Page 80 of Electric Kiss

“What’s wrong, honey?” Heidi asked.

“I took her breakfast up. She asked yesterday for sausages and scrambled eggs.”

“That’s what I made her,” Maggie answered carefully.

“Well, now she’s decided she’s vegetarian and trusts nothing coming from the butchers.”

Imelda let out a howl of laughter. She slapped the table with an open palm and clutched her stomach with her other hand. Maggie got the giggles too, and even Bailey smiled.

When Imelda recovered enough to breathe evenly, she looked at the young nurse and patted the empty chair next to her.

“Sit down, love, have a cup of tea. You cannot imagine how much you have made my day.”

The nurse looked puzzled. A row of shrugs moved to her, except for Daisy and Nate. They were smiling. Imelda bent forward and looked down the row to Daisy.

“You have to agree that was a little bit funny.”

“I suppose,” Daisy replied.

Nate took her hand and linked their fingers.

“It means I’m free. She’s on the back foot,” Imelda said.

“You’re going to tell us what this code talk means, right?” Luke asked, bouncing his stares between Imelda and Daisy.

“After breakfast. We’re going to your old rooms and break the cycle for Daisy,” Imelda said.

“All right, let’s get some food cooking. CeeCee, do you want something to eat?” Maggie asked the nurse.

“Whatever is going will be fine with me. I’ll get the teas and coffees,” she said.

“I’ll do that,” Bailey said with a hand on her shoulder. “You deserve a break. Hopefully, with all of us, you’ll consider not leaving.”

“She’s so mean,” CeeCee muttered.

“That she is, but she pays well, and this kitchen is a sanctuary. You’re welcome here anytime,” Maggie said.

“Thank you, Maggie,” CeeCee said, sounding brighter than before.

Bailey boiled the kettle and placed the mugs in a row. He put a pot of coffee on while Maggie set the gas burners going and clanged pans and pots on them.

“Full works, right?” Maggie said.

A chorus of agreement went up around the room, and they splintered to separate conversations talking over one another while they waited. Silence fell around the room once they cleared the plates and put the mugs in the dishwasher. CeeCee made her excuses and left them alone.

“Come on, honey. Let’s get this over with. You need to see the room, and then your episodes will be over. I promise,” Daisy’s mum said. “We’ll all be there with you.”

Daisy immediately looked at Nate.

“Let’s exorcise some demons,” he said and gave her a quick kiss.

“What shall we do with the tables, Bailey?” Archer asked.

“Leave them there. You might feel like coming back,” he said.

“We won’t be strangers,” Daisy said.

They donned their coats, scarves and gloves. Archer hadIsobel in his arms, and they left via the back door. Bailey stood stoically at the door, holding it open and nodding to all of them as they left. Maggie was to his left in the warm and accepted a kiss and a hug from all of them.