Chapter 14: Pearl

The second plan began at breakfast, and it began with Pearl.

My phone rang at seven, and it was her sister, in Stratford, crying so hard I could not follow her.

"She grabbed her chest at the stove. The ambulance took her to Bridgeport Hospital."

Anson had the car at the door before I finished dressing.

Pearl lay propped on three pillows in a thin gown, with a clip on her finger and her glasses on their cord.

"I'm fine," she said. "It's indigestion with a fancy name."

"It's a blocked artery," said the cardiologist from the foot of the bed. "We're putting in a stent this afternoon."

"On my insurance, which is a school cook's insurance," Pearl said, "so don't make faces."

I held her hand, and it felt much smaller than I remembered.

A woman from billing came in with a clipboard and an odd expression.

"Mrs. Doyle, the balance on your admission is already settled."

"Settled by whom?" Pearl said.

"A donor to the hospital. She asked us to give you this."

It was a cream envelope, and I knew the paper before I knew the handwriting.

For Pearl, who kept my girl. Please ask Wynne to call me. C.

"That woman," Pearl said, very low.

The room's door swung open, and Yvonne came in with a bouquet of white lilies.

She wore a soft gray coat and no veil, and she smiled at Pearl.

"Pearl. I only wanted to thank you."

"Get out of my room," I said.

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