“Are you comfortable, Mom?” Sam tucked the blanket around Adeline’s feet as she lay on the couch and watched TV. Concern for his mother filled his mind, but he tried not to show it. He turned his back and wiped his eyes with his sleeve. Adeline’s color was off, and she appeared weaker each day. He didn’t understand why the transfusions hadn’t improved her anemia. A sallow color took over her face, and dark rings circled her eyes. Her infections were getting worse as time went on. Sam tried not to appear shocked when he noticed new problems—red sores erupting from her arms and legs.
“I’m okay, honey, just a little weak today.”
“Let me see your veins.” Sam held his mother’s frail arm. Her skin was paper thin, but her veins were barely noticeable. “You need more fluids. How about vitamin water or a bottle of that electrolyte drink?”
“I’ll take the raspberry vitamin water.”
“Sure thing.” Sam pushed off the couch and entered the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator door, moved the three pints of new blood to the side, and grabbed a bottle of vitamin water. He cracked open the lid and stuck a straw in then returned to the living room. “Let me prop you up a little so you can drink this.”
She groaned with every movement as he placed pillows behind her back. The cancer was spreading throughout her body. She was deteriorating fast.
All she needs is more blood. Two transfusions a day will keep her alive. I’m taking another pint from each girl tomorrow.
“Tonight you’re getting another transfusion. I need to dial in the right amount to keep you healthy, Mom. I don’t think you’re getting enough new blood.”
“Are you sure, Sam? Taking too much from them and giving me more than you should doesn’t sound like a good idea. We may all die.”
“Give me a little time to research this. Why not take a nap? I’m going to be on the computer for a bit, anyway.”
“I will if you stay in the living room with me.”
“Not a problem. I’ll bring the laptop out here.”
Sam took notes as he searched the Internet. Two hours had passed, and the clock let out six deep chimes. Sam glanced at his mom, still fast asleep. He’d wake her soon and give her dinner and plenty of fluids. The Internet search did little to soothe his anxiety, but he really hadn’t expected it to. His mother needed more blood, that was all there was to it. And to support the household and the girls in the workroom with healthy food and drinks, he’d have to sell at least half the blood he was drawing from them. He couldn’t bring more women home. Three was already too many. One might have to die after all.
Sam rubbed his pounding head. Worry had overtaken his mind, and his headaches occurred more frequently. He tipped the aspirin bottle and shook out four tablets. He washed them down with the glass of tepid water that had been sitting on the end table for two hours.
His thoughts turned to Molly. She had been with him the longest and had said she felt weaker. Since Monday, he had drawn three pints of blood from her, and her veins were collapsing. Pretty soon they would be all but gone. Molly had to die.
Sam rose from the recliner and walked quietly out of the living room. A linen closet stood at the end of the hallway. He opened the louvered door and pulled out one queen-sized blue sheet and a white full-sized sheet. He’d drape them between Molly and the other girls so they couldn’t see what he was about to do. He remembered that a bucket of clothespins always sat on a shelf by the back door of the garage. Months ago, when Adeline was still healthy, she’d hang the wet laundry on the clothesline behind the house. Sam smiled at the memories of better days. Adeline had always loved the fresh scent of air-dried sheets.
With the linens draped over his arm, he tiptoed through the laundry room and into the garage. He closed the door at his back. With the bucket of clothespins in hand, Sam unlocked the workroom and went inside. He flipped on the light, waking the women.
Molly squinted. “What are you doing with that stuff?”
“I’m sectioning off the room.”
“Why?”
“Don’t worry about it.” Sam took a length of rope and wove it through an eye hook against the wall. He stretched the rope across the room and threaded it through another eye hook. He pulled it tight then knotted it. With each sheet folded over the rope and secured with clothespins, he’d sectioned off the room perfectly. Molly couldn’t see Kristen and Bethany, and they couldn’t see her.
Sam walked out and locked the door behind him then went back into the house to start dinner. He peeked around the living room corner, Adeline’s eyes were still closed.
He opened the cabinet above the stove and pulled out the bottle of succinylcholine and a clean syringe. After dinner, Molly would get the needle, and he’d take her blood for the last time.