug her. She'd finally said something I could get behind wholeheartedly.
     
    “Yes, the bed has been calling me since 1976.” I joked.
     
    Diana snorted. “That was like a century ago. No wonder you're so grouchy.”
     
    “I'm not grouchy.” I protested.
     
    Diana and Ruby both laughed.
     
    “Okay, so I'm a little grouchy, but at least I'm not as bad as I was this morning, right? By the way, I'm really sorry about all that.” I offered them an apology.
     
    Ruby rolled her eyes. “I refuse to get into this discussion with you right now. If a man hadn't died right in front of us a few hours ago, I'd be all over you for your memory issues, so consider yourself lucky. Get some sleep. Tomorrow is a new day. Let's hope no one dies.”
     
    “Yeah, let's hope.” I repeated her words, hoping that by repeating them all the bad omens would go away and I'd finally be able to get some sleep.
     
    “Good night, Mom. Please, try and relax and let all this stuff go. This isn't our concern.” Diana said.
     
    I hugged her, but we both knew that letting anything go wasn't something I did easily. I held on to friends for decades. I never really let go of anything or anyone. That's part of the reason why my ex-husband and I had remained close friends following our divorce.
     
    Neither of us saw any reason why we couldn't be friends. We'd just grown apart. I still loved him and respected him. I knew that he felt the same way about me. We made a commitment to raise our daughter together and to ensure that she never felt like she was missing something in her life. Although, our friendship continued, I did have a hard time watching him move forward in his love life. That was a work in progress, but nonetheless we remained close friends.
     
    That may have been an extreme example, but that was just the tip of the iceberg. My Honda was my most prominent example. I loved that girl. She'd been with me through all the good and bad. Yes, she. Her name changed frequently, depending on how well she was running or not running on that day. You see, choosing to get rid of her would feel like a betrayal. I just couldn't do it. Sure, she required more repairs than I'd ever be able to pay for. She may not of been as pretty as she used to be, but who among us actually still looks like they did when they came into the world? Whatever the case, she was mine. Outright. She was my first major purchase and my most loyal companion – a companion that didn't speak, that is.
     
    Ruby and her husband Hank were my oldest and dearest friends. Like so many other things in my life, letting go of them was not