All for One

by Melody Carlson

  Janie nodded. “You’re a good daughter.”

  “Or a crazy one.” Caroline picked up the baby monitor and listened. “Like I said, welcome to my world. Crazy kind of reigns around here.”

  Chapter 4

  MARLEY

  Friday morning the sun came out, and by noon the temperature climbed into the upper sixties, so Marley decided to take her paints and canvas outside.

  “Hello, neighbor,” Doris called from her bungalow next door. Doris was Abby’s mother and a fellow artist. “What do you think of this delightful weather?”

  “I love it.” Marley set down her brush and went over to where Doris was watering her geraniums. “If this is global warming, I say bring it.”

  Doris laughed. “Sometimes we get days like this in the middle of winter.”

  “That works for me.”

  “So how’s the painting coming?”

  “Okay, I think.” Marley glanced over to be sure her canvas was out of the wind. Despite the warmer temperatures, gusts still popped up sometimes.

  “I don’t know why I can’t get more into art these days,” Doris said.

  “What’s stopping you?”

  Doris shrugged, tucking a strand of gray hair beneath her nylon sun hat. “I just haven’t had the desire lately. Maybe by winter when I’m stuck indoors.”

  “You know, you were part of my inspiration for moving next door,” Marley admitted.

  Doris looked surprised. “You wanted to be like Abby’s nutty old mother? The eccentric woman who lives like a beatnik on the beach?”

  “Sounded good to me.”

  Doris laughed. “When’s your birthday, Marley? Is it possible that you and Abby got switched at birth?”

  Marley laughed. “Speaking of Abby, I’ve been a little worried about her.” Marley had talked to Abby that morning, and the woman sounded just as tired and sleep deprived as before. When Marley asked about the Ambien, Abby changed the subject.

  “You and me both.” Doris set down her watering can, then eased herself onto a wooden deck chair, nodding to the chair next to her. Marley sat down too. “Abby is not herself these days.”

  “She’s so worried about Paul’s health that it seems like she’s neglecting her own,” Marley said.

  “I know.” Doris shook her head. “She’s neglecting her business, too.”

  “You mean the bed-and-breakfast?”

  “Yes.” Doris exhaled loudly. “That was her big dream. She was so excited about it, but now it all seems to be falling by the wayside.”

  “It’s like she doesn’t even care about it anymore.”

  Doris rubbed her hands on the arms of the chair. “I wonder if Abby realizes that she could be putting the bed-and-breakfast in financial jeopardy by not jumping on the opportunity right away.”

  “Oh dear. I hadn’t really considered that.”

  “Well, if she doesn’t get it up and running, and start bringing in some income, I don’t see how she’ll be able to stay current on her payments. Don’t say you heard it from me, but that could put some serious pressure on her friendship with Janie. Partnerships between friends are tricky.”

  Marley thought back to the little rift between Janie and Abby on Tuesday. Perhaps the strain involved more than Abby’s exhaustion. “I wonder if there’s anything we can do to help Abby?”

  “You mean besides slipping her a Mickey so she can get a good night’s sleep?”

  Marley chuckled. “That’s a thought. Maybe I should show up tonight with a pitcher of margaritas and slip in one of her sleeping pills.”

  “Oh, I don’t like the idea of mixing alcohol and drugs.” Doris firmly shook her head.

  “Just kidding.”

  “I’ve offered to spend the night at the house with her,” Doris said sadly, “but Abby says unless I sleep with Paul, it’s useless.”

  Marley snickered. “I’m sure Paul would just love that.”

  “Yes. You know how Paul and I get along.”

  “Maybe she should hire a nurse,” Marley suggested.

  “Can you imagine Paul agreeing to that?”

  “Not really.” Marley knew how stubborn Paul could be.

  “I can’t even blame him. If Abby treated me like that, all that hovering and concern, I’d tell her to go home. She’s constantly nagging him to eat this and not that, and pestering him to walk with her on the beach. Why, I’m almost feeling sorry for the poor man.”

  “Maybe she needs some kind of a support group,” Marley suggested.

  “Or just a good night’s rest.”

  “Or maybe an intervention.”

  Doris looked at Marley hopefully. “Yes, an intervention would be wonderful. Maybe you and the other Lindas could do something to help her. I think she’d listen to you—more than she listens to her old mother anyway.”

  “Well, it’s worth a try. I’ll call the others and see what we can do.”

  By the end of the day, Marley realized that an intervention with all the Lindas was simply not going to happen. Caroline didn’t have anyone to watch her mother, and Janie had already committed to spending the evening with Victor. “I’d help you,” Janie said apologetically, “but it’s our last chance to be together before his ex-wife arrives tomorrow.”

  “So Abby wasn’t just delusional?”

  “No. Abby had her facts straight. Please tell her I will be there in spirit tonight. I back you 100 percent, Marley. Let me know if there’s anything I can do later to help her.”

  So Marley went solo. She showed up at Abby and Paul’s doorstep unannounced at eight o’clock. “Sorry to intrude,” she told Paul.

  “Is something wrong?” he asked with concerned eyes.

  Marley wrinkled her nose at him. “Yeah, with your wife.”

  He looked confused.

  “Abby is desperately in need of sleep,” Marley stated as she pushed past him. “I am here to help.”

  Paul actually laughed. “Good luck with that.”

  “This was supposed to be a full-fledged intervention with all the Lindas present, but I’m the only one available.”

  Paul glanced over his shoulder. “Hey, it’s not that I don’t appreciate this or agree that Abby needs help, but how do you plan to do this little intervention of one?”

  “I have a plan.” She made a sheepish grin. “But it will require your full cooperation, okay?”

  He shrugged. “Sure, whatever.”

  Abby emerged from the kitchen. “What are you doing here?” she asked Marley. Her eyes had dark shadows beneath them, and her slippers were shuffling.

  “This is an intervention,” Marley said with authority. “I’m here to ensure you get a good night’s sleep, Abby Franklin. Caroline and Janie and your mother are all backing me, but they can’t be here.”

  Abby made a lopsided smile. “Uh, right. What exactly did you have in mind?”

  “Well, you have that lounge in your bedroom, and I plan to camp there tonight while you and Paul both sleep.”

  “Seriously?” Abby looked skeptical.

  Marley held up a small white bottle. “To start with, you’ll take two of these.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Valerian. It’s an herb.”

  Abby frowned. “You mean those little pink flowers?”

  “Exactly. I use it myself sometimes. It will help you relax.”

  “Okay.” Abby nodded slowly.

  Marley didn’t mention that she also planned to make Abby take her Ambien tonight. One step at a time. “But first you’re going to have a nice little bowl of cereal and milk.” Marley pointed her back toward the kitchen, and Abby didn’t resist as Marley fixed a small bowl of Cheerios, then watched Abby eat them.

  “Now I realize it’s only nine�
�—Marley glanced over to where Paul was sitting in the living room—”but I want you to go to bed now. I will keep an eye on Paul until he goes to bed.”

  “And then?”

  “And then, like I said, I’ll stay on the lounge chair.”

  “But what if you go to sleep?”

  “I’ve been drinking coffee all afternoon, Abby. Trust me, I will not be going to sleep tonight.” Marley took Abby by the arm and led her to her bedroom, then proceeded to help her friend get ready for bed.

  “I feel like a three-year-old,” Abby confessed after Marley reminded her to brush her teeth.

  “That’s what happens when you don’t get your rest,” Marley said as she handed a glass of water and the Ambien to Abby.

  Abby looked slightly dubious, but like a good girl, she put it in her mouth and washed it down with the water. “Are you going to tell me a bedtime story?” she asked in a tired voice.

  “Maybe.” Marley pointed to the king-sized bed, where she’d already turned back the comforter. She waited for Abby to climb in, then leaned down and kissed her good night on the forehead. Then she turned off the light and sat in the lounge chair.

  “No story?” Abby asked sleepily.

  Marley did her best to tell a rather strange version of The Three Bears, but before the bears ever made it upstairs to discover Goldilocks, Abby was sleeping soundly. Marley tiptoed from the room and went to check on Paul.

  “I see you haven’t died yet,” she said wryly.

  He rolled his eyes. “Not yet.”

  “I know she’s only doing it because she loves you.” Marley sat down in one of the club chairs and sighed loudly. “But it must be driving you nuts.”

  “You got that right.”

  “Then you’ll be happy to know she’s asleep.”

  “You got her to take the sleeping pills?” Paul looked surprised.

  “I did.”

  “And they really worked?”

  “She’s snoozing like a baby.”

  “So you can go home then, right?”

  Marley shook her head. “Nope. I promised Abby I’d stay and make sure you don’t kick the bucket in your sleep, and that’s what I’m going to do.”

  Paul looked disappointed. “You’re as bad as she is.”

  “We’ll hope this won’t become a permanent arrangement.”

  Paul gave her a sly look now. “Some guys would be envious of me, sleeping with two women.”

  “I don’t plan to do any sleeping.”

  He just laughed.

  “And I don’t plan to get in bed with you either.”

  He feigned disappointment.

  She adjusted her glasses and frowned. “You’re not even my type.”

  He made a face at her. “Same back at you. In fact it would be like sleeping with my mother-in-law.”

  Now she laughed. “Thanks. I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  They bantered for a bit, and by the time Paul decided to turn in for bed, Marley thought that she didn’t dislike him as much as she used to. Oh, he was a bit obnoxious and slightly chauvinistic, but on some levels he was okay. Really, he wasn’t quite the ogre that she used to imagine him to be.

  As he was heading for his bedroom, she told him she’d give him thirty minutes to get ready for bed. “Then I’m coming in,” she warned. However, she waited for more like forty minutes, and by the time she slipped back into their room, it sounded as if both Paul and Abby were soundly sleeping.

  She made herself comfortable on the lounge. As she pulled a throw up over her legs, she couldn’t help but feel this whole setup was a bit ridiculous. What people did for their friends! She was tired herself, but thanks to all that caffeine, she was not very sleepy. She decided to use this time to pray for Abby and Paul, as well as for all their kids and granddaughter, Lucy. Praying was still new to Marley. The idea that she could converse with the God of the universe and he would listen was truly amazing! After that she prayed for the other Lindas. And finally she prayed for her son, Ashton, and then for her good friend Jack and his family.

  She wasn’t sure what time it was when she felt herself slipping into slumber, but she knew it was hopeless to fight it.

  Still, she was thankful to wake up before Abby. It appeared that Paul was already up—hopefully not off having a heart attack. She’d read somewhere that most heart attacks happened in the early morning. Feeling a tiny bit anxious, she tiptoed over to see that the master bathroom was unoccupied. Then she went out to the kitchen and found him quietly making coffee.

  “Sleep good?” he asked as he filled the carafe with water.

  “Please don’t tell Abby,” she pleaded.

  He winked. “Our secret.”

  “Abby’s still sound asleep.”

  “Hopefully she’ll sleep in for a while.” Paul turned on the coffeemaker. “Don’t tell her, but I’m heading over to the golf course.”

  Marley frowned. “I thought you weren’t supposed to do anything strenuous for six weeks.”

  “I’m just going to do a little putting. Don’t worry.”

  “I won’t, but Abby will.”

  “Tell her she can come and check on me.”

  “Well, I know you’re supposed to get some mild exercise,” she conceded. “But just don’t overdo it, okay? I don’t want Abby thinking I let her down.”

  “Abby can’t control me.” He poured a mug of coffee, offering it to her.

  “Thanks.” She took it.

  He smiled as he filled another mug. “Thank you, Marley. I really do appreciate your help in getting the old girl to sleep.”

  “Hopefully she won’t need any more help tonight, but if she does, I have a plan.”

  He looked a bit concerned. “You’re coming back here again?”

  “Not me. But I’ll send Janie.”

  He took a sip of coffee. “Maybe after a good night’s sleep she’ll come back to her senses and realize that I’m perfectly fine without her round-the-clock supervision.”

  “I hope so. Besides, she needs to start focusing on her business. Doris pointed out that Abby has to make her payments on the inn, and the sooner she gets some money coming in, the better her chances of succeeding.”

  “That blasted bed-and-breakfast.” He set his mug down onto the countertop with a clank. “I wish she’d never gotten it into her mind to do that. I can’t imagine how she’s going to make it work.”

  Marley’s feelings on Abby’s business venture weren’t much different from Paul’s, but she wasn’t about to admit it. She was Abby’s friend, which meant believing in her dreams, supporting her endeavors, and—when Abby was in need—stretching out hands to help.

  “I’ll hang around until Abby wakes up,” Marley told Paul as he slipped out to the garage. She didn’t mention that she’d probably catch a few more winks herself. But as soon as she heard his car pulling out, she climbed into the still-warm bed next to Abby and within minutes was asleep again.

  Chapter 5

  ABBY

  By midmorning Sunday Abby felt almost normal. She also felt somewhat embarrassed. “I really appreciate how you and Marley helped me get some sleep,” she told Janie as they sat in Abby’s breakfast nook overlooking the beach. “I realize how badly I needed an intervention, but really, I’ll be okay from here on out. No one needs to babysit Paul and me again tonight.”

  “That’s right,” Paul called out. He was sitting in front of the big-screen TV in the great room.

  “You’ll promise to take a sleeping pill if necessary?” Janie asked.

  Abby held up three fingers, Girl Scout Promise style. “I give you my word.”

  “Okay then.” Janie nodded, then took a sip of her coffee.

  Abby stretched her arms up over her head and took in a deep br
eath. “I can’t believe how much better I feel after getting two good nights of sleep.” She looked out to where the sun was glistening on the rolling waves. “Good enough to go for a nice long walk this morning.”

  “A beach walk sounds good to me, too.” Janie set down her coffee cup.

  “How about you, Paul?” Abby called out hopefully.

  “Not right now, honey,” he replied in an automated way.

  Abby made a face. “That’s what he always says.” She lowered her voice. “His cardiologist told him to walk or do light exercise about thirty minutes every day to help his recovery.”

  Janie frowned. “And he’s not doing it?”

  “Not regularly.”

  Janie stood now, strolling into the living room, where she casually shook her finger at Paul. Abby watched in wonder. Was it possible that Janie could get through to him when Abby could not?

  “Paul Franklin!” Janie used a lightly scolding tone. “You need to get up and get moving, old man.”

  He glanced at her with surprise, then tossed a warning look in Abby’s direction. “You two ganging up on me or something?”

  “That’s right,” Janie told him. “Come take a walk with us, Paul. It’s a beautiful day out there, and you could use some fresh air.”

  He made a pout. “But I’m really into this Green Bay game right now.”

  “You can TiVo it and watch it later,” Abby said firmly.

  He let out a low groan. “Give me a break, ladies, the game’s tied and the Packers are about to score. Come on, Sunday’s supposed to be a day of rest.”

  “Oh, Paul!” Abby scowled at him. “How will you possibly get well if you don’t follow the doctor’s instructions?” She turned to Janie. “See what I’m up against? See why I can’t sleep at night?”

  “Lighten up, Abby,” Paul grumbled.

  “I’m just trying to hel—”

  “If you want to help, quit treating me like a child!” He turned up the volume on the TV.