Hold of the Bone Read Online Free PDF Page B

bathroom, letting her irritation fade. After all, she reasons coldly, it’s not like she was that excited. Arousing Caroline is more an exercise in determination than passion. But to be honest, Frank concedes, she was into it more for the distraction than the pleasure. It’s not fair to pick on Caroline’s lack of enthusiasm when she can barely marshal her own.
    Still, she studies herself in the mirror, it would have been nice. Frank eyes the extra inch at her waist, and gravity’s relentless toll on her ass. The wrinkles that used to get smoothed out with face cream and a good night’s sleep have become permanent furrows, and the silver in her hair is overtaking the gold. But all in all, she’s in decent shape. She forces a double chin, wondering what to do with the rest of the night. Deciding to try sleeping, she snuggles in next to Caroline.
    â€œThere you are,” Caroline murmurs and wedges into her. Frank holds her lover tenderly, glad at least for the comfort of the familiar body. As she so often does, Caroline falls asleep easily. Frank lies awake. The day comes back to her and she recalls the warmth of Marguerite’s palm on her chest. Searching for Caroline’s hand, she raises it gently, places it between her breasts, and covers it with her own. Only then does she sleep.
    In the morning Caroline is true to her word, willing to take up where they left off, but Frank wakes antsy and irritable. “Let’s get breakfast,” she suggests, getting dressed before Caroline can argue.
    They eat at a Mexican hole in the wall down the street. The waiter knows them well and refills their cups without asking.
    â€œDo you have anything planned today?” Frank wonders.
    â€œMercifully, no. My calls are covered and I have the whole day off. What about you?”
    Frank shakes her head. “Nothing in particular. Want to get that movie in?”
    â€œSure. And I need to pick up a birthday present for one of the nurses. I meant to get it last weekend when I was at your place, but completely forgot.”
    â€œWhat’s up there?”
    â€œA gift certificate from Alexandria.”
    Always on duty, Frank keeps an eye on the street outside the window. She sips her coffee, asking, “What’s that?”
    â€œThe bookstore? By Cham’s?”
    Frank knows the Korean restaurant but doesn’t remember a bookstore nearby. “As long as you’re in the neighborhood, why don’t you spend the night?”
    â€œOn a Sunday?”
    The waiter lays steaming plates in front of them. As he leaves, Frank says, “Finish what we started last night.”
    Forking a bite of omelet, Caroline teases, “I didn’t think you were interested.”
    â€œA girl can change her mind, can’t she?”
    She winks at Caroline and tucks into her enchilada, admitting, “I didn’t sleep so well. Sorry I was cranky this morning.”
    â€œWhy didn’t you sleep?”
    Though open-minded and tolerant, Caroline is surprisingly orthodox regarding spiritual matters, and Frank is having enough trouble processing Marguerite’s information without adding Caroline’s skepticism. She withholds mentioning last night’s dreams of wildfires and twilit mountains.
    â€œI don’t know. Just stuff. Work.”
    â€œAre you still thinking about turning your papers in?”
    â€œEvery day.”
    â€œThen why don’t you just do it?”
    Frank stretches a string of cheese from plate to fork. “It’s not that easy.”
    â€œWell, if you’re not happy . . .”
    â€œIt’s not that I’m not happy. I’m not unhappy either. But it always comes back to what would I do if I wasn’t working?”
    â€œWhat do you want to do?”
    â€œThat’s the thing.” Frank picks up her mug and gazes out the window. “I don’t know. I’ve never bothered to make life outside work.”
    Caroline