Free Ozark Nurse by Fern Shepard Page B

complaints about her lonely, boring life which was absolutely killing her.
    As usual, when she compared Carol with Jerry, Nora wondered if any twins were ever less alike. Carol was a small size eight, with ash blonde hair and a perpetually sulky expression.
    Carol always looked as if there were something she wanted desperately which somebody had just told her she couldn't have. That was usually the case.
    The magazines and television told Carol that the world was filled with lovely, expensive things which would enrich her life and make her supremely happy, if only she could have them.
    Then came Howie, the voice of reality, to tell her that she might as well stop wanting a lot of useless junk which he could not afford.
    Howie was what is loosely referred to as a struggling lawyer. He was perfectly satisfied to be exactly what he was, to earn enough to provide a comfortable existence. Since Carol was never satisfied, it made for disharmony between them.
    The main dish of the evening was Ethel's marvelous vegetable soup, served with homemade bread. It was customary for everyone to have two or three bowls. During the first bowl, things went nicely. Carol ranted on and on about Howie. Ethel interrupted once or twice to ask if the soup was okay. She had tried two additional herbs; how did it taste? Bobby, his high chair drawn up as close as he could get to Jerry, gobbled and spilled away happily.
    It was just as Ethel got up to refill their bowls that Carol caught sight of the watch sending out fiery sparkles on Nora's wrist.
    That did it!
    "Where did you get
that
?" Carol exclaimed as excitedly as if her sister were sporting the Hope diamond.
    Questions then! "Who? Why? How come?"
    When a measure of quiet was restored, Nora tried to explain that the watch was a gift from a patient. "And that reminds me, Mother—"
    Before she could continue, another explosion of questions.
    "A man patient?"
    "Ha!" Jerry speaking. "There's more to our quiet little Nora than meets the eye. Hit the jackpot this time, didn't you, kid?"
    It went on and on until finally Nora all but shouted: "Will you all kindly shut up for a minute? There's something I want to ask Mother, if I can get a word in edgewise."
    She explained again, in more detail, before she said: "His name is Andrew Fine. He's a coronary patient who must take a long rest when he leaves the hospital. He asked me about renting a room from us for the summer. I thought, since we have that downstairs guest room with a bath which we scarcely ever use, it would be all right if we let him have it for a few months."
    Caroline hesitated. "What does Mr. Fine do, dear?"
    "Oh, he has an interest in several businesses. Mainly, he manufactures toys for kids; modern stuff: lions that talk, monkeys that—"
    Bobby broke in, pounding his spoon on the table. "I want a lion that talks. Will Mr. Fine give me one?"
    "Is he in love with you, dear?" Caroline asked.
    Nora didn't know how long she could hold her temper under control.
    "He only wants to rent a room for a few months, Mother. Nothing was said about inviting me to share his home for life. As for the watch, it was intended as a little gift of appreciation. Simply that; nothing more."
    Appreciation
! That word brought a hearty laugh from Jerry, who pondered aloud: "I'm all for having this guy move in. Maybe he'd appreciate me enough to stake me to a motorboat."
    Carol, who for a moment seemed lost in thought, suddenly leaned toward Nora. "Look, if he has all these big business interests, maybe he could use a lawyer like Howie in one of his offices. How about that?"
    Ethel worried aloud that no one seemed to be enjoying her soup.
    Caroline had been silent for a moment, thinking. Now she said: "Please don't become annoyed with me, Nora dear. But I can't help thinking that a man who would give you such a lovely watch must be thinking seriously about you. And why shouldn't he? You're a sweet, lovely girl who would make a strong appeal to an older man."
    "Oh,