Rescue Me

more moments. “I don’t want to be a damn doper,” he croaked between coughs.
    He was seventy-eight, it wasn’t like he was going to get addicted, and if on the off chance he did, so what? He’d live out the rest of his life pain-free and happy. It might be a nice change. “Daddy, you shouldn’t have to live in pain,” she reminded him, and turned off the water. She moved across the room and set the vase on his bedside table. “Mama’s favorite flowers. I thought they’d add a little color to your room.”
    “Your mama loved white daisies.”
    She looked down at the yellow flowers. “Oh.”
    “White daisies and blue sky. I never saw her when she wasn’t pretty as a silver dollar. Not even in the morning.”
    Sadie thought of her darker roots she was having retouched the next day. She’d pulled her hair into a ponytail and given her lashes a few swipes with mascara. That was it.
    “Sweet as sugar and kind to everyone.”
    “I guess I’m not like her.”
    “No. You’re not like her.” Her father looked at Sadie. “You were never like her. She knew it when you were a baby and stubborn about everything.”
    No, her father would never lie to spare her feelings. “I tried, Daddy.”
    “I know, but it’s not in you.” He picked up the newspaper on the side of his bed and pushed his glasses from the top of his head to the bridge of his nose.
    So maybe she didn’t volunteer at hospitals or animal shelters. Maybe she didn’t cook soup for sick old ladies, but she worked hard and supported herself. “You know, Daddy, the only time I feel like I’m never good enough is when I’m here. I know it might shock you, but there are people who think I’m a smart, capable woman.”
    “No one ever said you weren’t smart and capable.” He opened his paper. “Don’t throw a wide hoop with a short rope. If you feel better about yourself someplace else, then go live your life, Sadie Jo.”
    She was tempted. Tempted to do just that. To just jump in her car and leave Lovett and Texas and her father and the memories and the disappointments.
    Of course she didn’t. She stayed for another hour before she left the hospital and headed home. To the empty house.
    She’d had a good time the night before. There was freedom in a one-night stand. Freedom to be greedy and not worry about feelings or if he’d call again or any of the other things that went with building a relationship. Freedom to wake relaxed, with a smile on her face, and not wait around for a phone call.
    Sadie drove through Lovett on her way home and was tempted to stop by the Gas and Go. She could always use a Diet Coke and a bag of Chee-tos. She wasn’t doing anything that night. Maybe he wasn’t, either, but she’d rather watch prank videos on TV or on YouTube until her eyes bled than stop by the Gas and Go on the pretext of a munchies run.
    When Vince had kissed her good-bye and said thank you one last time, she knew he wasn’t coming back for more. Oh, she knew he’d had a good time, but he hadn’t asked to see her again, or even asked her for her number. She wasn’t mad about it. She wasn’t sad, okay maybe a little sad because she’d prefer to spend the night getting naked than bored out of her head, but she couldn’t be upset. He’d told her it was just about sex. He was free to do other things, as was she, but she didn’t have anything to do. Being back home made it woefully clear that she hadn’t developed any deep friendships in the town where she’d been born and raised. There wasn’t anyone she felt she could just call up for lunch, even if she knew their numbers. The person she’d talked to the most since she’d been back was Vince, and it wasn’t his job to entertain her. Although that would be nice. She was just going to have to figure out something to do with her time before she went insane.
    The next day, after her morning visit to the hospital in Amarillo, she drove three blocks south to the Lily Belle Salon and Spa. She sat in the chair of the owner of the salon and spa herself, Lily Darlington, and relaxed. It had been a while since she’d been in a salon, a black nylon cape covering her from throat to knees. The smell of shampoo and herbal-scented candles, punctuated with perming solution, made her forget her life for a while.
    Sadie had chosen Lily because the woman had really good hair. Thick and healthy and with several different shades of natural-looking blond highlights. Like Sadie, Lily was