An Unexpected Christmas Gift

you more tea if you need it.”
“No. Now leave me alone.”
The snarl in her voice startled me. I tried to decipher my warring emotions. I needed to accept the fact that Linda was not my mother either. Did I even want a mother like her?
Laughter and chatter erupted from the kitchen as the back door opened and shut.
“Hey, there. How’s it going?” Troy asked as he entered the living room with Nancy in tow.
“What brings you back out in this terrible weather?” I said.
“I wanted to find out if Linda feels better. And I brought my mother, who’s a nurse practitioner.”
“I’m fine,” Linda answered, followed by a cough.
“Too late, Linda,” Troy said, his voice upbeat. “My mother’s in the kitchen. Her office is closed today. Would you mind if she gives you a quick exam? She brought along a stethoscope.”
“I’m sure I’m fine.” Linda glanced toward the women’s voices in the kitchen.
A moment later, a tall lady strode through the door and into the living room. “I think we’ve met, Linda, but in case you don’t remember me, I’m the Millers’ neighbor, Charlene Bennett.” She shook Linda’s limp hand. “How about if I check you over?” Charlene, who must have been in her early sixties, wore her dark hair pulled into a bun, slacks, and a red cardigan over a turtleneck.
“I don’t want to put you to any trouble.” Linda’s voice waned to a whisper.
Charlene extracted a thermometer from her bag and put it under Linda’s tongue, then palpated her upper neck.
“Is your throat sore?”
Linda nodded.
Charlene checked the thermometer. “You’re running a low fever, so nothing to worry about—yet. But we need to keep an eye on you.”
Charlene used a tongue depressor and flashlight to check Linda’s throat. “You poor thing, that’s got to hurt.”
“Well?” Troy said as we hovered in silence. “How is she?”
Charlene raised her brows. “Patience has never been your virtue, son.” She glanced at me as if she’d been including me in the statement. I wondered if he’d told her about me, and if so, what he’d said.
Charlene brought out her stethoscope and listened to Linda’s lungs, first in the front and then her back. “Please take a deep breath.” A moment later, she said, “Now another.”
Linda sputtered a few times, trying to cover her mouth.
“I suspect you’re getting laryngitis, Linda,” Charlene said. “Don’t try to talk or whisper. It will only make your larynx worse.”
In my mind, I prayed for Linda. Being around the Millers, who wore their faith on their sleeves, must have been rubbing off on me. I felt as though I’d been brought to this house for a reason. Why else would God hurl me into this zany situation?
Naomi entered the room. “What do you think, Char?”
“You know I’m not a physician and this isn’t an official call, but my opinion is that she has a nasty cold verging on bronchitis. Probably a virus. For today, I recommend you keep her quiet and hydrated. I’ll come back tomorrow and give her another looking-over. I’m not worried about catching it. At work, I’m around sick people all day.”
“But tomorrow is Christmas.”
“Then consider it my gift to you.”
“I’d better come, too.” Troy set his gaze on me. When his mother smirked at him, he said, “Well, don’t you want a ride, Mom?”
“Sure, although we’re only next door.”
“But the storm’s so bad. And it’s a bit of a walk.”
“Okay. I will certainly want to see how our patient’s doing.” She turned to Naomi. “If she gets any worse, please call us. Troy or my husband can drive her to an urgent care facility.”
Linda started to protest, but nothing came out of her mouth.
“Save your voice,” Charlene said. She turned to Naomi. “Do you have a thermometer?”
“Yes. I should have thought to use it immediately.”
“Take her temperature again in a few hours, and let me know if it’s gone up.”
“All right, I’ll call you from the phone shanty.”
“That little shack is buried in snow.” Troy looked at me. “Maria, do you have a phone with you?”
“I do, but it’s probably dead by now.”
“If you give me your phone, I’ll charge it and bring it back in a couple hours. And check on Linda’s temperature.”
I nodded, then went upstairs and retrieved my phone. I hesitated as I handed it to him, not that it was doing me any good right now. Did I actually expect an important call? No. And I wanted to see Troy again.
Linda’s eyelids drooped. Naomi scooted her around so that Linda could stretch out on the couch, then she and Charlene covered her with the blanket. Naomi beckoned us all to come into the kitchen.
Charlene put her stethoscope into her bag. “I wish I could do more for her, but if what she has is a virus, it will have to run its course.” She closed the bag and fastened the latch. “Promise to call if you need me or call 9-1-1. But my guess is they’re running behind on a day like today.”
“We can’t thank you enough.” Naomi embraced her.
“My pleasure. You know that.” Charlene shoved one arm into her down jacket. “See you tomorrow morning.”
“And thanks for the holly.” Naomi helped her with her other arm. I looked to the counter and saw sprigs of red-berried holly and evergreens, giving the room a festive look and emitting a lovely aroma.
“That was Troy’s idea. He braved the storm to clip them.”
“I ran it past Silas to get his approval,” Troy said.
“Yah.” Silas, sitting at the table with Bart, nodded.
“They’re beautiful,” I said. Glancing at Troy, I felt another zing of attraction.
“Glad you like them.” Troy grinned.
“I’d better run. I have my own baking to do.” Charlene nudged Troy. “And my husband’s in front of the TV watching football and will want a snack.”
Troy’s eyes locked on to mine for what seemed like forever. “See you later, Maria, after I charge your phone.”
Maybe it was my imagination, but chemistry was buzzing between us.
Knuckles rapped on the back door, then the door swung open