| Subject: Chapter 34 |
Author:
Kate
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Date Posted: 20:24:30 04/04/01 Wed
In reply to:
Kate
's message, "Things My Mother Taught Me" on 09:29:32 04/03/01 Tue
Expect the unexpected.
"Nikita? Michael?" Sara slowly made her way to the interior courtyard, checking the kitchen and laundry room as she passed. They hadn't been on the patio and Dulcie, who was manning the front desk, hadn't seen them either. It was nearly 4. Teatime. Where would they take tea?
Sara hoped Nikita wasn't having another attack. She'd had one the other day that lasted longer than any of the others and left her completely exhausted.
"Nikita?"
Sara faintly heard water splashing. She put her hand on the courtyard door, wincing as another cramp knifed through her. When she got her breath back, she knocked on the door. "It's I. Sara. Are you there?"
After a moment, the door opened. Michael was drying his hands on a towel, but when he saw her pale face, his eyes narrowed and he reached out. "Come on. Sit down. Breathe. Remember the breathing exercises?" He suddenly looked panicked. "Do they teach those anymore?"
"Yes," Sara said shakily.
"Good. Sit there and breathe. I'll be right with you."
Sara sat as still as she could, concentrating on her breath. The bathtub had been pulled to the middle of the courtyard and Nikita was in it up to her neck. By her side was a chair and a small table covered with sandwiches and tea things. Nikita must not have felt well, Sara thought, so Michael had taken tea with her while she was in the tub. Plus, wet soap was too much for her to grip onto. It slid out of her hands. She either used liquid or needed help. Or maybe, Sara thought, looking at Nikita's tranquil face, Nikita had felt all right but Michael had been mother henning her again and Nikita had given in and allowed him to draw her a bath. Somehow, that made Sara want to cry, and when he went back to the bathtub and helped Nikita out, handed her a towel and helped her into her clothes, Sara felt a stab of longing for her own husband.
"All right, Sara?" Michael called out, and Sara nodded.
Nikita carefully picked her way over the uneven stones so she wouldn't trip over her own feet. She put a cool, damp hand on Sara's arm. "When did they start?"
"About half an hour ago. We still have loads of time. I think."
"Well, why chance it?" Nikita said soothingly. "We'll run over to the hospital just in case."
"All right," Sara said gratefully. "Sammy --"
"I'll call him," Michael said, reaching for his mobile phone.
"First call Andy," Sara said quickly. "He'll need to know ..."
Michael placed the calls while Nikita and Sara gathered their things. Then he put both women in the car and started down the mountain to the hospital.
******************
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