by Jaime Maddox
“Can you tell me what’s going on?” Abby asked, with no hint of confrontation. Her grip eased, and her hand slipped from Ward’s forearm.
She missed the contact before it was even broken. Refocusing, she explained the situation, about the need to treat for rabies, conscious of the frustrations that seemed to be growing in spite of Abby’s professional demeanor. Why did she have to explain medicine to the administrator? What did Abby know about this, anyway? She tried hard to calm herself, trying to believe Abby really was there to help.
“And you’re sure about this?” Abby asked when she finished.
Ward’s jaw clenched, again, and she purposefully unclenched it before answering. “One-hundred-percent sure.” She didn’t mention that she’d double-checked the protocol for rabies exposure before issuing her orders. But should she? The CEO didn’t have the authority to question a medical decision, but Abby had to know this wasn’t a typical situation, and Ward supposed she had a right—even an obligation—to make sure the staff was doing things the correct way. Perhaps the information she’d learned would help ease Abby’s concerns. For some reason, that thought comforted her. She didn’t want Abby to worry, especially if she had the power to prevent it..
Putting her ego aside, she spoke again. “I double-checked the CDC protocols on my smart phone. All the kids need to be treated, and the counselor, too. It’s just too risky to ignore.”
The rewarding smile Abby offered made Ward feel ashamed that she’d hesitated. That news was all the ammunition Abby needed to stand beside her and fight. To stand in front of her, really. “Let me break the happy news to Miss Evans.” Abby winked.
Ward offered her a supportive pat on the back. “Good luck with that.”
Both of them turned and walked away, Abby to deal with Camp Shickshinny and Ward to deal with the citizens of rural Luzerne County. Before she made any progress, though, Frankie was in her face. She suppressed the urge to question his manhood and was immediately relieved she had.
“Okay, here’s the situation. We can’t find enough vaccine for these kids. There’s some sort of shortage. I called the Department of Health and they’re going to try to locate the doses for us, but they may not be able to. Worst-case scenario is we send them all home to Massachusetts and Ohio or wherever, and let the local ERs treat them. I called Abby Rosen, the CEO, to deal with the camp director, because this is going to be a nightmare.”
Filled with a mixture of relief and shame, she patted Frankie’s back. “Thank you, Frankie. Good job.”
He nodded. “Yeah, well, I have a feeling I won’t get a bite of lunch today, and probably not any dinner, either, but the good news is, I’m off at seven. Only nine more hours to go.
Ward glanced at the clock. Eight and a half, really. She could do this.
Chapter Seventeen
Hypoglycemia
An amazing calm descended on the ER in the early afternoon. All of the men, women, and children who’d been injured on sports equipment or contracted communicable diseases were miraculously cured as the day grew older, and Ward found herself sitting in the unfamiliar rolling desk chair in the physicians’ work station, catching up on charts. If she could sing just one praise of the hospital’s electronic medical-records system, it was the ability to cut and paste, a feature she used twenty-one times, allowing her to finish in record time the notes on the crew from Camp Shickshinny. When her replacement arrived half an hour early for the night shift, he bid her farewell, and she stood in stunned silence, wondering what to do with the remainder of her evening. A Saturday shift had never ended early before.
She made her way to the physicians’ lounge, grinning all the way, knowing she’d figure something out. A good book sounded delightful. Perhaps a burger, first. The memory of the juicy, fire-grilled delicacy from the night before was still making her mouth water. And as she walked into the deserted doctors’ retreat and eyed the large bathroom, another idea occurred to her. A shower. Blissful, comforting, hot, hot water.
Over the years, she’d been in some decrepit hospital call rooms, so dingy and dirty she hesitated to change her socks and step on the bare floors. Leftover food and linens had littered the floors and counters, and a collection of forgotten personal items collected dust. Some of the bathrooms had facilities where the water in the shower wasn’t even connected. In others only cold water came spraying from the showerhead, testing her inner strength. But the physicians’ lounge here was perfect—clean, well appointed, and with both hot and cold water working fine. A supply of full-sized towels was neatly stacked on a shelf, and she saw no evidence of fungus.
Throwing her used scrubs into the bin, she stepped into the shower and imagined the germs washing down the drain, felt the tension leaving the muscles of her shoulders and back, and finally, her mind. She emerged from the lounge ten minutes later, shiny and clean, her wet hair brushed by her fingers, and nearly collided with Abby.
They both laughed.
“What happened to the ER?” Abby asked. “I’ve never seen it empty before.”
Ward raised an eyebrow. “I believe you just jinxed them.”
“Good. As the CEO, I’d prefer it to be busy.”
Ward couldn’t help laughing. “Well, at least you’re honest,” she said as they began walking in the general direction of the parking garage and Ward’s house. “Usually, the administration pretends to commiserate with the staff but screws them anyway.”
Abby nodded. “We’re fighting the same war, but I have to fund it, too,” she said simply. “But lucky for you, it’s an early night. What do you plan to do with yourself?”
Ward was tempted to stop, to stare. Was Abby hinting at something? Or was that wishful thinking? And why was she skulking in the hallway beside the physicians’ lounge at seven o’clock on a Saturday night? Ward kept walking, wondering how to answer. “No plans, except food. I’m famished. Have you eaten?”
They’d reached the exit, and Abby held the door for her, and when she walked through, Abby stopped, finally looking at her, searching her face.
Ward stared back, waiting for an answer to her subtle invitation. Abby’s eyes held delight and invitation of their own, and they locked on Ward’s for a moment before she answered. “I haven’t. I was planning to get some work done, but food sounds much better. Would you like to join me?”
Panicked, a hundred thoughts flashed through Ward’s mind. Abby had replaced the business suit she’d worn for her battle with Marsha Evans with another T-shirt and golf shorts, which matched Ward’s attire perfectly. She didn’t need to worry about how she was dressed. But what did Abby like to eat? Who would drive? Was her car clean enough for company? And that Yankee Candle Christmas Cookie air freshener was still kind of strong—would it be too much for Abby? What are you thinking, she asked herself after a second. None of that mattered. A beautiful woman wanted to have dinner with her. They could eat candy worms in a smelly car and it would still be perfect.
“I was fantasizing about a burger,” Ward said, although suddenly she didn’t think she could eat.
“That’s some imagination you’ve got, Doc.”
Ward took the teasing in stride. “Long day. Four days, really. I don’t have any energy left for creativity.”
“Yes, I hear it’s been busy. I was away for a few days and just got back last night. Otherwise, I’d have been here to meet you and orient you. I’m sorry about that.”
“No worries. If I’d known who you were, I don’t think I’d have enjoyed the fireworks so much.”
“Really?”
“Well, yes. Fraternizing with the administration can be dangerous.”
“Should we cancel the burger?”
“No, this is eating. It’s much different.”
“So it’s settled then? We’ll eat?”
Ward met Abby’s eyes and saw the warmth there. “I’d love to.”
They agreed to walk, with Abby promising a guided tour through town en route to the best burger joint around. Not sur
prisingly, tables at the best burger joint in town were in demand on a Saturday night, and they sat on a bench overlooking the gardened terrace while they waited.
“How long have you lived here?” Ward asked when they’d settled on the hand-carved bench. The name of the craftsman, along with his phone number, was engraved in the headrest. Once again, Abby pulled her legs up under her and turned to face Ward as they talked. It reminded her of the fireworks, and she smiled.
“Basically, my whole life. I was born at the hospital, raised here, left for college and worked for a few years in Philly. When my predecessor keeled over and died at a board meeting, the hospital was scrambling for someone. I agreed to take over temporarily. That was eight years ago.”
“Your predecessor’s fate might have discouraged some.”
“I really needed the money.”
Ward smiled and Abby shook her head. “No, I’m serious. I’d just bought a Porsche, a cute little convertible, which I’d convinced myself and the bank I could afford. And then I had to make that payment every month, and…”
Ward squinted at her. “And the hospital trusts you with its budget?”
Abby nodded again. “Absolutely. If I could figure out how to buy a Porsche on my former salary and not starve to death, I’m surely a financial genius. I can do anything.”
Ward was silent as she studied Abby. She was beautiful with the sunshine bouncing off the golden highlights in her hair and reflecting off the smooth surface of her sunglasses. Her pose was relaxed and confident. Ward suspected she could do anything. Lost in her thoughts, she nearly missed Abby’s question. “How about you? Where’s home?”
Ward gave her the synopsis of her family and her career, carefully omitting the name Jessica from her tale. It wasn’t a lie, Ward thought. It just wasn’t relevant any more.
Abby’s name was called, and they were seated at a picnic table just a few feet away from the bench they’d been enjoying. After they took care of the business of studying menus and ordering food, they went back to talking.
“So what kind of work do you have to do on a Saturday night? Are you still trying to pay off that car?”
Abby squinted. “It’s all mine, finally. No more car payments.” Then she cleared her throat. “I actually came back hoping to run into you. So I could ask you out for dinner.”
Ward studied her for a moment. “Do I look that lonely?”
Tilting her head, Abby seemed to study Ward for a second, weighing her answer. “No. You look that cute.”
Ward thought back to the night before, when Abby had said that her date stood her up. Abby had just answered the question she’d asked her last night. Ward looked at her sitting there and tried to reconcile the conflicting images in her mind—the playful, flirtatious woman in shorts and a T-shirt with the hard-nosed executive wearing the business suit and heels. Abby seemed to be a delightful combination of tough and kind, serious and playful. And being with her felt good. Ward felt as good as she had in ages.
She blushed. “Thanks.” Her grin quickly spread to Abby, and they were still smiling a few minutes later when the server delivered two cheeseburgers and a heaping basket of fries with vinegar on the side.
“So where’d you go?” Ward asked.
“Hmm?” Abby asked, her mouth twisted in confusion.
“You said you were away. Where’d you go?”
“Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.”
Ward couldn’t help smiling. “I love Rehoboth. I’ve spent a lot of time there over the years.”
Abby nodded. “My ex has a house there.” Then she said, “I have my own bedroom. Separate from hers.”
Ward bit her lip to stop the emerging laugh. “I understand. I pretty much have my own room there, too. In my friend’s house. Not my ex’s.”
“Your ex doesn’t want you around?”
Ward sensed Abby was fishing for information about her sexuality. She didn’t hesitate to tell her. “No, I don’t think she does,” she said, laughing at the absurdity of life. A few days earlier, she’d been crying about Jess, and now she was sharing a burger with a beautiful woman who seemed to be flirting with her, and Jess seemed like a distant memory.
They were quiet for a moment as they enjoyed their food. Ward’s, covered with mushrooms and Swiss cheese, was so tasty she didn’t even bother adding any of the various condiments the waitress had offered. She tried not to moan as she tasted the wonderful blend of flavors. When she’d finished, she deposited her flag-adorned napkin onto her plate. Resisting the urges to burp and pick her teeth, she folded her hands politely beneath her chin. “Thank you for today,” she said after a moment.
Abby wiped her mouth and looked at Ward, a question in her eyes. Ward saw them light with recognition as she divined what Ward was talking about and how she felt about the day. “It’s important to you to do the right thing, isn’t it?”
Ward shrugged.
“You must make enemies.” Abby leaned against the wall behind her. The sun was beginning its descent into the mountain behind Ward, and the last rays were bathing Abby. She seemed to relish the warmth on her face, and even though she wore sunglasses, Ward could tell her eyes were closed.
“Sometimes. But you do it anyway. The right thing, I mean. You did today.” Abby had been the one talking to the officials at the Department of Health so that Ward and Frankie and the other staff members could take care of patients. In the end, they’d managed to locate all forty-two shots, and Abby had arranged for the entire group to have their second doses at the hospital-owned clinic to reduce the logjam in the ER.
A frown appeared on Abby’s face. “I do try. But it’s sometimes difficult to determine what the right thing is. It can differ from day to day. And working with physicians can be trying. They all have an opinion, and everyone’s version of the right thing is a little different, so no matter what you do, someone is unhappy about it.”
“So you just do your best, right?”
Now Ward could tell Abby’s eyes were open. “It’s all you can do.”
The conversation had somehow gotten serious, and as the waitress came to clear their table, Ward decided to lighten it a bit. “So what are you best at?”
Abby took Ward’s teasing tone and ran with it. “Oh, now that’s a loaded question.”
Ward laughed. “It wasn’t meant to be. I mean…what do you do for fun?”
They split the check and began the short walk back to the hospital. Ward found herself walking slowly as she listened to Abby, trying to prolong their time together. “I like to work in my yard, play around with landscaping a little. I like to spend time on the river, fishing and kayaking. And then there’s my love-hate relationship with my golf clubs. I spend a good amount of my time with them. How about you? Do you golf?”
“I do.”
Abby stopped and turned to Ward, grabbing her arm. “Are you free next weekend? I need someone for the hospital tournament. This could be perfect!”
Ward chewed the inside of her lip. She was supposed to play with Frieda, and as tempting as the invitation was, she couldn’t stand her up. “I wish I could, but I have plans to play with a friend.”
Instead of the disappointment she’d expected, Abby’s face became even brighter. “You have a friend? Who plays golf?”
Ward nodded and laughed. “Don’t sound so surprised.”
“Ha, ha. No, this is perfect, perfect! Dick Rove still isn’t ready to play, so he and his wife pulled out. I need two people. If you and your friend could play, you’d really make my day.”
Ward liked the idea, too. “I’ll call her in the morning and check. If she’s willing, I’d love to.”
They’d reached the hospital’s parking garage, but instead of heading in that direction, they turned toward the house where Ward was staying. Abby grinned when she saw the kayak atop Ward’s car. “Is that yours?”
Ward nodded and patted the battered blue plastic affectionately. “Sure is.”
Abby grinned mischievously. “I was th
inking of going out tomorrow. Wanna join me?”
Ward was taken aback by the invitation, not because it should have surprised her, after their night under the fireworks and the burgers they’d shared, but because it had been so long since she’d spent time with a woman who wasn’t Jess. If she’d taken time to think about it, she might have actually declined the invitation, just out of habit. But before she could think, the response was out of her mouth, and Abby was asking the next question.
“Would one o’clock work for you? I really do have some work to catch up on in the morning, but if we go out in the afternoon, I’ll have it all done and can just relax. And have fun.”
Ward agreed to the time. She could use the morning to catch up on her own errands, tasks ignored while she worked four consecutive, very long days. But was she really ready for this? She had no doubt what Abby had on her mind. She was obviously single and had been flirting with her from the moment they’d met. She’d waited for her to ask her out for a burger and told her she was cute. Abby was definitely interested.
As she watched Abby walk away, her sculpted ass swaying seductively, Ward had to admit that she was, too.
*
An unpleasant combination of fear and anticipation surged through Ward’s body, not by turns, but instead sharing attention and threatening to short-circuit her neurons. For the hour since Abby had left her, she’d thought of nothing but the next day, and the more she thought about it, the more anxious she became. It took her awhile, but she finally figured out what was bothering her. She feared the possibility that dating Abby would mean it was really over with Jess.
Yes, Jess was dating. But Ward’s heart was still true, and until she herself moved on, until both of them had moved on, it wasn’t truly over. Jess was still real to her, and if she went kayaking with Abby—on a date with her—that would truly mean the end of the most significant relationship she’d ever had. She didn’t feel ready to make that turn, yet at the same time she envisioned a day on the river with Abby, laughing and soaking up the sunshine, relaxing as her kayak glided along the surface of the water.