They ate a little dinner, then Kevin said he wanted to get back to work because manual labor helped calm his nerves; he said he had plenty of LED lanterns to provide enough light. As soon as he left, Annie put a call in to Georgia Nelson, which went straight to voice mail. While waiting for a response, she surveyed the bedroom, hoping it would be big enough if they needed a hospital bed for Donna. Annie knew so little about caring for a sick person. When Claire had had her stroke, Annie had helped out around their house and had done a few personal things for her when she came home from rehab. This time, however, things were different: Donna would not be rehabbing. Instead, she’d be waiting for her body to do what it was going to do. And when.

Looking at the trunk again, Annie was pleased that it fit nicely between the window and the bureau. She hoped its presence would bring Donna comfort. No matter what was in it. Annie smoothed her hand across the top, but when she reached the brass lock, her fingers stopped. If the trunk held secrets, they were not her secrets to investigate. Donna’s life, after all, was not a book, and Donna wasn’t one of Annie’s characters.

Knowing it would be impossible to accomplish any work, Annie wondered if, though it was late, she should go back to the hospital and sit with Donna whether or not she was still sleeping. As long as a patient or visitor did not have a communicable disease, the hospital had no restrictions about visiting hours. But before Annie had a chance to opt for going or staying put, Georgia called. Annie brought her up to date; she also said that she and Kevin now knew that Georgia was with hospice.

“I hope you understand your mother didn’t want either of you to know,” the woman said.

“I do,” Annie replied. “And I appreciate that you kept her confidence.”

Georgia agreed to come early the next morning and prepare the cottage for Donna’s return. “And don’t worry, dear. Our goal is to make the family as comfortable as the patient.” She added that the best thing Annie probably could do that night would be to stay home and rest. She did not need to elaborate that the coming weeks might be difficult.

Having Georgia in their corner made Annie feel better . . . as much as that was possible. So when they got off the phone, Annie cleaned up the kitchen and lay down on her own bed in the cottage. She fell asleep quickly.

* * *