Edward Unconditionally Common Powers 3 by Lynn Lorenz Page A

of our land is pasture, woods, and rolling hills.” Rush tilted his head as if pondering the question and its meaning.
    “That sounds nice,” Edward said.
    “I'll call you later to give you directions. Give me your cell number,” Brian said. They swapped numbers, and then Edward thanked them and limped up the path to the front door as the two men drove off.
    Despite his run-ins with the jerks at the garage, most of the people he'd met here had been very nice and welcoming. Of course, he hadn't met more than a handful of people, but so far, Hooterville was shaping up nicely.

Chapter Eleven

    Edward expected to smell bacon or sausage cooking when he came in, but only the light scent of lavender caught his nose. Had he been gone too long, and she'd given up on him?
    “Meemaw?” he called out. No answer.
    He went to the kitchen. The paper and her coffee cup sat on the table as if she'd just gotten up and walked off. He turned around and went to the hall, passed his room and the guest bath, and went straight to her room.
    Edward knocked softy on the door. “Meemaw? Are you all right?” After no answer, he opened it and peeked in.
    Olivia lay stretched out on the bed, her arm slung over her eyes.
    “Meemaw?” Edward's stomach dropped. She was so still. So small on the queen-size bed.
    He went to her side and bent over. Taking her hand, he petted the back of it.
    “Meemaw? Are you okay?” Thank God, it was warm.
    Her eyes fluttered and opened. They looked dazed as she searched his face.
    “Edward? You're back.” She sighed. “I'm sorry about breakfast, but I had a bad spell.”
    “I don't care about that. Did you fall? Are you hurt?” He looked her up and down but didn't see any sign of bruises or cuts. “Should I call your doctor?”
    “No.” She shook her head. “I just get weak and have to lie down.” She tried to get up. “I'll get your breakfast now.”
    “You will not!” Edward put his hand on her shoulder and pushed her back gently. “I'm a big boy. I can fend for myself. How about I fix you something?”
    She patted his hand. “No, thanks. I need to rest, and after one of these spells, I can't touch food for a while. Go take care of yourself, child.”
    Edward frowned. “Maybe I'll just get cleaned up and come sit with you.”
    She smiled. “That would be nice; I'd like that.”
    “Be right back.” Edward left, hurried to his room, gathered some clothes, and headed to the bathroom. After a quick shower, he skipped shaving and fussing with his hair, and then tackled the cut on his knee. Once he'd cleaned and bandaged it, he dressed and went back to Olivia's room.
    She was sleeping. Edward slipped into a chair near the bed and watched her. Even, shallow breaths made her chest rise and fall in a steady rhythm. That was good. When she felt better, he'd ask her about the spells.
    The area around her eyes looked sunken, her skin pale, papery, and almost transparent. She looked terribly old, and Edward was struck by her mortality. She'd seemed so alive just this morning. What had reduced her to this in just one short hour?
    Whatever it was, Edward wasn't sure he wanted to tackle it. Not until he understood exactly what “it” was. He needed to speak to her doctor.
    If she had one.
    Surely, she'd been to see a physician about these attacks? His mother ran to the doctor for every ache and pain, real or imagined. But old people were funny sometimes. She'd already said she hated complaining and listening to other old people talk about their illnesses. Did she hate it so much she hadn't gone?
    That he'd have to forge ahead, into a situation he knew nothing about, and try to use his power to heal her, terrified him.
    Like he had with Jack.
    He stared at the woman he'd come to love in just two short days. She'd loved him from the first moment he'd entered her house. Had loved him all along. Edward knew that. He'd felt it in his bones. And in response to that love, he loved her back. She'd accepted him