Forever Friends Read Online Free Page A

mind.
    â€œI am so grateful, Dr. Morgan. I couldn’t have made this journey without you,” she said, laying her hands across her lap, trying to be pleased. “You have been extraordinary.”
    The physician smiled. “It is always a pleasure to deliver favorable results.” He picked up her chart again, checking over the reports.
    â€œI don’t think you need to come back for a year.” He flipped the pages one after the other. “Mrs. Peele, I am officially releasing you until your next annual physical exam.” And he wrote a note in the chart and closed it.
    â€œAnd, Margaret,” he peered at her intently, “try not to worry about things anymore.”
    His patient stood up. It startled her that he had noticed her anxiety, and she wondered if he had in fact discovered it or if this was what he said to every patient he dismissed. She nodded, without question, and tried to begin to honor his advice.
    â€œI will do my best,” she responded, feeling a forgotten lightness in her chest. And suddenly the silence between them became awkward.
    â€œWell, nothing personal, Dr. Morgan, but I’m really glad that I don’t have to see you any time soon.”
    He pushed his chair away from the desk and walked around to where Margaret was standing. He held out his hand. “It is not taken personally.”
    The woman reached for his hand and then wrapped her arms around him in a hug. She pulled away, astonishing even herself, and then retreated. “Thank you again,” she said, a bit embarrassed.
    â€œYou’re welcome.” And he headed over and opened the door. “Stop by the nurses’ station and ask them for a little peroxide to get out that stain.” He pointed to her arm.
    She noticed the spot on her blouse again.
    Then he asked, “So, what will you do now?”
    The older woman moved toward the door. “I’m not sure,” she replied. “Maybe I’ll take up tap dancing or roller skating.” She did not mention trying to mend the hole in her heart, sewing together the fraying strings of her faith, or recovering the loss of peace. She did not ask what he suggested for such intensive repair.
    â€œWell, just make sure you wear knee and elbow pads,” he answered. “For the skating,” he added. “I don’t guess the dancing could be dangerous.”
    She waved and faced the hallway. “At my age, doctor, anything could be dangerous.” Then she paid her bill and walked toward the main office, forgetting all about the bloodstain.
    Louise, Jessie, and Beatrice were sitting in the first row of chairs, reading books and turning pages in magazines. Margaret watched them for a few minutes, imagining their reactions; and she stood at a distance, just savoring the thought of telling them.
    She loved looking at these women, her three best friends. Louise, square and broad and always acting tough, a woman’s woman with the heart of a child. Jessie, tall with wide sweeping arms that reached around any hurt thing. A smile that could not be contained. And Beatrice, short and round, her smooth hands and blue eyes always busy to temper sorrow. Margaret loved seeing them there, knowing they were waiting for her, hoping for good news. She studied them, the familiarity of their faces, the short hairstyles, still a reminder of what they had given to her when they’d shavedtheir heads after her surgery. She stood at the door and remembered how fortunate she was to have such women in her life. Forever friends, they called themselves, because they knew what they had would last.
    Earlier in the month, when she first knew about the appointment, she had told the women that it wasn’t necessary for them to come with her, that she was fine to go to this visit alone. But Jessie had shaken her head, waving her off, Louise had spat out some obscenity, and Beatrice had simply pretended not to hear. Even Charlotte had written