Poisoned Petals Read Online Free PDF Page B

in frustration.
    Luther frowned and shook his head. “I beg your pardon?”
    “Darmus. How could he do something so stupid ?” The anger phase of grief was hitting her fast and hard.
    “I-I don’t know, Peggy. Darmus was difficult to understand sometimes.”
    “I’ll be glad to help you with the service once everything is over,” she volunteered. “It might be weeks, though, since there will be an autopsy.”
    Luther didn’t seem to understand her until she said the word autopsy . Then he reacted. “Autopsy? But we all know how he died.”
    Peggy glanced at Steve, wondering if he saw what she saw in Luther’s face. “Any time a death is unusual, they do an autopsy. It’s just routine.”
    Luther nodded. “Not that it matters much now anyway. What happened has happened. We shall be judged accordingly, each to his own weakness.”
    “How are you feeling?” She tried to sound caring and sensitive, but her voice wouldn’t let her. It was hard to sound caring or sensitive when you had to cough out a word.
    “I’ve been better, as you know. But I hope to be able to take up the mantle for Darmus. He was always there for us when we were growing up. I don’t know what I would have done without him. Rebecca and I owed him our lives. He sacrificed greatly to tend to us.”
    “He was a very loving man.”
    “Yes.” Luther seemed to shake himself and glanced at his watch. “I have to go, Peggy. I’ll pray for you.”
    “And call me if you need me,” she said before he left.
    “Thank you. I will.”
    When the door closed behind him, she looked at Steve. “What do you think that was about?”
    “What?”
    “The way he was acting. He seemed nervous.”
    “Maybe his brother died today. Maybe he didn’t know exactly what to say. Why? What do you think was wrong with him?”
    “I don’t know.” She shrugged and let her head drop back on the pillow. “Nothing more than that, I suppose. I don’t like him stepping into Darmus’s shoes so quickly. It doesn’t seem right.”
    “You cared about Darmus. This Feed America thing may be run by the Council of Churches, but they still have their image to think about. A face needs to be replaced by a face.”
    “That’s cold.”
    He shrugged. “That’s the American corporate way. At least I know my patients love me.”
    “I can see why.” She smiled at him. “You’re very easy to love.”
    “Even if I think you should stay in the hospital tonight if the doctor says you should?”
    “Maybe.”
    But when the doctor finally came in, he decided to send her home, if she had someone to stay with her.
    “I’ll find someone,” she assured him. “Thank you ! My parents are coming to visit. I have a thousand things to do.”
    “Nothing like that ! You have to stay quiet for a few days. Take it easy. I’ll have the nurse send you home with instructions. If you can’t follow them, you could wind up right back in here again.”
    Peggy frowned, but Steve stepped in. “Don’t worry. We’ll find some way to get her to take it easy. Thanks, Doctor.”
    “You’re welcome.”
    Peggy didn’t care. She was going home. Everything would be better there. Her dog would be there. Her plants would be there. If she woke up in the middle of the night, she wouldn’t have to stare at the four walls and ceiling.
    It took another hour to get her discharge papers and instructions from the nurse. Steve had already been on the phone with Paul making arrangements so she wouldn’t have to be alone.
    “I don’t know what’s so bad about this place.” Steve opened her dinner tray when it arrived. “There’s a chocolate pudding cup and stewed carrots. Yum!”
    “No plants.” She changed clothes and got her things together, putting her singed gardening gloves into her pocket. “Or at least no healthy -looking plants. Just look at this poor, anemic philodendron! And no computer.”
    “Of course! The computer!” He laughed. “You really need a laptop.”
    “Good