* * *
Finding Tree Top Jefferson wouldn’t be nearly as easy as finding Richard Anderson’s house. Cole knew people like Jefferson only came out at night, so he drove to Eastwood Convalescent to see Ellie. She dozed softly, the effect of a strong pain pill to help her lower back pain. Hours of sitting in her wheelchair took a toll on her spine and hips. Cole sat for almost three hours watching her sleep.
With her head softly raised by the pillows, Ellie looked peaceful and completely at rest. For the first time since he arrived, Cole saw in this still face the girl and woman he loved. Her face was now smooth, free of the grimace of pain, and the labored twist of muscles as she fought for breath was relaxed. Cole thought of times she napped under a tree in the park when they were supposed to be studying. He drifted back to when she slept after making love and the sound of her feathery breathing on his shoulder.
THIRTEEN
Diamonds and Cole: Cole Sage Mystery #1 Page 18
