Where There's Smoke

“Okay. Thank you, Key.” Tears glistened in her fine blue eyes. When it came to that family trait, she hadn’t been passed over. “I hated to bother you with the situation here, but—”

“It was no bother.”

“Well it felt like a bother. I wouldn’t have contacted you if I didn’t think that having you here might somehow make things… better.”

“What’s going on, Janellen?”

“It’s Mama. She’s sick, Key.”

“Is her blood pressure kicking up again?”

“It’s worse than that.” Janellen twisted her hands. “She’s started having memory blackouts. They don’t last long. At first I didn’t even notice them. Then Maydale mentioned several instances when Mama lost things and accused her of moving them. She introduces topics into conversations that we’ve already talked about.”

“She’s getting up there in years, Janellen. These are probably nothing more than early signs of senility.”

“Maybe, but I don’t believe so. I’m afraid it’s more serious than just aging because there are days when I can tell she doesn’t feel well, much as she tries to cover up.”

“What does the doctor say?”

“She won’t see one,” she exclaimed with frustration. “Dr. Patton prescribed medication to control her blood pressure, but that was over a year ago. She browbeats the pharmacist into refilling the prescription and says that’s sufficient. She won’t listen when I urge her to see another doctor for a checkup.”

He smiled wryly. “That sounds like Jody all right. Knows better than anybody about everything.”

“Please, Key, don’t be critical of her. Help her. Help me.”

He cuffed her chin gently and said, “You’ve carried the responsibility alone for too long. It’s time I gave you some relief.” His lips narrowed. “If I can.”

“You can. This time it’ll be different between you and Mama.”

Grunting with skepticism, he threw off the sheet and swung his feet to the floor. “Hand me my jeans, please.”

Janellen was about to turn and reach for the jeans bunched up on the seat of the easy chair when she noticed the bandage around his middle. “What happened to you?” she exclaimed. “And look at your ankle!”

He nonchalantly examined his swollen ankle. “It was kind of a rowdy homecoming.”

“How’d you get hurt? Is it serious?”

“No. The jeans, please.”

Still sitting on the edge of the bed, he extended his hand. Janellen recognized the stubborn set of her brother’s scruffy jaw and handed him his pants, then knelt to help guide his bare feet through the legs.

“Your ankle’s swollen twice its size,” she muttered with concern. “Can you stand on it?”

“My doctor advised me not to,” he answered dryly. “Give me a hand.”

She helped support him as he put all his weight on his left foot and eased the jeans up his legs and over his hips. As he buttoned his fly, he gave her the naughty smile that had wreaked havoc on a legion of virtuous reputations.

Janellen couldn’t began to guess how many women her brothers had worked their magic on, especially Key. She’d always entertained a fantasy of spoiling a mixed blend of nieces and nephews, but it remained an unfulfilled dream. Key liked women, a wide assortment of them. She saw no indication that he’d soon settle down into marriage.

“You’re pretty good at helping a man into his pants,” he remarked teasingly. “Been helping one out of his lately? I hope,” he added.

“Hush!”

“Well?”

“No!” She could feel herself blushing. Key had always been able to make her blush.

“Why not?”