Free A Letter for Annie by Laura Abbot Page A

lower the bed a bit.”
    “All right. Maybe I could sleep awhile.” She closed her eyes for a minute or two, then opened them. “Go home. There’s nothing you can do here.”
    Momentary panic cut off Annie’s breath. “I want to be with you.”
    “Go home. Get some dinner. You could stand some rest yourself.”
    No matter how drained she was, Annie had everyintention of spending the night at the hospital. “All right. I’ll grab a bite and change clothes, but I’ll be back.”
    Geneva put up no argument—she was fast asleep. Annie watched her for several moments, thinking how frail she looked. Then, picking up her purse, she stole quietly from the room. When she passed the waiting room on the way to the elevator, she was stunned to see Kyle sprawled in a chair, a Sports Illustrated open in his lap. She paused in the doorway. “What are you doing here?”
    He set the magazine aside and rose to his feet. “Isn’t that question getting a bit repetitious?” He moved across the room and put an arm around her shoulders and walked her to the elevator. “I figured you hadn’t eaten. Ms. Greer isn’t the only one who needs to keep her strength up. I’m treating you to the best dinner the hospital cafeteria has to offer.”
    “I thought you went home.”
    “I did. Had to feed that dog of mine. But now I’m back.”
    The elevator pinged and she turned to face him. “Why?”
    Standing with his back against the open elevator door, he let her enter first. He hesitated, his eyes fixed on hers. “You need me,” he finally said. “Besides, against all the odds, I like you.”
    Annie lowered her head and focused on the waxed floor of the car. Kyle’s words merely added to the confusion she was already feeling about him.
     

    T HE CAFETERIA FARE wasn’t half-bad, Kyle thought, as he spooned up another forkful of lasagna. Annie had alreadyfinished half of a barbecued pork sandwich and was starting on her coleslaw. She caught him studying her and said, apologetically, “I was hungrier than I thought.”
    “You’ll be of no use to your aunt if you don’t take care of yourself.”
    “She’s getting worse,” Annie said quietly. “I don’t know how much longer—”
    “Whoa. One day at a time.”
    “I know, but it’s so hard. She’s all I have.”
    Tears flooded her eyes and, setting down her fork, she tried to hide her face behind her paper napkin. He knew Geneva Greer’s condition justified Annie’s concern, but sitting here, not being able to change things, made him feel helpless. He tried to lighten the mood by changing the subject. “Where did you come from when you returned to Eden Bay?”
    “Bisbee, Arizona. I’ve lived there…for a long time.”
    “You have friends there?”
    “A few.”
    “Somebody special?” He cursed himself for caring about her answer.
    “A man?” She shook her head. “No. After Pete, I…” Like a cloud suddenly obscuring the light, a wounded expression came over her face and she stopped.
    He knew they were skirting uncomfortably close to topics she didn’t want to discuss—and which he desperately wanted to know about. “Pete was a pretty special guy.”
    “Could we please not talk about him?”
    “Okay, but if we’re trying to be friends again, we’ll have to sometime.”
    “Not now!” Her shrill answer caused the nurses at the next table to turn and stare at her. Annie seemed to shrink within herself. “Please, Kyle, just leave it.”
    He nodded and then, without another word, finished his dinner.
    “I’m sorry,” Annie finally said, her tone conciliatory. “I know you’re trying to help.”
    “How about I help some more by running you home to get whatever you need. I assume you plan to spend the night here. That way you can leave your car in the parking lot and I’ll bring you back.”
    He was surprised when she didn’t put up an argument. And even more surprised when she grabbed his arm as they walked to his truck, holding on as if to a