Chapter Nine: Helen:

After lunch, Kathy went to the next house. This one should be easy, right? Helen didn’t have any known conditions or problems that the care center warned her about. This should be an in and out job. Kathy knocked on the door.

“Coming!” an old lady shouted inside. Kathy looked around the porch as she waited. She couldn’t help but notice the bright purple flowers growing everywhere. She turned her focus on the piercing color.

“Touch me! Touch me!” the petals cried. “Smell me! Taste me!” Kathy leaned into the purple petals.

“Don’t eat those dear!” a voice shouted. The carer whipped around to see an old lady standing in the doorway. The old woman straightened her glasses as she looked at the younger one.

“I know they look pretty,” she said. Kathy backed up with a red face and cleared her throat.

“Good afternoon, Helen,” she said. “How are you today?”

“Good, dear,” the old lady said. “And how are you?”

“Good.”

“Is Bret finally…”

“Oh no, I found him just in time.”

Helen shook her head. “That boy’s going to be dead one day.”

“I hope not.” Kathy turned her focus back to the old lady. “Are you eating well?”

“Yes. And you?”

“Yes, I am eating well. I’m supposed to asking you the questions here.”

“I apologize. But you need to care about yourself as well.”

Kathy rubbed her forehead. “Everyone keeps telling me this.”

“Because we care about you.”

The carer laughed nervously as she took notes. “Are you sleeping well?”

“Yes. And are you sleeping well?”

“Yes.” Kathy rolled her eyes as she took notes. Helen leaned in with a smile on her face. The carer yelped and jumped back with her notepad in her hand.

“What is it?” she asked. Helen leaned back with her arms behind her head.

“How many more houses do you have to check?” she asked. Kathy did a quick count on her hands.

“I think about four more to go,” she said.

“How long are you out here today?”

“I think about a couple more hours.”

“Ah, I would invite you by for dinner, but you seem busy.”

“Thank you, anyway. Is there anything else I need to know?”

“No.”

“I see.” Kathy finished up her notes and closed up her notepad. “I think we are done here.” She put her notepad in her jacket pocket.

“You have a good day, Helen,” the carer said.

“You too,” the old lady said. “And be careful! It looks like it’s going to rain.” Kathy waved behind her as she started walking down the stone path.