Change of Heart Read Online Free PDF

time it was a couple of months, and I’d only been allowed out of the house a week before I got on that bus. Then again, I might not get out of here at all.” Oh damn, she thought, did I have to say that?
    Brian leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. His face was contemplative. Finally he looked up at her earnestly. “You’re telling me you’re not going to get well.”
    She nodded. “I didn’t exactly mean to tell you that.”
    He was staring at her with eyes so wistful that finally, flustered, she blurted out a question about his job.
    â€œI’m a lawyer,” he said.
    â€œThat’s very … nice,” Sharlie said, and they both laughed.
    â€œRight now I wish I were a doctor.”
    Lord, Sharlie thought. What was she supposed to say to that? “Are you in court a lot?” she asked finally.
    â€œAll day today. The judge read The Wall Street Journal.”
    â€œWhile you were doing your case?”
    Brian smiled. “While the other guy was doing his case. I was much too interesting.”
    â€œIsn’t that illegal or something?”
    â€œHis honor’s got a lot of money invested in coffee beans.”
    â€œThey’re not all like that, are they?”
    He shook his head. “Sometimes they listen, and sometimes they make remarkably sensible decisions.”
    â€œDid you win?”
    â€œYes,” he said.
    â€œWho’s Bob Rackey?” Sharlie asked. Brian looked puzzled. “When I called you at your office, the secretary said—”
    â€œOh.” Brian laughed. “Barbara Kaye. That’s who runs me … my firm, rather.”
    â€œIs she your partner?” Sharlie was beginning to feel as if she were pumping him.
    â€œI used to work for Legal Aid. Barbara snatched me out of civil court one day four years ago, and I’ve been with her ever since.”
    There was affection and respect in his voice, and Sharlie wondered whether Barbara Kaye was attractive.
    But Brian was still talking. “She’s shown me what the law can be, what it can do. I was drowning down there, all that bureaucratic bullshit, excuse me. She’s probably the best civil rights litigator in the East.”
    But is she pretty? Sharlie thought. Brian suddenly stopped and grinned at her.
    â€œYou’re a good listener.”
    â€œI get awfully bored listening to the inside of my own head. It’s nice. How old a woman is she?”
    He shook his head. “No. Your turn. Do you ever go out when you go out? On dates?”
    â€œGood heavens, no,” she said. “I couldn’t inflict myself like that on anybody. Look what I did to you. You could have strained your back hauling me off the sidewalk. I pass out a lot.”
    â€œYou aren’t very heavy,” Brian said.
    Just at this moment the harried nurse’s aide reappeared, lifted the aluminum cover from Sharlie’s tray, and frowned.
    â€œWe don’t have much appetite today, do we? We sure we’re finished?”
    Sharlie started to say yes, but saw Brian eyeing the rolls.
    â€œLeave it for a while, okay? Maybe we can manage a bit more.”
    The aide shot Sharlie a suspicious glance but finally left the room. Sharlie nodded to Brian. “Go ahead.”
    He laughed and took a roll off the plate, swallowing it in two bites. Then he ate the other roll, the mashed potatoes, the string beans, and the Jell-O salad. He stirred the sherbet curiously.
    â€œWhat’s this?”
    â€œIt was orange sherbet,” she said. His obvious disappointment that there was nothing more to eat made her smile.
    â€œNot bad for what I’ve heard of hospital food,” he said, washing everything down with a long swallow that drained the carton of skimmed milk. “Saves me the heartburn from corned beef on rye at the deli.”
    Sharlie thought, No wife? No little toddler and another on the way? Suddenly she was afraid he might get up and