Patricia Rockwell - Essie Cobb 03 - Valentined Read Online Free PDF Page A

still alive. 
    “No,” she said cautiously.   “I’m…I’m making this for…” 
Essie thought about her response, not wanting to aggravate Donna’s grief by
mentioning her own widowhood.  She decided on a safe response.  “Actually, I’m
making this for my…new great grandson!” she proclaimed.  Of course, Essie had
no great grandchildren, and this lie was totally off the cuff.  Oh my! she thought.  Now I’ve done it.  I’ve told a lie to spare this woman’s
feelings.  I’m sure I could have thought of something truthful to say that
wouldn’t have upset her.
    “That’s so nice!” said Donna, smiling broadly.
    “A great grandson,” added Velma.  “How wonderful!”
    Essie smiled in acknowledgement, cowering inside.  She
glanced down at her red construction paper and grabbed a squeeze bottle of glue
from the center of the table and lowered her head to her work, focusing like a
laser beam on squeezing a small line of white glue all around the entire edge
of her red paper.  The other women returned to their valentine construction,
and for several minutes everyone at the table was engrossed in their efforts.
    As Essie continued her efforts to glue the entire perimeter
of the large piece of red construction paper, she didn’t notice Sue Barber
moving to her table.  Suddenly the young staff woman was there. 
    “And how are you ladies coming along with your
masterpieces?” Sue asked with a breezy voice.  She stood at the corner of the
table between Donna and Essie.  She focused on Donna’s card—a pink heart pinned
to three doilies.  Essie noted that although Donna may have been confused about
the state of her marriage, there was obviously no confusion about her artistic
skills.  She had fashioned something quite beautiful in the short time that
Essie had been tediously gluing the edge of her construction paper.
    “Oh, Donna!” exclaimed Sue, holding up the card in her
hands.  “This is beautiful!”  Sue’s face beamed a genuine smile.  She tipped
her head to the side in appreciation of Donna’s workmanship.  Sue’s long, brown
hair hung against her blue work smock.  Essie noticed that, unlike their
illustrious director Violet, Sue’s fingertips were not beautifully trimmed and
painted.  In fact, Sue’s hands and fingers looked like they spent a lot of time
here in the recreation room working on art projects.  She could see short
nails, bitten down in spots, and hands that were rough and calloused.  Essie
glanced around the room where she could see displayed many art projects
completed by residents.  It was evident that Sue took pride in her efforts here
and viewed each resident’s artistic success as a personal triumph. 
    Sue continued to rave about Donna’s card.  “I love what
you’ve done with the outlining here, Donna!”  She pointed out to the women at
the table the clever effect that Donna had created through the use of her
doilies intertwined with her construction paper.  “I can hardly wait to see
this card completed!”
    Sue placed the card back in Donna’s hands.  Donna was
smiling proudly as Sue selected her work to highlight for the table.  Sue then
went to each person at the table and discussed their art work with them
individually.  She came to Essie last.
    “Essie!” cried Sue.  “We never see you here for our art
classes!” 
    “Miss Barber,” replied Essie.  “Yes, I’m not much of an
artist, really….”
    “I can’t believe that, Miss Essie,” interjected Sue.  “You
are one of the cleverest residents at Happy Haven.  I bet you’ll make an
amazing valentine.”
    “Oh, I doubt that,” said Essie, embarrassed.  “Actually,
Miss Barber, I was wondering if I might ask you a question.”
    “Of course.”
    “I’d really like to pick your brain,” she began.
    “Pick away,” said Sue, laughing.  “What do you need to
know?”
    “It’s about valentines,” said Essie.
    “Appropriate,” Sue said and nodded.