Free South of Superior by Ellen Airgood Page B

deep, made bad investments, lost everything.”
    There was a brief silence. Then Arbutus said, in a voice that was firm and also a little angry, “Maybe so. And maybe I’d like to help him if that’s the case.”
    â€œHelp him! When has he helped you?”
    â€œThat’s not fair. He moved Us into his place when I got so bad, then brought Us back when we asked.”
    â€œI had to hound him, Butte. I practically had to threaten him.”
    â€œThat’s not true! He didn’t think it was a good idea, Us coming back Up here, even with help. And he still did it in the end, didn’t he?”
    Gladys made a strangled noise. “You spoiled that boy, Arbutus. I hate to criticize, but it’s a fact. It’s the only thing you ever did wrong in your life, I think.”
    â€œExcept for marry his father.” The annoyance had left Arbutus’s voice. She sounded rueful but not overly concerned about such a grave error.
    â€œWell,” Gladys said. “That’s hardly the point. The point is, we’re not selling.”
    â€œWhat do you think of putting my house on the market, then? You know, Matilda’s son got close to a hundred thousand for her place, and it’s not that much bigger than mine.”
    â€œIt was the view , Butte, the location. The water, the water, that’s all anyone can think about. You don’t have that. Besides, you need your house, you love it. You’ll get back there someday. This summer even. You’re doing better.”
    â€œI need to pay my way is what I need.”
    â€œWe’ll get by,” Gladys said again.
    Arbutus didn’t answer and they both must have left the room because Madeline didn’t hear any more conversation. She emptied the box of bone meal and went inside to see if Gladys had any more tucked away.
    The house was quiet, the kitchen deserted. A stack of mail sat on the table. All bills. The groceries Gladys returned had come to $75.13, but Madeline was shocked to see that she owed the Bensons over five hundred. She slowly fingered through the rest. There were past due notices for everything. Fuel oil, electricity, the phone. In each envelope a pink slip was enclosed, threatening a shutoff. Even the gas station wanted fifty dollars, but the really impressive things were the bills from the hospital and rehab center where Arbutus had gone after her last fall, before Nathan took them to Chicago.
    She owed over sixty thousand dollars. Medicare must not have paid for everything, and Madeline wondered why she wasn’t covered by Medicaid. Maybe because of whatever they’d referred to selling. Madeline saw that Gladys had been paying everyone a little—ten dollars here, twenty there. She looked again at the grocery bill. How it had gotten so high without them cutting Gladys off like they had Mary and Emil and Randi?
    â€œWhat are you doing?” Gladys demanded, appearing from the parlor.
    â€œI’m—nothing.” Gladys snatched the bills from Madeline’s hand and Madeline met her gaze Uneasily. “The bone meal’s gone. There wasn’t enough to finish.”
    â€œWell, go get more, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist.”
    â€œAll right. Where do I go?”
    Gladys’s expression was withering. “To the hardware, where else?” She was clearly furious. “Looking at a person’s mail. I should have known better than to leave it lying around.”
    â€œI’m sorry—”
    â€œSorry doesn’t do any good. Just go get the fertilizer. I’ll get you the money.” Gladys stalked to her desk in the hall and took her wallet from her purse. She turned her back, but Madeline knew how carefully she must be counting money that really did not exist. She came back with a worn five-dollar bill and Madeline took it from her, not wanting to but knowing Gladys would insist.
    â€œTake your car. There’s something I want you to