Die Once Live Twice Read Free

each other, one of the many small ties that bound them.
    “Time for supper?” she asked. “I told Katherine to get me up tonight. I’ve been sleeping too much today and need to get up and going.”
    “She is still working on it. It will be beef pie.” He laughed. “It should be another interesting effort.”
    “It is always a surprise! She is becoming quite the little cook, wouldn’t you say?”
    “She’s becoming quite the little woman,” William said, and they looked at each other for a time. “I am very proud of her.”
    Lillian began to roll over and William gently eased the turn and leaned her on pillows to give her support. They both tried to ignore the grimaces of pain on her face as she moved. “That’s getting to be a chore,” she puffed and gave him a lopsided grin. “I think I’ll start sleeping on that rocker to save us both the trouble.”
    “No trouble on my part. You’re much lighter now than when I had to do this when you were with child. How are you feeling?”
    “Actually a little better now that I’ve had a rest,” she said. “Yes, better,” she repeated as if to convince herself. Lillian could see the strain and worry in her husband’s face. “Why don’t you help me get up?” Lillian started to straighten up and suddenly stopped. Feeling a cough develop, she reached for the cloth on the bedside table. William, knowing the routine, handed it to her, and as she placed it over her mouth he reached for the porcelain water bowl on the dresser. However, the spell lasted only a moment and Lillian felt victorious.
    William took a clean wet cloth and placed it around the back of her neck. The coolness of the water acted as a tonic on her warm skin. He could see her dressing gown was soaked and there were small droplets of dried blood on the collar. He tenderly washed her, as she had taught him weeks ago. Clean and refreshed, Lillian felt stronger. How could she doubt her Lord’s favor when she was blessed with a man such as this? As her body began to fail her she had asked that he do what he could to preserve her dignity. She knew of many a wife whose husband wouldn’t come near her if she had much more than a sniffle, let alone bathe her or carry her to the water closet for what was becoming very messy personal business.
    “All right,” Lillian said. “Let me see if I can help our cook with a pie crust tonight.” Lillian always dressed for dinner. She was a lady. William lifted the gown over her shoulders and replaced it with a camisole that hung to her mid-thigh. Next, he pulled a dress over her head, which Emma had sewn so it would hang loosely. It was long enough to cover her ankles, but hemmed short so that Lillian could not trip on it. She sat again while he pulled on her stockings and shoes, then stood and took William’s arm. It was fewer than thirty paces to the kitchen, but she counted each step for confidence.
    “I’m feeling better tonight, so let’s see if we can have a nice supper,” Lillian announced on her arrival in the kitchen.
    Katherine’s apron was covered with flour matted in sticky beef fat, but her joy spread across her face. Then she frowned. “Momma, what do I do with this flour? Emma is out back right now and I don’t know what to do.” Then she burst into tears.
    “There, there,” Lillian said in a soothing tone, holding her shoulders. “I know you have been forced to do new things. My sickness has changed your life.”
    “I just don’t know how to do this! I just don’t know!”
    Lillian looked at her daughter and understood. “None of us know how. Not your father, nor me, and certainly no one expects you to know. You have by no choice of your own become a child of cancer and for that I’m truly sorry.”
    Katherine and Lillian embraced as only mother and daughter do in moments of great meaning. “Now, let’s get this meal together,” Lillian said. With surprising strength, Lillian helped Katherine prepare the meal, which they all