The Bracelet Read Free

bad word about anyone, even though I could ring his son and daughter-in-law’s necks for being so callous in the way they treat him. Poppy never complains but it must hurt him so much. He’s a very proud man and he doesn’t want people feeling sorry for him. He’s having treatments for prostate cancer and that’s no fun. I also know he made some bad investments and lost most of his savings. He lives on a very limited fixed income and that can be challenging.”
    â€œDoes his son know about all of this?” Piper asked as she ripped more paper towels from the roll.
    Terri shook her head in disgust. “Well, if he doesn’t know, he should. He should be paying attention to his father’s situation. But, really, I think Poppy’s health and money worries are less detrimental than the lack of emotional attention he gets.”
    At the end of the day, Terri boxed up some oatmeal and raisin cookies.
    â€œWill you bring these up to Poppy?” she asked, handing the packages to Piper. “I’ll finish closing down here.”
    To get to the entrance to the apartment, Piper had to exit the bakery. The sidewalk was covered with a thin film of snow and more was floating down. Looking up the street, Piper thought she saw her sister-in-law’s car parked in front of the drugstore.
    She pulled open the heavy glass door and stepped into the small vestibule. Two metal mailboxes hung on the wall. Enright was listed as apartment 2B.
    As Piper climbed the stairs, she almost collided with another person on the way down. Piper leaned against the wall to let the slim figure pass. Dressed in sweatpants and a purple ski jacket with the fur-lined hood pulled up, the other individual turned away from Piper. She didn’t see the face, but the jacket certainly looked familiar.
    â€œExcuse me,” Piper said automatically. “Wait, Zara?” But the person didn’t stop, continuing quickly down the steps and out to the street.
    On the landing, Piper found apartment 2B. When she knocked on the door, it opened a crack.
    â€œMr. Enright?” she called.
    No answer.
    â€œMr. Enright?” she called again. “It’s Piper Donovan. Terri’s daughter.”
    Getting no response, Piper gently pushed the door open further and poked her head into the apartment.
    â€œPoppy? Are you there?”
    Maybe he went out for a few minutes and forgot to lock up. Piper leaned over to leave the baked goods on the small table next to the door. As she straightened up, she caught sight of the man lying on the floor.

    Piper knelt next to the motionless body.
    â€œWake up, Mr. Enright!” she cried. “Wake up!”
    Piper felt for a pulse and was relieved when she detected a faint but rhythmic beat. She pulled out her phone and called 911. After requesting an ambulance, she looked around for something to prop Poppy’s feet and legs up higher than his heart. She dragged over the ottoman that sat in front of the faded armchair facing the television set. She pulled an afghan from the back of the chair and covered the old man.
    As she continued to talk to Poppy, Piper reached out and gently turned his head from side to side, trying to rouse him. When she took her hand away, she saw it was covered with warm, sticky blood.

    â€œHe has a head wound,” Piper shouted when the EMTs arrived. She backed away from Poppy and stood at the side of the room while emergency personnel checked his breathing and examined him. She watched as one tech carefully removed the wad of paper towels she had pressed behind the old man’s head.
    â€œThat’s quite a gash he’s got there,” said the EMT. He turned to Piper. “What happened?”
    â€œI came in and found him this way,” she answered. “But I noticed some blood on the corner of the desk. Maybe he fell against it.”
    The EMT bent over the still body. “Mr. Enright. Mr. Enright. Wake up, sir.”
    Poppy