She wondered if she should wake Donna up before Georgia arrived. Then she decided to leave her be. Maybe added sleep would help her regain some strength, at least enough so she’d feel like eating. And maybe later, after Jonas had come and gone and Georgia had left, Annie and Donna could have the conversation about Annie’s birth father.

As Annie’s mind drifted again, she wondered if Donna had once hoped her birth father would marry her, cherish their family, and grow old with her. Then Annie wondered what it was going to be like to grow old with John. It will be nice, she thought, to have each other to lean on when their skin started to wrinkle and the rest of them began to fall apart. It would be nice not to have to go through the tricks of Father Time alone.

But knowing that her wandering mind would not accomplish a damn thing, she turned back to her laptop, emitted a soft groan, and finally got to work.

Three cups of tea and a bowl of Special K later, there was a knock on the door. Annie stirred from her made-up world, turned off her computer, and went to welcome Georgia, who was bulked up in a slicker, the top of its hood pulled down to her eyebrows.

“Hallo!” she called.

“Come in, come in,” Annie said. “It looks awful out there.”

Georgia unsnapped her jacket, shook the bulk of the water off over the sink, then hung it on the doorknob. “We know that rain is good in the spring, but sometimes it’s a darned inconvenience.” She set her purse and a large notebook that was wrapped in plastic on the floor.

“Donna’s not awake yet. Would you care for tea?”

“Oh, yes, that would be delightful. I did get a bit chilled.” Georgia sat at the table and looked at the laptop. “Have you been writing this morning?”

Annie smiled while she poured the tea. “A little. I’m starting a new book that should be taking shape faster than it is. Sometimes that happens. Like the rain, it’s annoying.”

Georgia laughed. She seemed like a nice woman, open and friendly. She asked Annie lots of questions about her writing; in turn, Annie asked how she’d become a hospice nurse. They talked for some time until Georgia looked at her watch. “Oh, my. It’s nearly eleven. I should get your mother out of bed so she can start her day.”

Not knowing whether or not she should offer to help, Annie settled on saying, “Let me know if you need me.”

“Oh, we’ll be fine, thanks. I’m an old pro at this.” Georgia went into the bedroom, her soft-soled shoes padding across the floor.