Page 32 of Share with Me

Aunt Ella looked sickly. “Where’s my old bed?”

“You can have my bed. It’s the same one Grandpa Brooks bought for me.”

“Willard bought this for you?” Aunty Ella shed the blanket and sat down on the comforter.

Brinley had no idea she had been wearing nothing more than a flannel nightgown on her tear through the neighborhood. She felt sorry for her. She hoped the doctor had something to say about her condition. If she knew how to pray to God—if she remembered how Grandpa Brooks had said they ought to pray—then she would ask God to make Aunt Ella well.

Perhaps tomorrow—today!—afternoon she’d ask Yun McMillan about it. Better yet, she’d bring Aunt Ella to tea with Yun, and Yun could pray to her God for Aunt Ella.

Aunt Ella now looked around, confused. “This will have to do.”

“Just for tonight.”

“Yes. Just for tonight.” Aunt Ella pulled back the comforter.

Brinley helped her get into bed, grime and all.

“Good night, Aunt Ella.” Brinley closed the door gently. It clicked. She rolled her suitcase to Dillon’s bedroom, but it was locked. She rolled it the other way and heard Dad snore. She rolled her suitcase back to the elevator and went upstairs. In the library, she shed her evening gown, changed into her flannel pajamas, and discovered that the library had no bathrooms or half bath or anything. She had to go down three floors to brush her teeth in the half bath near the family room, wash off her makeup, and get ready for bed.

Bed? What bed?

Back in the library, Brinley sat down on what seemed to be an antique—Mom detested reproductions—Grecian couch. If Brinley were to hasten a guess, she’d say it was pre-Civil War. Reupholstered, the couch was quite comfortable, and Brinley fell asleep wondering whether she was ever going to get up in four or five hours to beat Toby to the renovation site.

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