Page 21 of Starved Until Sunset
Dave put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed. “I know.”
They were quiet for a bit, and an Oscar-worthy montage of memories of Dave as they’d grown up together flashed through Cody’s mind. He really was glad to have Dave back in town. Even if he was engaged to annoying cub reporter Ollie.
“Have any plans this afternoon?” Cody asked.
Dave shook his head. “Oliver’s taking an online class and asked me to stay out of the apartment.”
“You know he’s just watching a bunch of porn, right?”
“That’s okay, it gives him ideas for new positions.”
Cody made a face. “Gross.”
Dave looked entirely too pleased with himself. “You started it.” He tossed some grass Cody’s way but the breeze took them sideways. “What’d you have in mind?”
“Want to go visit Felicia and maybe get some lunch?”
“Sure. Just us?”
“Yeah, just us.”
Dave smiled. “That’d be great.”
Another body bag on a stretcher was being wheeled out the door when Cody and Dave walked into Parson’s Pines Nursing Home.
“They were taking someone out when I was here earlier this week,” Cody said, stopping and watching the bag roll past. The October sunlight gleamed along the slick black surface.
“One time when I was here as well,” Dave said.
“Heaven must be running one hell of a move in special these days.”
They stopped at the front desk to sign in, and Cody smiled at the younger nurse behind the desk who, he was surprised to see, was looking up at him and not at her phone.
“We’re here to see—”
“Felicia,” the nurse said for him, smiling. “I recognize you both.”
“How’s she doing?”
“She’s quiet today. She didn’t eat a lot of her breakfast or lunch from what I’ve heard.”
“They adjusted her meds a couple of weeks ago,” Dave said. “Maybe that’s affected her appetite.”
“Maybe.” Cody nodded to the woman. “Thanks.” He started to go, then stopped and gestured toward the exit. “Was that anyone my grandmother knew?”
“It was Mr. Branson.”
“The friendly guy in the wheelchair?”
The nurse raised her eyebrows. “Which one?”
“Yeah, all right.”
“I think I know who you mean,” Dave said. “He carried a book around with him sometimes.”
“Yep, that was him,” the nurse said with a nod and a sad smile. “He was a really nice guy.”
“He seemed pretty spry last time I saw him,” Cody said. “I mean, other than the wheelchair, and the hearing aids, and the glaucoma, I guess.”
