Chyna got into the pool and Ellen went into the house. She headed for the kitchen and got a cold bottle of water out of the fridge. Then she headed back out to the pool.
“Here you need to drink this right away,” Ellen said holding the water bottle out toward Chyna.
Chyna smiled. “Thank you. You didn’t have to do that, but I appreciate it.” She climbed out and took the bottle, opened it, and took a drink.
Ellen gave her a look.Didn’t have to. Of course, I did. What did she think I’d do, let her fall out from sunstroke or heat stroke?
“I asked Emma,” Ellen said, “But she doesn’t have anything for sunburn. She’s in the middle of cooking dinner but says she’ll bake your apple pies tonight. Is that your favorite?”
“Yes. I used to go apple picking with my grandmother,” Chyna said. “Then she’d bake the most delicious pies.”
Emma Ives made sure to fix each woman’s favorite one night while she was staying at the center. So far, they’d had various cakes and pies. Emma was an excellent cook and an even better baker. It was no wonder George Ives was so heavy, because of her cooking and his sweet tooth.
Ellen’s favorite was pineapple upside down cake, but Emma hadn’t made that one for her yet. She was glad Chyna would have her favorite tonight as that sunburn was going to feel bad as the evening went on. She didn’t understand why the woman was still outside in the sun.
Maybe the sun had her not thinking clearly.
“You really need to get inside out of this sun,” Ellen said, with concern. “And drink all that water down.”
“I’m ready to go in.” Chyna took a towel and rubbed it on her hair and then patted her body down. “Maybe this will feel better after I shower and get the chlorine off.”
“Well, you go on and do that,” Ellen said. “And I’ll see if I can rustle up something to put on that. You’re going to be sore tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Ellen,” Chyna said. “I probably will be.”
They headed inside and Chyna went off to shower.
Ellen was ready to do the same once she peeled out of her jeans and sneakers. It was warm out for jeans but to go horseback riding she’d needed them. Now she was hot and sticky. She’d better grab another bottle of water for herself.
* * *
At dinner everyoneexpressed concern over Chyna’s sunburn. No one had any after sun products to put on it, so Chyna planned to drive into town to get something. George would lend her his truck.
Chyna said she’d pick up some vanilla ice cream to go with the delicious smelling apple pies Emma had in the oven. By the time she got back, the pies would have cooled, and they could all have dessert.
As they sat around waiting for her to return, the centers emergency line rang.
Cecelia sprung up and hurried to the phone.
Ellen watched her in amazement. Cecelia moved as fast as a sighted person.
There’s nothing in her way for her to run into, and likely she has the rooms memorized, but still. Watching her is amazing. But what’s the emergency?
Leah came out of the kitchen with a serious look on her face and headed toward Cecelia who stood talking on the phone.
“I wonder what’s wrong?” Ellen said.
“It’s Chyna,” Janelle whispered low. “She went into town alone.”
“That doesn’t mean it’s Chyna,” Ellen said. She couldn’t hear what they were saying but she got a sinking feeling that Janelle was right.
Something had happened to Chyna.
She could tell by watching Leah and Cecelia that something was very wrong.
CHAPTER4
When Leahand Cecelia came back into the room, Leah said, “First, Chyna is going to be all right. A man attacked her in the parking lot of the grocery store.”
