Chapter 47

Truth is, even though she doesn't bring it up, Estelle's greatly concerned over Nadine's faltering health. She's much thinner and frailer in appearance these days; while displaying a distinctively jaundiced coloring and seeming permanent dark rings embedded under her eyes brought about from lack of sleep due to her inability to get comfortable from the aching pain she frequently experiences. But Estelle doesn't bring these concerns up with Nadine; keeping them to herself. Adele's even starting to worry about her sickly-looking friend. She still believes Nadine when she tells her that the medicine's going to make her better; but she's wondering when that's going to happen. All Adele's been able to notice recently is that Nadine appears sicker than before she started the treatments. But, like her grandmother, she won't bring up her concerns with Nadine; she just continues being there for her like she promised Corrine she would be. Corrine's dropping off Nadine for another weekend stay at the Wilson's. They're accompanied by a longtime friend of Corrine's. "Adele, this is Missy; Corrine's friend." It being their first acquaintance, Adele lowers her eyes slightly downward…though not as far down as she used to before Nadine started helping Adele build up her confidence and feel more comfortable around people…and gradually extends her hand out to shake hands with Missy. Adele softly says… "It's very nice to meet you, Missy." "Likewise…I heard a lot of nice things about you, Adele." Missy takes a closer look at Adele's glasses and admiringly smiles. "I love your glasses." Adele delicately takes hold of each of the glasses' arms and, while still looking downward, sounding as if she finds it hard to believe anybody else would actually like them besides her, timidly asks, "Really?" "Yeah…I'm into that whole Vintage fashion-look. Those were from when…the 50's…or 60's?" "The 50's…" she slowly raises her head and looks Missy directly in the face; then proudly states, "They belonged to my Grandpa Joe." Nadine remarks, "I didn't know you can wear someone else's glasses." Corrine replies, "Sure you can…as long as you both need the same kind of lenses." Nadine takes hold of Adele's hand. "Wow, Adele; so you have the same exact vision that your Grandpa Joe had? That's so neat." Adele immediately looks down to the floor and gently bites down on her lip; which makes Nadine curious. "What's the matter, Adele?" Estelle quips, "Oh, she just embarrass ‘cause her secret may come out." Adele sharply turns to face Estelle, "Grandma." Corrine innocently jests, "Secret? Ooo…what secret?" Adele pulls her hand from Nadine's and rushes over to the dining room table; where she plops down in a chair and begins to pout. Corrine realizes that she has inadvertently struck a nerve, and feels bad about kidding Adele about the aforementioned secret. "I'm sorry, Adele…I was just playing around. I didn't mean to upset you. Forgive me?" "Corrine, girl, please. You don't need to apologize to that child." Estelle walks over and playfully runs her hand back and forth through Adele's hair as she informs them, "She just making a fuss over nothing. See…she don't need them glasses. She just wear ‘em ‘cause she think they make her look smarter." Nadine walks over to Adele. "Adele…is that true? You don't need to wear glasses?" Adele hesitantly looks up to Nadine, looking like a puppy that was just caught in the act of misbehaving, and meekly mutters, "Yeah." Nadine can tell from the expression on her face that Adele's somehow ashamed over this. She tenderly strokes Adele's cheek with the palm of her hand. "That's okay, Adele. But could you do me a favor?" "What?" "Take them off…just for a minute." Adele slowly removes the glasses, exposing two of the most mesmerizing, softest brown eyes that Nadine has ever seen. They say that "the eyes are the windows to the soul"; and in Adele's case, that adage couldn't be any truer. Staring into those two perfectly shaped, beguiling orbs one can't help but to see the innocent purity of the essence exuding out from her inner soul through them; as they display a sincerely gentle kindness that can rarely be found in most people. "I knew it. Adele…you've got pretty eyes."