The First Ladies Club Box Set

by J B Hawker

  “Was she anyone we know?” Bitsy asked.

  “I didn’t recognize her. She looked like, well, she was wearing a lot of mismatched clothes that didn’t really fit her, and she was awfully messy...dirty even,” Astilbe said. “I couldn’t even really tell you what color her hair was.”

  “Sounds like another homeless junkie to me,” Bitsy said, dismissing the woman. “You’d better start cleaning the empty exam rooms. We have patients waiting to see Doctor.”

  Although the waiting room had been empty when Astilbe came in, she didn’t question this, but tucked her backpack under a counter in the reception area and shrugged into a smock to begin the sanitation process.

  “Don’t homeless people deserve to be taken care of?” she asked Gwennie.

  “Of course, they do, hon,” Gwennie replied. “Don’t pay any attention to Bitsy. You did good.”

  Astilbe smiled her thanks and went to work.

  *

  “Mom, I’m home!” Astilbe called out as she dropped her backpack in the entry after work.

  “Come to the table, dear. Dinner’s ready,” Judy said, stepping out of the kitchen with a covered casserole dish in oven-mitted hands. “What made you so late?”

  “Wash your hands, Astilbe,” Ken reminded from his seat at the head of the dining room table. “Don’t keep the family waiting, please.”

  Astilbe ran water over her hands at the kitchen sink, dried them quickly on the apron Judy had left on the counter and slipped into her place at the dinner table.

  “Sorry, I’m late, but I had to finish the exam rooms and I got to the doctor’s office late, so I...” she began.

  “Dear Lord,” her father intoned over her explanation, beginning the family dinnertime prayer.

  Astilbe stopped talking and ducked her head. Clasping her hands together in her lap, she waited impatiently for her father to finish.

  “...Amen.”

  “So, anyway,” she continued. “I was late because I found this woman on the sidewalk on my way to work and I couldn’t just leave her there, so I called Tessa and her dad came and took her away and I had to carry all my books ‘cuz Patsy left the car locked and the key was in her locker, and I had to run to get to work and they were really heavy and I thought I might faint, and then I had to do the exam rooms and there was a bunch of filing and that’s why I was late for dinner,” Astilbe spun her tale before grabbing a multi-grain roll from the basket on the table and taking a huge bite.

  “What are you talking about?” Paisley asked. “What woman on the sidewalk? Do you mean you’re finding bodies, now, too? You are so-o-o like Mom.”

  “Mmph,” her sister started to speak, gulped, swallowed, and tried again, “Not a dead woman, silly. But she was just lying there, really sick. Nurse Bitsy said the woman was probably drunk or drugged, but she couldn’t possibly know that.”

  “Let me understand,” Ken said. “You encountered a woman on your way to the doctor’s office. She was ill, so you called for help. Very commendable.”

  “Like the Good Samaritan,” Judy offered. “We’re proud of you, dear.”

  “Who was the sick woman?” Paisley asked. “Did you find out what was the matter with her?”

  “No, Deputy Williams told me to go and he’d take care of her. But I feel sort of responsible for her, you know? I mean, because I found her and all. Mom, can you talk to Deputy Williams tomorrow and find out how she is and everything? Maybe there’s something she needs, and we can maybe help her or something,” Astilbe said.

  “I can ask about the woman when I do my hospital visits tomorrow morning,” Ken said. “No need to bother your mother or Williams.”

  “Will you call Mom right away and let her know what you find out?” Astilbe asked.

  “Of course, pass the meatloaf, please,” Ken said, then turned to Judy. “I suppose this is meatloaf?”

  “Well, sort of, I mean, it tastes like meat, right? But the ground nuts and herbs are so much healthier for us,” she replied. “Don’t you like it?”

  “Paisley, please hand me the ketchup. I can eat almost anything your mother cooks, if there is enough ketchup.”

  Paisley thought her father was being just a bit unkind. The ersatz meatloaf was good, and he was having his third helping, so he must like it, too. She had begun to think the on-going squabble over food was just some sort of game her parents played. She would never understand adults.

  “May I be excused? I’ve got a paper to finish,” she asked, getting up and taking her dishes into the kitchen.

  At the foot of the stairs, Paisley stumbled into Astilbe’s backpack and turned to her sister, “Sorry about not giving you the car keys, Sis. Your backpack feels like it has a ton of rocks inside.”

  When both their daughters had gone upstairs and the dinner dishes were cleared away, Judy and Ken sat in the living room; Ken reading and Judy watching a home decorating program.

  “You see that grouping of empty picture frames the decorator used there? I did that in Astilbe’s room years ago...before she went all mid-century modern on me. It must be so satisfying to have one of these decorating programs. What I’d like is to show people how to make really cute decor by re-purposing and re-using other folks’ discards. That would be fun and a really helpful show,” Judy said.

  Ken grunted without looking up from his book and Judy rolled her eyes.

  “I guess I’ll go on up to bed. I must be getting old; I’m so tired these days.”

  Ken looked up at her comment. “If you are getting old, what does that make me?”

  Standing, he wrapped his arms around Judy and nuzzled her neck, “You can’t ever get old, my precious darling. You are my fountain of youth,” he said, giving her a kiss before patting her on the bottom to send her on her way.

  Judy laughed a “good-night” to him as she climbed the stairs, but Ken’s comment bothered her a bit. Mr. Jones followed her on his short legs, struggling to keep up. She paused at the landing, sat on the top step and pulled the dog onto her lap. “Does Ken want me to act like a child forever?” she whispered, scratching the animal’s ears.

  *

  The next morning, Ken Falls was in his office, where he had been working for a couple of hours preparing for the mid-week Bible study, when he suddenly remembered to call his wife. After several rings, Judy answered.

  “Hello? Uh, I mean, Pastor Falls residence. This is Judy,” she finally managed.

  “Did I get you at a bad time?” Ken asked. “You sound breathless.”

  “I was in the garden. When I heard the phone, I jumped up too quickly, I guess. I got a little dizzy and my feet were tangled in the hose, or something. I fell into the strawberry bed. I’m covered with berry juice. Clumsy me, I probably look like I’ve been attacked with an ax,” she laughed.

  “But you are okay, right? You aren’t hurt?” Ken asked.

  “No, I’m fine, really. Why did you call?”

  “You wanted to know about that woman Astilbe helped yesterday. I asked about her at the hospital this morning. Apparently, she was under the influence, as Bitsy Owens suspected, but she is also suffering from malnutrition and pneumonia, so they admitted her. They don’t like to give out patient info, but since I’m chaplain-on-call this month, the nurse let me take a peek at the chart.”

  “Oh, dear. The poor thing! Is she a local woman?” Judy asked.

  “Says her name’s Hester Prynne, but that’s probably a pseudonym. She didn’t have any ID on her.”

  “What about next-of-kin? Who did she give as a contact?” Judy asked.

  “Nathaniel Hawthorne, naturally. As I said, she’s not giving out her real name.”

  “Perhaps she has a good reason to remain anonymous,” Judy said. “I’m volunteering in the hospital nursery, rocking the preemies, this afternoon. I think I will look in on Miss Prynne while I’m there. Everyone needs to see a friendly visitor when they are in the hospital.”

  “Well, don’t get too involved. We don’t know what sort of
person she might be. I’ve got a noon meeting today, so I won’t be home for lunch. See you tonight...try not to let any wild garden hoses attack you,” Ken teased and returned to his study notes.

  Judy hung up the phone, then went out to the garden to assess the damage to her strawberry bed.

  Mr. Jones greeted her, tail wagging and snout covered with dirt.

  “Oh, Mr. Jones! What have you been up to?” she asked the dog when she saw a fresh mound of dirt where her radicchio plants had been.

  She dropped to her knees and attempted to rescue her young plants. Mr. Jones flopped to the ground beside her, rolling onto his back in contrite submission. Judy looked ruefully at the wilted plants, then laughed and rubbed the dog’s belly.

  “Oh well, ‘the Lord giveth and the dog taketh away’ I suppose. C’mon Mr. J., we need to wash off this topsoil and get ready for lunch. I’ve got some lovely meatless meatballs I think you might like to share with me.”

  *

  Judy walked into the hospital that afternoon wearing a yellow sprigged granny dress with a coral colored crocheted shawl around her shoulders and red strawberry stains under her fingernails.

  Judy approached the nurses’ station and waited to get the attention of the duty nurse seated behind the counter.

  “Can I help you, Mrs. Falls?” the nurse asked with a smile. She recognized Judy from her many visits to the hospital, either with her husband or when volunteering.

  “Hi, Amy. My daughter found an ill woman who’d collapsed on the sidewalk yesterday. Ken says she’s been admitted under the name Hester Prynne. I wondered if I might drop in on her, if she’s able to have visitors?”

  The nurse checked her computer screen and nodded. “She is in serious but stable condition, but she has no restrictions on visitors. She’s in 308B, just down this hall.”

  “Thanks!” Judy said and walked toward the room.

  She rapped softly on the partially open door and peeped in. The bed closest to the door was unoccupied. Walking around the dividing curtain, Judy saw the woman calling herself Hester Prynne.

  The woman’s eyes were closed. She was so pale and emaciated that only her labored breathing offered evidence she was alive.

  “Hester?” Judy spoke softly, so as not to disturb her if she was asleep.

  The woman’s eyelids fluttered, and she peered at her visitor for a moment before closing them again.

  Judy was trying to decide if she should leave when Hester spoke.

  “Do I know you?” she rasped without opening her eyes.

  “No, we’ve never met, Miss Prynne. My name is Judy. Judy Falls. It was my daughter, Astilbe, who found you and called for help.”

  The woman breathed deeply, as though building her strength before speaking.

  “She looking for a reward?” she asked.

  “No, no. Nothing like that! She was worried about you. She would have come herself, but she’s in class. I had to come by the hospital, anyway, so I thought I’d see how you are doing,” Judy said.

  “I’m doing just peachy. You can tell her I’m doing just peachy,” Hester spat out, breathlessly.

  “Well, I’m glad you are improving. I’ve got to go, now, but I’ll stop back before I leave the hospital, if you don’t mind.”

  The woman frowned before asking, “What are you hanging around the hospital for?”

  “I volunteer in the NICU, holding and rocking the preemies,” Judy replied with a smile.

  “You’re a regular Lady Bountiful, aren’t you?”

  “Why, no. I do it for me, as much as for the little ones. I love the peaceful time I spend cuddling their sweet, tiny bodies.”

  Hester moaned softly and turned her head away from Judy, weakly waving her away.

  “You rest, now. I’m sorry I wore you out. I’ll peek in on you before I go, just to see if you need anything. Goodbye,” Judy said and walked eagerly toward the neonatal nursery.

  Chapter 8

  Across town, Melissa entered the Pastor’s Study of the First Baptist Church and greeted her husband.

  “I thought you were supposed to have a secretary by now, Jorge,” she said, after walking through the empty outer office. “Where is she?”

  “The Board is still working on the budget. We need to see how many hours we can afford before we can hire anyone,” Jorge replied, walking around the desk to drop a kiss on Melissa’s cheek.

  “But they promised! That was one of our stipulations, remember? You vowed I would not be expected to be your unpaid staff at this church. I didn’t earn my degree to waste it typing up church bulletins and newsletters.”

  “Calm down. Have I asked you to do any secretarial work for me?” Jorge said. He resumed his seat behind the desk. “Let me worry about the budget. Sit down and tell me why you’re here this afternoon.”

  “I got a call from Rodonna Reed. She’s the head of the women’s missionary society. Anyway, there’s a planning meeting for the summer’s activities and she wanted me to come. We’re meeting in the Social Hall annex next door in about fifteen minutes.”

  “Good. I’m happy you’re going to get involved in the women’s work. That’s a great way to get to know our new church family,” Jorge said.

  “I said I’d come to this meeting, but don’t think it means I’m going to get roped into all the boring business sessions or that I’ll be cutting quilt blocks and rolling bandages,” she said with a dramatic shudder.

  “Melissa, please, we need to establish relationships with our new church family,” Jorge said.

  “I’m here, aren’t I? I’ll go to the meeting and see what is being planned. Maybe I can get these women interested in something relevant to real life,” Melissa said, getting up to go. “They could just be waiting for someone like me to shake them out of their narrow-minded rut, who knows?” she tossed over her shoulder on the way out.

  Jorge looked at the ceiling, then dropped his head onto his hands and began to pray.

  *

  As promised, Judy stopped by Hester’s room on her way out of the hospital. Still feeling the warm fuzzies after spending an hour with a tiny newborn snug against her chest, she was jolted by Hester’s harsh greeting, “Well, if it isn’t Lady Do-good. Why don’t you leave me alone?”

  “I’m so sorry, Mrs. Prynne,” Judy said. “Shall I come back later, when you are feeling a bit better?”

  “That’s Miss Prynne, and I’ll never feel any better. Why didn’t you people just let me die?”

  “I don’t understand. What’s wrong? Did you get a new prognosis from the doctors? I thought you were getting stronger and your pneumonia was responding to the medication,” Judy said.

  “What’s the point of getting strong or healthy? It will only prolong my misery. You do-gooders make me sick. Why can’t you leave me alone?” Hester said, turning her face into the pillow.

  Realizing the woman’s pain was not only physical and seeing her real distress, Judy sat on the chair beside the bed. She sat quietly until Hester looked up at her.

  “I’m so sorry, Miss Prynne,” Judy began. “I don’t know what is making you so unhappy, or what troubles you have, but I really would like to help, if I can. Will you tell me what’s troubling you? I’m truly interested, and it might help to talk about it.”

  “Nobody can help me. What’s done is done. I don’t deserve anyone’s help,” Hester said in a low voice.

  “Do you have no family? No one to turn to?” Judy asked.

  “No. Nobody,” Hester winced. “I was raised in foster care, but I could’ve had children of my own and maybe even grandkids to comfort my old age. I could’ve, but I didn’t want the bother and expense, didn’t want to ruin my figure... and just look at me!” she ran her hands down her skeletal torso, “I didn’t want to ruin this? Hah!”

  “Would you like to tell me what happened?” Judy asked.

  “I had abortions, that’s what happened!” Hester shouted. “Lots and lots of abortions. Does that shock you, Mrs. Do-good? Do you stil
l want to help me, now?”

  Judy was shocked, but she did her best to hide it. She breathed a silent prayer for guidance before replying.

  “Yes, I do want to help. You’ve been carrying a terrible burden. No wonder you’re ill and in pain. But whatever you did in the past, or why you did it, you obviously regret it, now. You do have a conscience. We can’t change the past, but maybe, if you tell me all about it, we can find a way to ease your pain.”

  The woman had worn herself out shouting at Judy. She remained still, with her eyes closed and for a moment Judy wondered if she was unconscious.

  “Hester? Shall I go? If you want to sleep, I can come back tomorrow,” Judy offered.

  “No,” Hester whispered. “I want to tell you. I’ve held this in for way too long and the poison is killing me.”

  Judy scooted the chair closer to Hester’s bed and put her hand over the sick woman’s frail fingers, saying, “I’m listening.”

  *

  Judy’s twins huddled with four of their friends in a booth in the town’s only burger joint, chatting animatedly over sodas and a basket of fries.

  “What’s your dress like?” Astilbe’s best friend, Zill, asked her.

  “I don’t have one, yet. Dad’s on a budget kick. I don’t think he’s going to cough up the cash for me and Patsy to get new dresses,” Astilbe complained.

  “I think he’s got our mom talked into doing vintage or remodeling old dresses for us,” Paisley said. “I heard them talking about it. Mom asked for money to get us new prom gowns and Dad told her to use her recycling skills to create them.”

  “Your mother makes cool, wild furniture out of old stuff,” Zill said. “Maybe it won’t be so bad.”

  “Would you want to wear a pair of recycled drapes to prom, like some Scarlett O’Hara wannabe?” Astilbe challenged.

  “I guess not,” Zill agreed, dipping a French fry into the plastic cup of ranch dressing.