PART THREE

PRIVATE REALITY THOUGHTS

Andy awoke slowly to the feel of Nina's restlessly movements. He sat up slowly as he saw the sweat roll of Nina's forehead in droplets. He slowly allowed his hand to run across Nina's waist as he gently removed it. "Oh Nina." He murmured softly as he put his hand against her forehead. He could tell by the glance that her fever had arisen at an alarming rate.

His cell ranged. He quickly grabbed it and flicked it open. "Hello."

"When are you coming home dad?" Ephraim said into the phone.

"I won't be home for a while. Nina's fever went up." Andy said as he watched Nina toss and turn. "If I can't get her fever down than I have to check her into the hospital."

"Is there anything I can do?" Ephraim said.

"Don't tell Sam. Just let him know that his mommy is still resting and that she'll be up and about soon." Andy said. "Son, you may have to keep the home front going till to mower. If you need help; I'll be here. Or call Edna and Herb. Also the Abbotts."

"Sure dad. Hope Nina will be all right soon." Ephraim said into the phone.

"Thanks son." Andy said and after they said good bye he hung up the phone. He slowly got to his feet and walked down the stair case and went into the kitchen. He rubbed his forehead as he looked down at his prescription pad and began to write what he needed. He pulled out his cell phone and called Edna.

"Edna. It's Andy. I need you to come by Nina's and pick up a prescription for me. Thanks Edna." Andy shut his cell phone and waited for his friend and his nurse to arrive.

He went over to the refrigerator and opened it and frowned at what he found inside. He went over to the counter where Nina kept her pad of paper. He picked up the pencil and began to write.

KNOCK KNOCK

Andy walked to the door and opened it to find Edna's stiff military face. "Thanks for getting here so quickly Edna."

"Not a problem Andy. It's my mission to come when I am called." Edna nodded.

"Here are the prescriptions that I need." Andy handed the slips of paper to Edna. "Oh and if it's not too much trouble can you get these items while you wait for the prescriptions to be filled?" He handed over the two page list that he had made.

"Of course." Edna looked at the paper and saw that Andy had written everything that a person would need to fill their refrigerator and cupboards for a month. "I'll be back in a jiffy."

"Oh and Edna here's the money." Andy reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. He handed Edna a few crisp hundred dollar bills. "Please don't tell anyone that it's for Nina."

"Of course not Andy. I would never dream of it." Edna said taking the money from Andy's hands. She stuffed it in her jacket pocket. "How bad is she?"

"Just get back as soon as you can." Andy said.

With a tight nod of her head Edna turned and marched away.

IN TOWN

Linda saw her mother go into the pharmacy as she stepped out of the office. She knew that her mother was running an errand for Andy. She very well knew that Nina was worse than Ephraim had told her that morning. Linda walked towards the pharmacy just as Edna existed. "Hey mom." She called out in a false cheerful voice.

"Linda." Edna turned and smiled at her daughter. "I'm glad to see you. I need your assistants."

"Anything mom." Linda said walking with her mother.

Edna stopped and turned to her daughter. She took out the two page list that Andy had complied. "You take one page." She handed her daughter one page of the list. She pulled out the pile of crisp hundred dollar bills. "Here's the money you will need. Just tell the checker that you are planning a family dinner of something."

"Of course mom." Linda knew insistently that the food was for Nina and that the money was Andy's. She also knew that Andy would never tell Nina that he had paid for her groceries. She walked ahead of her mother into the grocery store and with determined steps she quickly found everything on her half of the list and quickly went though checkout. She just smiled politely and just said that she had to fill up her home for the month was all. She wheeled her basket out of the store and waited for her mother.

Edna came out of the store a few minutes later with a grim face. "Damn, that checker is going to talk. I just hope that the town doesn't figure out that this is for Nina." She softly said as she and Linda wheeled their carts to Edna's car. After loading everything into the back seat she turned back to Linda. "Well I need to get back the pharmacy. The prescriptions should be ready now." She walked towards the pharmacy but stopped short. "Shit. The town is going to put two and two together. Once the damn pharmacist tells someone that I went to pick up Nina's prescriptions."

"Don't worry mom. Everyone in town will just think that Nina gave us the list and money to do her grocery shopping for her. Sides no one would say anything to Nina about the weirdness. Most of the people know how hard Nina Feeney has been working since Carl left her; so she could keep Sam." Linda said with confidence. She had just been back in town for short while; but she had heard people talk about Nina Feeney and not that many people would wish Nina ill in the world.

Linda had known Nina her entire life. How could she not when she had grown up in Ever wood the same time that Nina had. Linda was never friends with Nina in their child hood; why should she have been. It wasn't because Linda's family was rich while Nina's family was in the middle of middle class. It was because Linda was outgoing and total confident in herself; while Nina wasn't into being the most popular girl in town and was not confident in herself. Linda was self assured in herself while Nina was not.

Linda was some what surprised when in high school all the boys flocked to Nina's side. She knew what they saw and everyone else in Nina; but she knew that Nina didn't see that image in herself. Linda knew that although Nina and Carl were perfect on paper for one another; that neither one of them were in love with each other; the love that you would die for one another. Carl was the safety that Nina needed in her life so Nina had chosen Carl over all the other boys who would have been better for her.

Linda had never really thought about Nina in her life; until she came back to Ever wood and started seeing Andy Brown. Andy so happened to be living next door to Nina. When Linda saw Nina once again after all the years she was shocked to see that Nina had blossomed into a beautiful woman. Nina still had major self assurance and self esteem problems. But Linda knew when she saw Andy and Nina together that she had some real competition for Andy. She was prepared to fight for a place in Andy's heart but it shocked her that Nina didn't even fight. Nina just stepped aside.

Linda knew that Nina was separated from her husband; Carl Feeney; so really Nina wasn't in the running to be with Andy. But Linda knew enough about the world that wouldn't stop most women. So she was prepared to throw Carl's name in Nina's face repeating. But she came to realize that Nina wasn't even ready to fall in love again. Or admit to herself that she was in love. Not when she was dealing with the fact that her husband was gay. Linda felt horrible for her thoughts on Nina Feeney and realized that she, Linda, was not in the position to win Andy from Nina anyways. Not with her HIV status.

Linda had finally decided to enjoy her time with Andy for as long as she had it. Because she knew that the real ship would end. It would have to end because there was truly no future for them. Linda shook herself out of her thoughts as her mother came towards her once again.

"Well I'm off." Edna said. She got into her car.

"See you mom." Linda shut the door and watched as her mother started up the car and drove off.

END PART THREE