Several days later Ilse was outside, talking to one of the delivery guys about the temperature of the milk he’d just delivered. It wasn’t as cold as it should have been. She happened to glance around and saw Keith walking across the parking lot, using his crutches. She stopped and stared, amazed to see him as mobile as he was, and she was drawn to the intent expression on his face.
“So, is that everything then?” the delivery driver asked impatiently.
She nodded. “For the moment.” She signed the bottom of the paperwork, handed it off, then turned and walked across to where Keith was heading. “Hey, it’s great to see you up and walking so fast,” she called out.
He looked back at her and smiled. “I just wanted a bit of fresh air, and, while I was out here, I just started to feel right,” he said, with a half shrug. “And, when so much of the world feels wrong, I decided to just follow my instincts and walk a bit.”
“You were moving really fast,” she said. “It’s really great to see.”
He smiled and nodded. “It feels really good too.”
She looked down at her watch and asked, “Did you get lunch?”
“Not yet,” he said. “I was waiting for the crowd to die down.”
“Right,” she said, glancing back at the crates that had been just unloaded and were now being moved inside.
“Delivery day?” he asked.
“It seems like every day is delivery day,” she said, “but today was dairy, yes.”
“Ah, the all-important milk,” he said.
“If you were drinking the milk, like you’re supposed to be for your bones,” she said, “you’d understand.”
“Most milk doesn’t get along with my stomach,” he said. “Sorry.”
“It doesn’t matter to me,” she said, “as long as you’re healthy and eating properly.”
“Well, I’m certainly eating,” he said. “The properly part I don’t know about. You guys sure put out a ton of food every day though.”
“We try,” she said. “Is there any particular dish that you’re missing?”
He looked at her in surprise. “Fish and chips,” he said instantly.
She stared at him and chuckled at his quick response. “Well, I’m glad I asked then,” she said. “That’s easy enough to do.”
“Is it? For this many people?”
“Well, we’ll do what we can, and, if we run out, plenty of other food is there,” she said comfortably.
He nodded. “So, when can we have it?” he asked, as he wiggled his eyebrows at her.
“Give me at least two days,” she said, laughing. “I have to check on my whitefish supply.”
“I would think you probably keep that stocked pretty heavily,” he said. “Seems like there’s fish or seafood of some kind most every day.”
“There is,” she said, “but I mix it up. And the best fish for fried fish isn’t the same kind I use for steamed or baked.”
“You’re the chef,” he said. “I have no idea.”
Just then he took a step, and it must have twisted his back wrong. He froze and gasped at the pain, which bleached the color from his face. She wanted to reach out and help him but instinctively knew that would be the wrong reaction. “Just take a few minutes to breathe,” she said, her tone calm and controlled. “Everything will be better in a minute.”
He groaned. “Who told you that lie?”
She chuckled. “Sometimes we just move too quickly in the wrong direction, and then we pay for it.”
“Which is exactly what I just did,” he said. Using his crutches, he moved over a few steps closer to the building. “I’ll just sit here for a minute.” He put the crutches to the side and slowly lowered himself to the top of the waist-high stone wall.
She came over and sat beside him. “It’s nice enough out to just sit here anyway,” she said, turning her face up to the sun.
“I should have brought something to drink with me,” he said.
“Tell me what you want,” she said. “I’ll go into the kitchen and get it.”
He stared at her in surprise, looked at the big open doors to the side, and nodded. “I wasn’t even thinking, but it makes sense that you’d have delivery trucks come in right by the kitchen area.”
“That’s our warehouse room where we keep our stores,” she said. “Plus we have walk-in coolers and freezers.”
“Could I get some juice and even some water?” he asked.
She hopped to her feet. “Perfect. I’ll be back in five.” She walked toward the kitchen. Everybody must have intentionally ignored her as she walked through. She just shrugged and didn’t say anything and headed to the fridge. Pulling out two cold bottles of water and a cold bottle of juice, she turned and walked back out again. Complete silence followed her.
Once outside, she handed him one of each. Popping the cap off the juice, he took a big long drink. When he was done, he smiled. “Somehow that makes everything seem so much better.”
“Now, chase that down with water,” she instructed.
“You worried about my blood sugar?”
“Only if you tell me there’s a reason to be worried about your blood sugar,” she said, studying him carefully. “Is there?”
He laughed. “Nope. No blood sugar issues.”
“That’s good,” she said, “because your diet would need to change if there were.”
“I know. No sweets, minimal carbs, and definitely no refined carbs.”
“And up the protein and veggies,” she said.
He drained half the bottle of water and then relaxed enough to sit back with a happy sigh. “It’s really nice out here,” he said. “I know it’s a parking lot with traffic coming and going, but, because we’re a little bit elevated, it gives us a nice view of the whole pasture area and the animals.” He pointed out the horses. “I have yet to ask anybody about those.”
“Generally they’re Dani’s horses, but she also brings in a few rescues to be helped out. That’s how the llama, Lovely, got here. Seems it was really good friends with the Appaloosa down there, who goes by Appie, by the way. The two came together.”
“Well, at least they’re here, and they’ll have a better life. I have no clue where they were before this,” he said, “but I’m sure it wasn’t anywhere near as nice as the life they have now.”
“I’m certain you’re right about that,” she said. Laughing, she added, “See that little strawberry-blond filly down there? Somebody was keeping her as an inside pet.”
He looked at her in horror.
She nodded and went on. “Obviously she grew too big to be indoors. Her hooves were in really bad shape. It’s taken a long time to get them straightened up, but Stan has been working on it.”
“I would love to make it down to where my sister works and spend some time with the animals. She brought this monstrous rabbit into my room.” He shook his head and laughed about it.
“Hoppers?”