The Hand That Holds Mine Read Online Free PDF Page B

me and nods. Smiling, “I was wondering about him.”
    “Wondering what, aren’t you the one spending time with him?”
    “Yes, but I am not sure what I am suppose … have to figure out about him. I’m afraid I’m enjoying our time so much I haven’t thought about much else.”
    “You have to choose someone for him, Adeline. He is the hero and he needs his heroine or the story cannot be completed. No happily ever after with … only one. Give him a dog or something.” She returns to her program and I return to my food thinking of him and how am I going to possibly choose another woman for him. Hmmm a dog? I could do that … maybe even a female dog.
    I get halfway through my food before Pamela jumps up and takes it away. She races back, bringing me the boring stuff from before. “What are you doing?”
    “Adeline! It’s just me.” Deb says as she walks into my house. Entering my room she greets my sour faced nurse head on. “Oh hello, how are you?” Pamela huffs and walks around her. “Well, she’s friendly. Are you still not eating? You are so stubborn but at least you did decide to take in a professional.”
    I motion for Deb to come closer, “Doesn’t she seem familiar to you?”
    “Who, your nurse?” I nod and she glances Pamela’s way. “She looks a little like my old Sunday Schoolteacher when I was twelve.”
    “No … Pamela, Pamela Cousins a nurse … you don’t think that is a little coincidental?” Deb shakes her head. “She’s the nurse in my book, Deb.”
    “Oh Adeline, this again. Really? I think you can make anyone seem like somebody, if you want to believe it enough.”
    “It is her, and last night my new character, Joshua came to see me and he took me to Italy and we had …” Her expression proves she will never believe me.
    “And I suppose you had someone hold your hand when you got sick again?” She asks with a crooked smile, until she notices my still full prescriptions next to me. “Adeline! Why are these still full?” Tell me you’re still taking your medications.”
    “I haven’t needed to, I feel fine without them.”
    “Your imagination is sure running wild these days. It is entertaining and I’m happy to see you so happy but please don’t confuse it with reality. You need to concentrate on your health, take your medicine and rest.” She eases me back down in bed, and sets out a single dosage of medication. “Take these after you eat a little something, please.”
    “I wish you would listen to me, Joshua is real and when he holds my hand all the pain goes away.” I say feeling good about my stance on the matter.
    “Okay if you say so, or maybe it’s just you holding your own hand.”
      “How can I hold my own hand? That’s ridiculous.” Deb motions grabbing both of her own hands to prove her point. “Still, that would be a little awkward to sleep like that don’t you think? Too awkward not to notice that it was my own hand.”
    “Well I was meaning more figuratively, not literally. I think you’re using your mental strength to help you get through. I think that’s wonderful that you can do that to get you through your pain. But it’s not going to help you stay healthy, you have to take these to do that.” She insists, tearing up with frustration. I nod hoping to not upset her anymore than she already is.

~
    His hand takes hold of mine and lifts me out of my broken dreams. “And where shall we go to today?”
    “ Paris .” I say wrapping my arms around his neck, closing my eyes and not opening them until I feel the Paris lights shining upon me. We barely eat as we roam the vintage streets holding hands. I catch myself looking at him more than the beauty that surrounds me. His confident walk, the way he leads me respectfully through a crowd, or the way he laughs and nudges me shyly when I catch him break into a full smile. He makes it difficult to take my eyes off him, that is, until he catches me and looks me over with a wink, and then I