“I—I think my get-up-and-go just ran out the door. My land.”

“But you ate it all.”

“Step in the right direction. Beginnin’ to think I was never gettin’ out of that bed again.”

Amalia pulled the tray stand out and helped Lily to her feet. “The walker?” At the shake of her head, she put one arm around the woman’s waist and held her arm with the other hand. “We can do this together. Then I’ll park your friend there”—Lily snorted—“by the bed so you can use it at night.”

“Got the potty chair right by the bed so should be good.” Even her voice was fading.

“You call me if you need anything?”

“I will, I will. Thank you for comin’.” Lily sank down on the edge of the bed. “You want to push in that night-light as you go out?”

“You have one in the bathroom too?”

“I do but the potty chair and I are becoming buddies.” She collapsed on her side so Amalia lifted her legs and got her settled. “I’ll dump the pot for you.” Ignoring the stink, she did that and brought the rinsed pot back. “We’ll get someone in to help in the morning.”

“Thank you beyond measure. I prayed our Lord bless you and keep you strong. My daughter-in-law will be here Saturday and Sunday if I need her by then.”

“Good. You’ve got your phone. Has it been plugged in?”

Lily fought to keep her eyes open. “Right there on the stand.”

Amalia checked and plugged the phone into the charger on the wall. “You can still reach it, and you have your Life Line in case you need it?” Lily nodded. “Good, talk with you tomorrow.”

Amalia rinsed out the dishes and left them in the drainer, then headed back to check on Agatha. Since she was sound asleep, even snoring, Amalia took the stairs back to her floor and apartment. Good thing she’d left the Crock-Pot on warm so her soup was hot. Perhaps she’d better make up another batch of that bread. She clicked her phone to Pandora, and the Celtic harp brought more life into her too-quiet apartment. While she ate her supper, she opened her latest novel and picked up where she’d left off. Shame she couldn’t crochet and eat at the same time.

Were her eyes too tired for counted cross-stitch tonight? Her phone sang the “Hallelujah Chorus.” Gracie checking on her. At least she had family who checked on her.

Chapter Three

A UFO group? What in the world will you come up with next?” Ginny Clarkson asked, then smiled to herself and shifted her phone to her other ear. Roxie and MJ were amazing with their crazy ideas.

“Someone sighted an unidentified flying object over Wisconsin?” Her husband of forty years looked up from his morning paper and lifted his coffee mug in a silent request.

“Just a minute.” She held the phone with one hand and picked up the coffeepot with the other. After filling his cup, she warmed her own. The timer went off on the oven. “Look, MJ, how about I call you back after breakfast? The muffins are ready to come out. Trying a new recipe that, if you are good, I might bring you later,” She clicked off on MJ’s chuckle.