The Healing Read Online Free

of them seemed to be floating in some kind of limbo, waiting to see if they could nestle themselves into some mode of contentment. At this point, even a mundane complacency would have been acceptable.
    So much for appreciating her surroundings and feeling at home.
    Lori’s Honda pulled into the driveway around five-thirty. Karen’s stomach clenched, not because of her daughter’s emotional instability, but because it was getting harder to keep from going over that edge herself. Lately she couldn’t help but wish Lori was stronger so she didn’t have to walk on eggshells all the time. Everyone around her was so fragile.
    Karen could predict every frame of the ensuing scene. She watched her daughter get out of her car and then march over to the dog run next to the garage. That was where Luka, the family’s lovable, slobbering black Lab, whizzed back and forth on her chain until Lori came home to set her free. Once liberated, Luka came bounding across the lawn to lick Karen’s face and neck. It was the same every day. Karen quickly moved the food out of the way and tried not to grimace.
    Her stoic efforts were lost on her daughter, who was a staunch animal lover.
    â€œWhy do you insist on keeping her on that stupid run all day?” Lori asked. “She doesn’t even have enough shade over there. For God’s sake, Mom, she’s black. How would you like to be out in the hot sun in a black coat all day long?”
    Karen didn’t have an answer. Day in and day out, she tried to explain to her daughter that Luka was too big and clumsy to be in the house all day, that she had to be tied up outside when the health aide came, and that living so close to the main road was a danger to a dog who thought the whole neighborhood was her territory. But Lori, as usual, believed her dog was neglected and maltreated while she was off working as a waitress at a local seafood restaurant.
    When Luka began sniffing around frantically, Karen became alarmed. “Don’t let her near that grill!”
    â€œShe smells the food,” Lori replied. “She’s probably starving.”
    â€œWell, if I give her anything from the table other than filet mignon, you tell me I’m killing her.” Karen realized she had to redirect the conversation, so she asked, “How was work?”
    â€œBusy,” Lori replied. “But at least the tips were good.”
    Karen jumped on the positive response. “That’s great. I guess the summer tourists are going to make you richer over the next few months.”
    Lori squatted down to shower more affection on her dog. If she were able to relate half as well to human beings as she did to members of the animal kingdom, she would’ve been more socially at ease. “That used to be us, remember? Summer tourists.”
    Luka seemed more interested in belly rubs than the salad, so Karen figured it was safe to resume cutting cucumbers. “I still feel a little like a summer tourist,” she confessed. “I guess we have to go through a winter before we’re really locals.”
    Lori straightened up, and the dog immediately went into orbit around her feet. “Is Daddy inside?” she asked, leaning forward to steal a few slices of cucumber from the bowl.
    Karen was tempted to slap her daughter’s dog-slathered hands away from the food, but she refrained. “Yes, he’s inside. Where else would he be?”
    â€œYou’ve got Luka baking in the sun when she should be inside and Daddy inside when he should be out here with you.”
    Karen clearly heard the accusation in Lori’s remark, but she let it roll off her. Lori had to blame somebody for everything that was wrong in her life, and at the moment Karen had the broadest shoulders.
    She looked up at her daughter, whose resemblance to Mike was so striking. Lori had inherited her father’s dark, wavy hair and deep blue eyes, complete with defined brows and