Umber (67)

Oleander motioned unsteadily toward the table.  We sat, and Benny reappeared with coconut macaroons and a basket of herbal tea bags, saying, “Just ring if you need anything else.”  Then he vanished as quickly as he had appeared.

I looked across the table at Oleander.  She pushed the plate of cookies toward me.

I reached into my handbag and retrieved the photo of her as a young girl with her arms around Silvertip’s neck.  I placed the faded photograph into the old lady’s twitching hand.