Twilight Earth Read Free Page A

think we're going to have a house full of people pretty quickly," Ben replied.
    Deirdre nodded and leaned back. "I'll get some clothes on and come out to help. After you call the doctor, could you put on a pot of coffee?"
    "Yeah, I will," Ben replied and left the room.
    After calling Doctor Lyam, who expressed his condolences and replied he would be over in a few minutes, Ben made a fresh pot of coffee and set out plenty of mugs. Just as he was finishing, Jorga arrived.
    "Dad said he would be over here as soon as he could. He'll bring an ambulance and the needed paperwork. Did you call Doctor Lyam?" The young woman asked.
    Ben nodded like he was on autopilot. Jorga realized he probably was and moved to hold him in her arms. Tom Bedouin had been a very well respected and influential man in their small city. Jorga knew he had a lot of business contacts since he owned a very successful investment firm. He had also been very active in the community and had been a major motivator on any project that helped to improve the lives of the people. She was also one of the few people that knew that he had been the money behind a reclamation project that had taken two old, abandoned grain storage facilities, as well as an old brewery and turned them into the town's newest, and largest park. She knew that the entire town would feel his loss.
    "Okay, is Deirdre still in her room?" she asked letting him go for the moment.
    Again, Ben only nodded. "She's taking it pretty hard, I..." he paused to keep from crying again. ”I guess I am too."
    Jorga nodded. "I would be surprised if you weren't, love. Why don't you go put some sweats or something on? I'll go check on Deirdre. I'll order dinner even though I'm sure none of you will feel much like eating."
    "Okay, thank you Jorga," Ben replied and walked to his room. He was definitely on autopilot.
    ––––––––
    When Ben returned to the living room, he was wearing jeans and a tee shirt. Jorga and Deirdre were also in the living room, and Deirdre was dressed in sweats and a tank top. Jorga was wearing a pair of shorts and a tank top. Ben briefly wondered how she had changed clothes, but before he asked, the doorbell rang.
    Ben answered the door to Jorga's father and the two paramedics behind him. "Deputy Lowe, thanks for coming," Ben said and stepped aside.
    "I'm really sorry to hear about your father, Ben," Jorga's father, Bill Lowe, replied. "Have you called Doc Lyam yet?"
    Ben nodded. "Yeah, shortly after I called Jorga. He said he'd be over in a few minutes, so he should be here any time. While you wait, would any of you like a cup of coffee?"
    One of the ladies had carried the pot and cups out to the living room before Ben came back from his room.
    "Thank you Ben, I will, but I do need to see the body first," Bill replied, sadly.
    "Of course, follow me," Ben replied and looked at Jorga, who was holding a crying Deirdre. "Could you get these gentlemen some coffee, please?"
    She nodded at him as Ben led her father back to Tom's room. "Your father was a good man, Ben. One of the few truly good men left. He'll be sorely missed."
    "Thank you Sir, I know he had a lot of friends around town. Which reminds me that I need to call Bob Gilly and let him know as well. Dad made sure I knew what to do when he passed," Ben said sadly.
    Bill nodded. "That's probably a good idea. Bob will be a good person to handle all the legal stuff that comes with this." Bill once again checked for a pulse and verified that Tom was indeed deceased. Ben saw him glance at the pills on the nightstand and frown.
    "I know what you’re thinking, Sir. No, he didn't get the chance to take them. I will tell you that he had planned on it; the pain had gotten so bad and he didn't want to go into hospice, but he... died before he could follow through with it." Ben explained.
    Bill nodded. "I understand. I think we can leave that part out of the official report. Once Doc Lyam gets here and does his thing, I'll have the EMT's