“What?” Blanche snapped.
SUTURE SELF
201
“What did happen with Dr. Van Boeck? Was it a
stroke?” Judith asked, hoping she exhibited sympathy.
“Not precisely,” Blanche replied, finally lowering her
voice. “He was . . . overcome. They took him to the OR
merely as a precaution. My husband suffers from high
blood pressure. His medication needs adjusting. But,”
she went on, whirling around to look at Renie again, “it
was a very near thing. That doesn’t let you off the hook.”
Blanche Van Boeck stalked out.
“Dammit,” Renie cried, “that woman
She’s just that ornery.”
“She won’t win,” Judith said. “She admitted that Dr.
Van Boeck has a preexisting condition.”
“Bill and I don’t need the aggravation,” Renie declared, then frowned. “I can’t stop thinking about Bill
and those Chihuahuas. What do you think he’s doing?”
“Call him, ask,” Judith suggested.
Renie shook her head. “You know how Bill hates to
talk on the phone. He doesn’t answer it most of the
time. I’ll wait until he calls me.”
“He’s probably just amusing himself,” Judith said.
“He’s housebound, you’re not around, the kids may be
getting on his nerves.”
“Maybe.” Renie, however, was still frowning.
“When I went to see Addison Kirby this morning, he
didn’t mention that he couldn’t use his phone.”
“He may have just thought the system was fouled
up,” Judith said. “You know, the weather and all.”
“Yes,” Renie said absently as Mr. Mummy again
poked his head in the door.
“I thought I’d see if you two were all right,” he said,
looking worried. “You’ve had a lot of commotion in
the last hour. I saw Mrs. Van Boeck. Did she say how
her husband was doing?”
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Mary Daheim
“Tolerably,” Renie replied as Mr. Mummy limped
into the room on his cast. “As near as I can tell, he blew
a gasket.”
Mr. Mummy seemed mystified, but smiled. “Mrs.
Van Boeck appeared quite disturbed. Was she upset
about her husband?”
“She was upset with me,” Renie said. “She’s going
to sue me for causing her husband to have a fit. But it
really wasn’t my fault.”
“Of course not,” Mr. Mummy soothed, approaching
the foot of Renie’s bed. “I’m sure Dr. Van Boeck is
