Asparagus? Ugh, Landon whined as the woman placed the green spears on his plate.
Mind your manners, young man, Samuel said.
Landon shot a venomous glance toward Caroline, as if she were to blame for the vegetables. Perhaps the kids were not required to eat veggies regularly. Still, the animosity coming off the kid grated on Don. He pinned the boy with a stare until Landon noticed and dropped his gaze to his plate.
Elijahs illness, was it sudden? Don asked Samuel, trying to gage his reaction.
A look of sadness passed over the older mans face. This fall he suffered a nasty bout of pneumonia. According to Dr. Reese, the pneumonia triggered an Addison crisis.
His body attacked his glands and chewed em up like mini, hungry carnivores, Lilly said with relish before stabbing a chunk of meat and devouring it in one bite.
Gross, Landon complained, dropping his fork with a clatter.
Lilly, thats enough, Abigail commanded.
But its true, she countered with a smirk at her brother.
Yes, its true, Samuel said. Fathers body attacked his adrenal glands. Its an autoimmune disease.
Samuel had confirmed what Elijah had said. Don knew very little of the disease but he did know that with proper treatment, people who had it could live fairly normal lives. It didnt make sense that Elijah was still so sick.
Dr. Reese has tried everything to bring the disease under control, but my fathers body isnt cooperating. The sadness in Samuels eyes appeared genuine. But it could have been a trick of the flickering candle flame.
Don met Carolines gaze across the table. Candlelight shadowed the contours of her pretty face but he could see her unspoken concern. Was someone slowly killing Elijah, or was he dying a natural death?
As soon as he could, Don would contact Dr. Reese and find out. But the old man wasnt Dons primary concern.
Caroline needed him to protect her. Hed promised. And he never broke a promise.
Even though his gut instinct screamed for him to get Caroline away from the ominous events unfolding around them.