CHAPTER 1

Marsha Winthrop Dies

Dorothy, an attractive woman in her late fifties, carefully replacesthe soup pot back on the gas stove in her home so as not to spill anythingon her long sleeved, collared shirt that could probably pass for a man's shirtif it wasn't a light peach color. She also wears loose fitting denim pantsthat vaguely resemble the bell bottom disco jeans she wore during thenineteen-seventies when she was a teenager and considerably thinner.

Then, after removing a black leather doctor's bag from the adjoiningpantry, she places it on the kitchen table next to where her slender son issitting. She wished he were stouter like his father so she could imaginehow his plaid woolen shirt makes him look like a lumberjack beforethinking, My son is too delicate for such things.

Taking a glass mercury thermometer from the bag, she inserts itinto her son's mouth. She hears Steve sniffling as he reluctantly holds thethermometer under his tongue while idly stirring his chicken soup.

Pulling her dark brown hair behind her ears to get it out of theway, Dorothy inventories the contents of the doctor's bag as she waitsfor the thermometer to register Steve's temperature. When Dorothyremoves the thermometer from his mouth, she sees him slouch overhis soup looking at the bowl like he has no appetite. As she reads thethermometer, she taps Steve's boney shoulder with her fingertips to makehim self-consciously sit up straight.

Dorothy sighs, "A little warm, but you'll be all right."

She notices he absently listens while cooling his soup by raising onespoonful after another with his long thin gentle fingers before tippingthe liquid back into the bowl.

After cleaning the thermometer and replacing it in the doctor's bag,Dorothy walks to the pantry. Returning with some expendable medicalsupplies, she starts restocking the bag as Steve involuntarily overseeswith his inquisitive eyes.

While organizing the medical supplies, Dorothy says, "A good nursekeeps everything in its place." Interrupted by the ringing of a cheapplastic phone that hangs on the wall by the kitchen doorway, she answersit as Steve returns to cooling his soup.

Listening to his mom speaking on the phone, Steve watches her twirlthe extension cord with her fingers as he realizes she is volunteering himfor something.

Returning, she says, "Old Mrs. Winthrop didn't make herappointment and she's not answering her phone, so I said you'd go andcheck on her."

Slouching again, Steve answers, "Mom, it's snowing, and I got acold."

Turning to the hall closet, Dorothy pulls out Steve's big down wintercoat before holding it up for him to put on. After Steve reluctantly standsand slides into his red jacket that is accented with white, light reflectivestripes, Dorothy walks around him approvingly before picking up themedical bag, handing it to him, and saying, "Mrs. Winthrop is ninetyyears old, and after we practically lived with her in that mansion for thefirst twenty years of your life, that makes her family."

Taking the bag, Steve answers reluctantly, "I'll go. Don't remind mehow `she treats me like one of her own grandchildren.'"

Stopping him at the door, Dorothy looks him over before straighteninghis coat. She runs her hand from shoulder to shoulder across the wordRescue emblazoned in big black letters on his back while saying, "Nowbe a good nurse like your mother and go and find out what's the matterwith Mrs. Winthrop."

"OK, Mom," Steve sighs while kissing her on the cheek beforeopening the door.

Dorothy lovingly watches her son crunch down three inches of freshsnow under his black leather boots with each step as she shivers from thecold blast of air while slowly closing the door.

Steve reluctantly walks to his converted SUV as his closely cut blackhair catches numerous snowflakes floating in the crisp air. He brushes afew of the frosty hitchhikers from his nose before opening the door andclimbing into his brightly painted red and gold response vehicle.

* * *

On the way to Mrs. Winthrop's house, Steve drives carefully on thepowdered snow and feels happy to be observing the beauty of nature whilethinking, Everything is covered with a fresh dusting of undisturbed snow andwonderful, soft, puffy flakes are drifting down in the silent air. Suddenly, hisattention is diverted by radio traffic coming from his emergency radiobolted to the dashboard as the police report a spin out.

Once they are finished talking about the accident, Steve reaches forhis handset hanging on the radio and broadcasts, "Snow...