LITMIR.BIZ

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food at the end of the trail.”

      Liisa and Ellen hurried to the car and Liisa drove to Prospect Street to James’ and Gloria’s house. Liisa admired the old house that the couple had renovated so that it was now an attraction on the Tour of Homes.

      Gloria was an excellent cook and she and James were very good at making guests feel welcome and comfortable. Ben soon joined them and they had a pleasant evening. Liisa was touched when Gloria let her bathe Jerome and get him ready for bed.

      “Liisa, hold another diaper over him while you hurry to get his diaper on him. If you don’t you’ll think you’ve tumbled on to Niagara Falls,” Gloria instructed her.

      “Why? What do you mean? Oh, no,” Liisa gasped. “Now I know what you mean.” Her joy was complete when she sat in the rocker, in the nursery, and gave the little boy juice in a bottle. She forgot her problems as the soft, warm, sweet little boy snuggled to her and went to sleep.

      Liisa was insistent on going to her own apartment for the night instead of back to the Johnsons. “I’m only two blocks from work and can be there in short time. Too, I need to go on with my routine day to day living or I’ll go bonkers thinking of my peculiar situation.”

      Ben supported her decision even though he secretly would like to have her as dose as Ellen did. Ellen was disturbed that one of their children had troubles and would be alone.

      “Aunt Ellen, I’ll be fine. I have a phone close to me and I’ll call if I need anything, even if it’s just to talk. I can walk the few blocks to work and Arnold will be with me. I do love all of you and I know you love me, but you can’t keep me wrapped in cotton.” She hugged everyone all around.

      When she turned to hug Ben, he said, “Don’t forget you have additional tests Wednesday morning at eight-thirty. I’ll have the answer to the blood and urine tests by then and maybe the rest by Friday.” She drove home a little more comforted than she had been the night before. She knew Ben would take care of her.

      Monday and Tuesday were busy days at the gallery. Liisa was grateful to be kept so busy. She and Arnold were both happy when two more of her paintings sold. I feel so badly that I haven’t told Arnold of my loss of memory. He’s been like a grandfather to me, but I don’t feel comfortable talking about it. The Johnsons had to know. I’ll tell him after the results of my tests are completed. Thankfully I took tomorrow off.

      On Wednesday morning she rose early, showered, dressed and drove to Ben’s office.

      “Liisa, just to have a complete medical profile, I want you to have an electrocardiogram. You know it as an EKG. I don’t suspect anything is wrong with your heart, but I’m going to run every test that can be run at this clinic. If I’m not satisfied, we’ll go to a university teaching facility. Alice and Barry, Dr. Barry Glover, will be running tests this morning.”

      By ten thirty-five Liisa was dressed again and ready to leave. Ben called, “Barry, come here, please.”

      “Yes, sir. What is it?”

      “Would you do me a favor? It isn’t time for your lunch break, but I would appreciate it if you will go with Liisa and see that she has something to eat. She came in fasting and I know she’s probably starving by now.”

      “No problem. It will be my pleasure.”

      “Uncle Ben, I can go alone. There is no need to drag Dr. Glover from his work. He is very polite but I’m sure he doesn’t want to babysit an adult.”

      “Hey! I said no problem. In fact, I didn’t get to eat breakfast because, as usual, I overslept. I’m the one who’s starved. I’d love to go.”

      Barry took Liisa to an International Pancake House for a brunch. “I love breakfast foods and could eat them all day long,” Liisa smiled.

      “I like breakfast foods, too, but it’s nicer when I have a beautiful woman with me to share the time,” Barry looked at her with melting eyes. Liisa was uncomfortable when she realized that Barry was showing too much interest in her.

      He’s a nice young man and must be a good doctor or Uncle Ben wouldn’t hire him. He is fun to be with for a short time. I don’t want to encourage him, or any man, at least not right now. Not while I’m unsure about my past. Why can’t he see that? He’s a doctor. He should know.

      Barry insisted on paying for their breakfast and laughingly ordered Liisa to put her money away.

      “Thank you so much for the breakfast and the nice company. I’m sorry to run, but I must get back to work,” Liisa told Barry. It was obvious that he reluctantly stood up to see her off. He walked her to the door and went back to pay while she walked quickly to her car. She decided to work through the afternoon.

      Keeping busy dusting statuary and rearranging paintings helped Liisa to face her problems. She was dusting some antique pieces of furniture when Arnold came into the room.

      “Liisa, I’m sorry to leave everything on your shoulders, but I’m going home. It must be indigestion. I have a pain in my chest and drinking a soda hasn’t helped.”

      “I’ll call 911 and let them check you over. It could be a warning about a heart attack.”

      “No, don’t call anyone. I’m just tired from working too many nights in a row and I know I don’t eat properly or get the rest I should have. I’ll be okay. I’ll go home and rest. If you have an emergency, don’t hesitate to call me. Good night, honey.” Arnold left with Liisa biting her lower lip and looking anxiously after him. He never complained and she couldn’t remember when he had taken off from work due to sickness.

      Liisa was anxious for the day to be over so she could go to Arnold’s house and see about him. With a sigh of relief, Liisa locked the doors and hurried through a light cold rain to get her car and drive to Arnold’s home.

      “Why Miss Liisa, Mr. Arnold came in and went to bed. He said nothing about not feeling well. He’s sleeping and I don’t want to disturb him.”

      “Mrs. Warton, keep an eye on him and if he doesn’t seem to be better, will you please call 911 and get help for him? I need to know how he is. You know how wonderful he has been to me and how he gives me moral support.”

      “Yes, he commonly says nice things about you and is so proud of you. If there is any need to be alarmed I’ll call you immediately. I promise. Now you get home and get dry clothes on before you catch your death of cold. I’ll take care of Mr. Arnold.”

      Thursday morning Arnold was at work when Liisa got to the gallery. “Arnold, what are you doing here? You never take time for yourself. Why didn’t you stay home today and rest?”

      “Liisa, honey, I’m fine. It’s okay, sweet cheeks,” he smiled. “I have kept this old body in shape for eighty-four years and I imagine I’ll be going long enough to see you raise some little ones.”

      Liisa didn’t know what to say. She was shocked because she had never thought of his age. She knew he was older than her parents and had treated them as if they were family, but she never suspected that he was that old.

      I’ll try to take all the pressure of business off him that I can. He surely doesn’t act eighty-four, or look it.

      There was very little business on Thursday which pleased Liisa because it gave her an opportunity to keep Arnold quiet and pretend to need his help. She discussed her work and future plans.

      Friday came too soon in one way and crawled in another. One of Ben’s nurses called Liisa at work, just after lunch, and told her that Dr. Johnson would like to see her at seven that evening in his office. Liisa knew this was after working hours and was thankful that she would not have to face others.

      At five she hugged Arnold and told him she would go home early and make it up another day. “You’ll do no such thing,” Arnold almost pushed her out. “You don’t need to make up anything. Besides, we haven’t had but a couple of customers all day. Blame it on this lousy weather. But after hearing the weather reports

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