Past Forward- A Serial Novel: Episode 16 Read Online Free PDF Page A

” Her voice was a little weak and confused.
    “ You said you were dizzy .”
    “ That ’ s right .” She glanced back up at him but shoved her head back down between her knees. “ I want to lie down .”
    As he rolled the quilt from the back of the couch into a ball, Chad began thinking aloud. “ Maybe you ’ re dehydrated. Have you been drinking enough? ”
    “ I ’ ve not been able to keep much down , if you ’ ll remember .”
    “ I wonder if I should take you into the clinic… ” His voice trailed off in the general direction of his thoughts as Chad considered their options.
    “ Maybe, ” she said obviously feeling better having lain down, “ you should consider getting me something with which to hydrate myself first. Water works .”
    Absently, Chad poured her a glass of water and brought it back , stuffing a straw in it as he handed it to her. “ Drink up .”
    “ It ’ s stuffy in here .”
    Her complaints brought a smile to his face. Willow must be feeling better if she noticed stuffiness of all things. While she rested, sipping water and resting her eyes, he threw open all of the windows , knowing that with the coming storm, he ’ d just have to close them again later. “ Is that better? ”
    “ I smell a storm .”
    “ Yep. The forecast is for heavy winds, rain, and possibly hail .”
    “ Hail? ” She sat up abruptly looking visibly woozy. “ It gets cold in here when it hails. We ’ ll need more wood for upstairs tonight .”
    “ I ’ ll get it. You rest .”
    “ Can you open the windows up there too? The breeze just before a storm smells so good… ”
     

     
     
    With shades drawn to keep the sunrise from slowly filling the room with sunlight, Willow crept from the bedroom , closing the door behind her. Downstairs, she opened the front door and groaned at the sight of her front yard. Tree branches littered the grass ; one large one had crashed through the porch railing, and some of her flowers were battered beyond recognition.
    Chad opened the back door an hour later to find the chickens pecking at the seed in the yard, Ditto in a freshly cleaned stall, and Willow dragging tree branches behind the barn. As he watched her, his hands found their way into his pockets and the crease between his eyebrows deepened. She looked tired — exhausted really. Every move, every step looked labored.
    He hurried inside, filled a glass with water, and brought it out to her. “ I ’ ll finish that one ; you go sit on the steps and drink up .”
    “ But —”
    “ Lass… ” His tone was one he ’ d only used once before — when he ’ d ordered her from his parents ’ house that winter.
    “ I ’ m going, I ’ m going .”
    She sat long enough to empty her glass and then pulled her gloves back onto her hands and started pulling debris from the flower beds. They worked for another hour. Chad detached the railing from the house and dumped it in the back of his truck. “ I ’ ll go get another one later .”
    “ I ’ m hungry .” Willow sank into the porch swing exhausted, weak, and thirsty.
    “ You, ” Chad called as he went inside for the couch quilt, “ you need your rest. I ’ ll go get a new rail top and be back in no time. I ’ ll grab something for us to eat on my way back .”
    Willow pointed at the empty glass and promptly fell asleep. Chad refilled it, s e t it on the ground next to her, and watched her sleep for a moment before he jogged to his truck and drove toward Brunswick. His watch told him he had just enough time to get there, get the materials, and get it fixed before he had to change for work.
    His phone rang. “ I just left you sleeping! ”
    “ I heard the truck start. Listen, I was thinking. Can you get me some red exterior paint? ”
    “ Red? ”
    Her impatient voice snapped back, “ Yes red. You know, the color of tulips and candy canes? ”
    “ Whatever for? ”
    “ I really loved Aggie ’ s door , but I thought I couldn ’ t have one because the