Free Coffee Sonata by Greg Herren Page A

began to stream down her cheeks. When she shifted carefully and tried to see where the small bottle had gone, the burning pain behind her eyeballs made her bite her lip to stifle a moan.
    The phone rang, making her flinch. As she felt around for the receiver, she sent the sunglasses lying next to it to the floor with a clatter.
    “Hello?”
    “Vivian, this is Mike—”
    “Mike. I really can’t talk now. I have to…” She gave a muted moan. “I’m in the middle of something. Can I call you back?” I sound like a perfect wimp!
    “What’s wrong? You sound terrible.”
    “It’s just…I need to use my medication and managed to knock it over.” Vivian knew the pain was evident in her voice despite her best efforts to remain calm. She slid down on the floor next to the bed and felt around with her free hand. “ Merde, I can’t find it!”
    “Don’t worry. The lunch crowd’s gone and I’ll come right over. I’ll be right there.” With a distinct click Mike hung up.
    As Vivian held her hands over her eyes and tried to block the painful light, Mason whimpered. Then Perry loped into the bedroom and yelped. He licked her cheek and sat down next to her.
    “Oh, boys.” She sighed. “I’m such a klutz. Where the hell is the stupid bottle?” She felt around with one hand. “Surely it didn’t roll very far. Maybe it’s under the bed.” She bent down to half crawl under the bed, but lowering her head only made the pain worse. Cursing under her breath, Vivian sat back up and leaned against the side of the bed. The floor was cold and she began to shiver.
    She tugged at the covers behind her and, with Mason’s boisterous aid, pulled them down to wrap around her. She felt utterly vulnerable and silly where she sat, with her head tilted back, cheeks cold from her drying tears. “Mike said she was coming. She can help me look for the stupid bottle, isn’t that right, boys?”
    The dogs woofed in response, making Vivian feel marginally comforted as she waited for Mike.

    *

    It seemed like forever, but Mike arrived at the beach house in only eleven minutes. Gasping for air, she banged on the door. When nobody answered, she ran to the back of the house and tried again at the glass doors she figured led into the master bedroom. “Vivian?” She listened for a response through the loud barking inside.
    “The door’s locked and I can’t move yet,” a barely recognizable voice finally called. “There’s a spare key…under the rocks to the left of the front door.”
    “Okay, I hear you.” Mike rushed back around front and dug under a display of decorative rocks and plants. Eventually finding a blue key, she grabbed it and opened the door. One of the dogs, she thought it was Perry, greeted her with a wagging tail.
    “Vivian?”
    “In here.” The overwrought voice led her to a disheveled bedroom. Vivian sat on the floor, huddled under some bedcovers.
    “Are you hurt?” Mike said anxiously.
    “No. I just…I just need my medication.”
    “First of all, let’s get you off the floor. Here we go.” Mike slid her arms around Vivian to help her up. When she felt Vivian tremble she pulled her close and stroked her back. “Here. Into bed now.”
    Once Vivian was comfortably settled against the pillows, Mike took in the pained expression on her face with alarm. Vivian’s eyes were pressed shut and her cheeks tear stained. “Tell me what’s going on. What do you need?”
    “My medication is somewhere on the floor…but I can’t find it,” Vivian gasped, obviously trying to stay calm. “Maybe under the bed.”
    Mike knelt and looked underneath but couldn’t see anything. Putting one cheek on the floor and peeking under the bedside table, she spotted a small white item. She sat up and pressed her shoulder against the sturdy table, moving it just enough to be able to reach the bottle. She handed it to Vivian. “You couldn’t have reached it on your own. Your eyes are blurry, aren’t they?”
    “Yes,”