“Yeah, yeah.” Laurel waved a dismissive hand, then grabbed the pills. “Save your preaching for Sundays, Riva.”
As they parted ways, Riva thought about her little sermonette. Truth was, she wasn’t much fonder of Kitty than Laurel was. But she felt sorry for the confused and complicated woman. It went against the grain to help someone so self-centered, cynical, and irresponsible.
Except that, unless Riva was being gullible, it seemed Kitty had experienced a true aha moment just now. After all, she’d just admitted she was a mess and recognized her need for help. What if this really was a turning point? What if God’s plan for Kitty was to keep her right here and to use Riva and the other women to guide the poor lost lamb toward a better path? Okay, that might be a long shot at best, but maybe it was better to try and be wrong than to be wrong and not try.
Chapter24
“That woman is a real piece of work.” Laurel slammed the bag of peas on the kitchen counter. “Now she’s demanding a real ice pack for her ankle, which, in my opinion, hardly needs it. That is, if it’s even sprained at all. It’s barely swollen.”
“Well, that might be from keeping it chilled and elevated. And I had meant to get a real ice pack to Kitty by now.” Riva picked up the soggy bag of peas. “Windy only used these as a temporary measure.”
“Speaking of Windy, do you have any idea what she’s doing right now?” Laurel filled a glass with water.
“No.” Riva put the peas in the freezer, then dug out the ice pack that she used to keep handy for her kids.
“Well, kindhearted Windy is cleaning Kitty’s room.”
“No small task.” Riva cut the tuna fish sandwich she’d just made for Kitty in half, then set it on the plate, along with some apple slices and carrot sticks.
“And she had the gall to ask me to clean the bathroom that Kitty has pretty much trashed.”
“Oh?” Riva studied Laurel. “And?”
Laurel shrugged as she snitched a carrot stick from Kitty’s lunch plate. “I told her I’d think about it, but only because I peeked in there and, no kidding, it looked like a death trap. Especiallywith crutches. And whether or not Kitty’s ankle is actually sprained, she could fall down and break her neck and sue the socks right off you, Riva. Have you seen it?”
Riva shook her head.
“Well, I came down to get a garbage bag. My plan is to temporarily clear all Kitty’s excess clothes and shoes and any other crud that I think she could live without and eliminate the tripping hazard.” Laurel rooted around in the under-sink cabinet. First, she pulled out a pair of rubber gloves and then a carton of big black yard bags. She tugged one out and shook it open. “Then I’ll put her mess in this.”
“And then what?” Riva imagined the hissy fit Kitty would pitch. “You wouldn’t dare throw it away, would you?”
“No, of course not. But she obviously doesn’t need all this junk while she’s off her feet. I’ll just stick it in the garage for now. I’ll label the bag with her name so it’s not mistaken for trash. Although,” she added, “it all looked pretty trashy to me.”
“Well, I think it’s kind of you to clean that bathroom, Laurel. I think Kitty will too. She seems to want to start making some changes in her life.” Riva set a damp sponge by the sink. “Maybe we can help her.”
“Seriously?” Laurel tugged on a rubber glove. “I’d like to help her—by packing her bags and calling her a taxi.”
Riva considered asking Laurel to take the lunch up to Kitty but didn’t want to push her luck. Instead, she followed her, listening as Laurel continued to grumble about Kitty all the way up to the second floor.
Parting ways in the hall, Riva entered Kitty’s room to see Windy holding up a hot pink garment that was either a cocktail dress or a sparkly swimsuit. “How about if we put this away for now too,” Windy was saying. “It doesn’t seem like the type of dress you’d wear very much. Especially with a sprained ankle.”
Kitty waved a hand. “Whatever. I don’t care right now. Just as long as I can get to the box if I need it.”
“Like I said, I’m just going to put this in the linen closet.” Windy smiled at Riva. “We’re trying to make Kitty’s room more livable.”
“We as in Windy.” Kitty pushed herself up to a sitting position. “Is that for me?” she asked Riva, nodding toward the food. “I don’t have much appetite.”
“I thought you could use a little nourishment. It’s only tuna fish.” Riva handed her the plate. “Do your best.”
Kitty wrinkled her nose but didn’t reject it.
“And I found those crutches in the garage, but they were so dusty I took them outside to hose them off. They’re drying in the sunshine.”
“Thanks,” Kitty said with a full mouth. “Not that I can get around with them. Even if I can manage, how will I get down the stairs?”
“You probably don’t need to worry about that right now.” Riva picked up a pair of silver sandals with tall spiky heels, then handed them to Windy. “I’m guessing she won’t need these for a while either.”
Windy dropped them in a box with shoes and boots and purses. As Kitty ate, Windy and Riva continued to clean and organize the bedroom. Windy focused on gleaning frivolous items as well as trash, while Riva collected the more practical clothes and shoes and placed them in the closet. After about an hour, they were done. Windy was taking the last box out, and Riva collected the empty lunch plate.
