Heart of the Matter Read Online Free PDF

“Okay then, I’ll talk to you later.”
    She hung up and continued to stare at her face, her eyes never having left it. Then she returned to the bed and sat down, trying to think, but she had no idea what her next steps would be. Before long she would have to decide about work, but she couldn’t go back on air like this. Her brain still felt jumbled, as though she was trying to see through a thick fog, and she shook her head to try to clear it.
    Her stomach rumbled loudly and she realized that, unable to stomach the midday meal the hospital staff called food, she hadn’t eaten since yesterday morning. She limped to the kitchen, her left leg still tender and sore, but thankfully not broken. Her hip and thigh were blossoming into an array of interesting colors, but those would disappear eventually. Opening the refrigerator, she saw the leftovers of a meal she no longer remembered eating, several bottles of condiments, a bottle of chardonnay, a few bottles of beer, and a chunk of molding Brie. The freezer was no better so she searched the pantry.
    A jar half filled with peanut butter caught her eye so she grabbed it, some saltines, and a spoon. She slid a beer from the refrigerator to wash it all down. She always ate out, never having the time or inclination to cook, so she rarely shopped for food. She would have to get to the grocery and restock soon, though. The thought stopped her cold. No way would she be able to go out in public. Her face was too recognizable. People would stare and point.
    Her stomach queasy at the thought, she pushed the food away, picked up the remote, and turned to Channel 5 for the midday news.
    Bob Stelling tried to make an off-the-cuff remark about the weather and failed miserably. The meteorologist helped him out with a quick change of topic, heading into the weather outlook for the next five days.
    “Christ,” Kate muttered.
    Taking a long pull on her beer, she clicked to their competitor on Channel 2. The anchor was reporting about a shooting incident in Southeast DC. She was good, Kate admitted, but too young and inexperienced. With the right mentoring she could make it to the big time. She also had a nice pair of breasts and a face that wasn’t hard to look at.
    Kate grinned. But she slowly let the grin fade when she realized she would no longer be chasing younger women like that—or older women, for that matter. The accident had affected more than her career. No one would be attracted to this face anymore.
    ❖
    Ellen pushed the shopping cart down the produce aisle, selecting the makings for salads as well as the freshest fruit she could find.
    She was determined to get a head start on her diet before the spring semester was over so she could work on it full-time during her year-long sabbatical. She also planned to begin a regular exercise regimen and would have no excuse not to when her time was her own. Each day she would walk, building up strength and speed as her body grew used to the exercise. She wanted to look and feel great by the time she returned to school.
    She fondled a cucumber, hesitating before putting it in the cart. Thoughts of Kate filled her mind and she giggled. She moved on to the dairy aisle. Ellen was a little worried about her attractive neighbor, whom she hadn’t seen all day. Of course she might have missed her comings and goings, but she didn’t think so. She also hadn’t seen anyone else there, which depressed her even more than not seeing Kate.
    If Kate hadn’t left and no one had visited her, she probably needed groceries. She might not be well enough to leave or perhaps didn’t want to because she didn’t want anyone to see her. Kate had told her to go away, but she would eventually have to either come out or have groceries brought in.
    Ellen picked up the rest of the things on her list, then set about choosing some things for Kate. She didn’t want to overwhelm the poor woman, so she bought only a few toiletries and items she knew Kate liked. Once