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Chapter 22 (meanwhile, back at the ranch)
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Date Posted: 18:53:00 04/01/01 Sun
In reply to:
by Kate
's message, "Things My Mother Taught Me" on 19:49:51 03/29/01 Thu
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Your mother will always let you come home.
"Mum?"
"Andy?" Elena smiled over the phone, holding the receiver to her ear as she gave the rice a stir and fit the lid back on. She'd know his voice anywhere: perpetually congested, he always sounded like he was developing a sinus infection or just getting over one. Of course, if he took his preventative medicine ... but he never could remember. He could grow kidneys, but couldn't remember to take one little pill a day.
"Yeah, hi, it's me. Listen, I need to come over and do some laundry."
Suspiciously, Elena said, "What's wrong with Sammy and Sara's machine? You didn't break it, did you?"
"Uh ... no. Not exactly. Well, sort of. The repairman is coming tomorrow. Oh. That's another thing. Can someone come over and wait for him?"
Tempering her irritation, Elena said, "Can't you do it? You are housesitting for them."
"Uh ... I'm going out of town for a bit. Work. I'm leaving tomorrow morning."
"Oh? Where are you going?" Elena opened a drawer, took out a knife, and begin slicing the peeled carrots.
"Italy. So, can I drop by tonight?"
"We're having chicken," Elena smiled. "And Indira will be here, so be nice."
"Hey, great, it'll be good to see the runt."
"Andy."
"Sorry, sorry, you know I love her."
"Mmm. Don't be late, sweetheart."
"Yeah, yeah, I'll be on time."
"I mean it, Andy. So what's the work in Italy?"
"Sam found me another funny nerve damage case. Sent me some blood a couple of days ago."
"Oh, so will you see Sam and Sara?"
"Uh, yeah, looks like it."
"How can you tell anything about nerves from blood?"
"Uh ... takes too long to explain, Mum. But this one's a good one. Now all I have to do is find some stem cells."
Elena gave up trying to follow the conversation; Andy may have been brilliant, but he was difficult to live with sometimes. Which was why he was living at Sara and Sam's apartment and not at home anymore. Not that a 30-year-old should be living at home, but Andy was different. Always had been. "Sweetheart, why don't you plan on spending the night here tonight? We're closer to the airport and Indira can take you tomorrow, then she can drop by the apartment and wait for the repairman."
"Hey, think the shrimp'd do it?"
"Yes, if you don't call her a shrimp."
Indira came into the kitchen, peered at the stove top and raised her eyebrows. A slight girl with honey-colored hair and an olive complexion, she had Elena's eyebrows and Ian's stubborn chin. "Who're you talking to?" she whispered.
"Your brother," Elena mouthed back, then said to Andy, "Come on over. Supper will be ready in about an hour. And sweetheart, don't forget to pack your allergy medicine. You sound awful."
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