Sunday Sample ... The Short Game

Enjoy a sample from The Short Game, my latest release.

Garth

I was testy and irritable and a little ashamed at the same time.

Nadine had hung around all morning before giving me a breather by leaving to run some errands. Then, by the time I'd started to unwind, she'd come back just before evening visiting hours. It wasn't that I didn't appreciate her concern, but I hadn't realized before now how overbearing she could be, even if it was in an unassuming way.

My attention wandered from the crime-thriller I'd been trying to read, and she leaned forward. "Is everything all right? Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

Just the same as the last time you asked me, five minutes ago.

Earlier in the day, I assured my parents they didn't need to come because I was going to be released tomorrow afternoon, but they refused to consider staying home. They'd come and gone and only half-hour was left of the hospital's visiting hours.

Ayisha stood at the end of the bed looking at her watch.

"You're in a hurry or something?" I asked.

"Nah, just checking on the time and wondering what happened with … "

She didn't continue, but I guessed what she was about to say.

Where was Anna-Lise?

      From the foot of the bed, Vance asked, "D'you need anything?"

I shook my head, regretting it immediately. The headache that had set in earlier hadn't left and it now reminded me that it had only been on break.

"I'm going home tomorrow evening, once they give the all-clear."

"We're both very lucky," he said, pointing to the neck brace he wore. "This could have been much worse. The way that van flipped, man … "

"How long d'you have to wear that thing?"

"About five more days." He touched the collar and cleared his throat. "Like I said, we're lucky."

"Yeah," I grumbled. "And you get to go home today, while I'm lying here like a vegetable."

He shifted his feet and stared at the floor.

If I had to guess, I'd say he was feeling guilty. He'd still been going at me about my parents and Nadine just before impact, but that was his nature and I shouldn't have been distracted, but still …

I opened my mouth to tell him I didn't blame him, but Ayisha sidetracked me.

"Sorry to interrupt your pity party, but d'you want us to come and get you tomorrow?"

I nodded, grateful for the offer because I didn't want that stress on my parents. "They may let me go in the early afternoon after the doctor examines me. I'll call you or Lise."

Nadine sat forward in her chair. "I was thinking—"

"No problem," Ayisha said, drowning Nadine's words.

I figured Ayisha's response was deliberate, but I much preferred her and Anna-Lise around me when I was less than a hundred percent, rather than having Nadine trying to pamper me to death.

Since nobody was broaching the subject that was of the biggest concern to me, I asked, "So where is Lise?"

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