“Thanks for coming, Kelly. Please sit for a minute.” Janis indicated the empty chair opposite her desk. “I have something I need to discuss.” She leaned back in her desk chair and rolled her shoulders before continuing. “As you’re aware, we’ve taken in quite a few new residents this year. You’ve been with me since the beginning, and I value your experience and opinions.” Janis shifted in her seat and leaned forward before continuing. “A few of our aides told me they’ve had to constantly alter their patients’ bath schedule because the nurses insist their tasks are a priority.”
Kelly blew out a breath and shook her head. “I’ve talked to every new nurse about scheduled vital checks and medication distribution. I thought they all understood. Why didn’t the aides come to me about this?”
“I believe it’s because you’re the nursing supervisor. They figure you don’t have time…I don’t know. I just know we need everyone to be as efficient as possible with our budget constraints, understaffing, and all these new patients.”
“I’m sorry you had to get involved with this, Jan. I’ll call a staff meeting this afternoon, or tomorrow morning, or both if needed, and make sure everyone can work together to make the best use of time.” Kelly forced herself to shut the door gently as she left the office. She went directly to her station, sent out an email regarding a staff meeting, and made a note to remind herself to contact VNAA about her application first thing in the morning.
* * *
“No openings in the area at all?” Kelly paced from one end of her kitchen counter to the other and switched her phone to the other ear as if she’d hear something different from the other one. “So where do you have openings? Illinois? But I live in Michigan. Is there any chance of something opening up anytime soon? I see. Thank you.” She turned off her phone and flopped onto her couch. She had a hard time believing the only spot available with the Visiting Nurses Association turned out to be in Illinois. She leaned her head on the back of the sofa and squeezed her eyes shut. For a fleeting moment, she considered taking the out-of-state position and pondered the feasibility of the daily drive. Perhaps it would be less stressful than what she was dealing with now. She stood, grabbed the eggs from the refrigerator, and took out her frustration by scrambling them.
Kelly finished eating her breakfast before going to her barn to feed her horse. “Hey, boy. It looks as if I’m not changing jobs anytime soon.” She filled his grain bucket and tossed a couple of flakes of hay into the feeding corner of his stall. She picked out a pile of droppings and flung it onto the manure pile before double-checking his water bin and heading back to the house. She took a few minutes to wash up, finish a cup of coffee, and reflect on her conversation with the VNAA representative. Maybe she’d just have to make the best of the nursing home. Maybe it’ll get better once the new employees settle in. One thing she knew for sure, she’d join her friends on a vacation getaway. She sighed and grabbed her briefcase before leaving for work.
Chapter Three
Josie slogged through the foot of snow leading to her grandmother’s front door and brushed the heavy late winter snowflakes from the doorbell. She made a mental note to find someone to keep the driveway clear as she pressed the button.
“I’m coming.” Ruth Patterson peeked through the curtain before opening the door. “I didn’t expect you until tomorrow. Come in, honey.”
Josie stepped inside and enfolded her grandmother in a hug, surprised at how frail she felt in her arms. “I decided there’d be less traffic on Sunday, so I came today.” She stepped back and held her grandmother’s shoulders. “Do you feel as good as you look, Nooko?” Josie hadn’t known what to expect when she’d locked up her cabins and packed to head south to her grandmother’s, but her bright smile encouraged her.
“I’m fine, dear. I was on antibiotics for a few days, but I’m done now. Come, take your coat off. I’ll make us some hot tea.”
Josie watched her shuffle to her walker next to her couch. She grabbed the handles and smoothly moved toward the kitchen. She obviously felt more secure with the walker than her cane. This evident decline in her mobility in only a few months concerned her. Josie removed her boots and pushed aside what seemed to be a lifetime of her grandfather’s and Nooko’s coats, sweaters, and boots to stow her own winter garb. She’d bring her suitcase in later after she had a chance to assess her situation. She wandered through the living room noting the dust. The carpet hadn’t been vacuumed in a while, and dankness indicated the windows hadn’t been opened in a long time. She sighed deeply, realizing her nooko looked good, but probably couldn’t be left alone much longer.
“I’ll get the cups while you tell me why you were on antibiotics.” Josie retrieved two mugs and a box of tea bags from the cabinet and set them next to the stove, where her grandmother had put a kettle on to boil.
“Thank you, dear. I had a cough that wouldn’t go away. The doctor wanted to be careful because of my age, I guess. I spent a few days in bed, but I’m fine now.”
“How’d you get to the doctor?” She took a deep breath, trying to dispel the remorse for not even knowing her nooko had been sick, let alone not being there to help.
“My neighbor, Nancy, from across the street took me. She has the Meals on Wheels route here, so she checks on me every day.” She patted Josie’s hand as she spoke.
Josie watched her grandmother plop into one of the kitchen chairs. At least she has someone looking in on her. “You sit. I’ll pour the tea. I’d like to talk about some things.” She set the mugs on the table, considering her next words. “I have some plans for the cabins, Nooko.” She waited for a response, but her grandmother just sipped her tea and watched her expectantly. “I’ve renamed the place Harlow’s by the Bay, and I’ve advertised it as a lesbian resort. I’ve already got it booked for two weeks after Memorial Day.” Josie stopped talking and waited. Her grandmother set her cup down before speaking.
“I always knew you were smart.” Nooko smiled and regarded her for a long moment. “Your father never liked change. He worried about disappointing your mother and grandfather. When he and your mom took over the land, he promised to do his best to keep it up and keep it in the family. Your grandfather wouldn’t have cared if he had to sell the place. Harold and I had a good life here.” She gazed at the wall seemingly lost in memories. “He built this place, too, you know.”
“I remember him being a hard-working man. I miss him, too.” Josie sat quietly for a moment, not wanting to intrude on her grandmother’s thoughts. “You probably know Dad took a loan out on the property about nine years ago. I’ve just about got it paid off now.” Josie took her nooko’s hands in hers and squeezed gently. “I can make this work. I know I can.”
“I know you can, too, honey.”
Josie blinked back tears, allowing herself to feel the love and support from her nooko. She took a deep breath and realized how apprehensive she’d been to tell her about her plans. Any misgivings she had about her nooko’s support vanished. Now she had to make sure she kept her safe.
* * *
Josie leaned on the plastic snow shovel and appraised the previously snow-covered driveway. She felt good about opening up her grandmother’s world by assuring her a clear pathway out of her house, but a nagging feeling warned her she wouldn’t be able to take advantage of it. She bent to stretch her back, realizing she’d gotten used to her snowplow and hadn’t had to shovel in years. She put the shovel in the garage and swiped off a dust-covered side window of Nooko’s twenty-year-old Jeep with her gloved hand. She peered inside, admiring the condition of the interior, but doubted it would run since it’d been sitting idle for the ten years since her grandfather’s death.
“Nooko?” The warm air of the house was welcome, and Josie went in search of her grandmother. She’d left her sitting at the kitchen table with hot tea and toast and instructions to call her if she needed to get up. She frowned at the walker unmoved from where she’d left it within easy reach. Her chest constricted as she hurried th
rough the living room toward the bedroom. She stopped short when she passed the bathroom and heard a groan. “Nooko!” She knelt on the tile floor next to her grandmother, who was wedged between the toilet and sink cabinet, the toilet paper holder the only thing keeping her from sliding to the floor. She rushed to the bedroom and grabbed all the pillows from the bed. Her grandmother whimpered, and Josie shoved the pillows beneath her for support and wrapped her arms around her waist. She gently pulled her up and pivoted to sit her on the toilet seat. “Do you hurt anywhere? Are you dizzy?” She checked her arms and legs, but a growing bruise on her wrist appeared to be her only injury.
Nooko shifted on the closed toilet seat and shook her head. “I don’t know what happened. I don’t feel dizzy at all. I just lost my balance somehow when I twisted to flush the toilet. I can walk.” She reached for the counter to push herself up.
“Just stay right there, Nooko. Don’t try to get up yet. I’m going to get your walker.” Josie sprinted to the kitchen to retrieve the walker. Not good. She’d have to rethink leaving her nooko alone, even briefly.
Josie settled her on her couch with ice on her wrist. “How does it feel?”
“I’m fine. Quit fussing over me.”
“Nooko. You fell in the bathroom. What would’ve happened if I hadn’t been here?” Her throat went dry imagining her nooko lying on the floor for days.
She merely sighed, her eyes tear-filled and her lip trembling.
“I’m not comfortable leaving you alone here anymore. Especially since I’m hours away. I’ve got Dad’s bedroom cleaned out and we’ll move all your things in there.” Josie paced the length of Nooko’s couch and ran her fingers through her hair.
“Honey. I’m not going anywhere. Harold and I lived in this house for forty years. All my memories are here.” Nooko swiped away her tears and crossed her arms in front of her as if protecting herself from Josie’s insistence.
“You fell. Remember?”
“I told you Nancy is right across the street. I have her number taped to the wall next to the phone, and this fall was just an accident. I reached too far. I’ll be more careful, I promise.”
Josie sighed in frustration. She wasn’t convinced this was Nooko’s first fall. “Okay, Nooko. How about if we make it only for a little while. Consider it a trial period only until after my first group in my new Harlow’s by the Bay leaves.” She hoped she’d conveyed her seriousness.
“All right. If it’ll stop your worrying.” She relaxed back into the couch as if relieved. “But for how long?”
“They’ve booked two weeks starting the twenty-seventh of May. If you feel up to it, I’ll get you back here by the end of June.”
“I’ll try it, dear. For your sake.”
Later that evening, Josie activated the new GPS emergency call button she’d purchased and plugged it in to continue charging the battery overnight. She’d make sure her nooko wore it at all times. Josie felt better knowing she’d be close to her and could be monitored for a few weeks. The fact that she’d barely protested suggested she might be a little more frightened than she let on. And lonely. She’d see just how much care Nooko needed, and deal with her long-term care later if necessary.
She wrestled with images of Nooko falling before sinking into a restless sleep.
Chapter Four
Kelly pulled out her patient notes and nestled her briefcase under the desk at the nurses’ station. It looked like another long day with new patients to assess and nurses to train. She took a deep breath and headed to the tiny room that housed the staff coffeepot. She grabbed a warm blueberry bagel from the unexpected local bakery bag next to the coffeemaker. The day looked better.
“Good morning.” Megan stood next to Kelly’s chair with a cup of coffee in one hand and bagel in the other. “I brought the bagels this morning.” She grinned. “A peace offering. I’m sorry for my grumpiness yesterday. I appreciate you calling a staff meeting, because I didn’t mean to be difficult.”
“Thank you, Megan. I’m glad we’re all on the same page now. We’re getting so busy, we need to work together and communicate well.”
“I agree. I’m off to begin dispensing meds. Do you have time for lunch today?”
Kelly hesitated. A new friend would be nice. “Yeah. Sounds good. Stop by on your way to the cafeteria.”
“See you then.”
Kelly waved to Megan before checking her next patient’s chart and collecting the needed supplies.
“Good morning, Mrs. Grist. I’ve got your heart medications for you.” Kelly smiled and gently squeezed the eighty-year-old’s hand. Warm. That’s good. “How’re you feeling today?” She clipped the pulse oximeter on her finger waiting for a reply. Her patient merely turned to look at her and smiled. She’d stopped speaking a long time ago, though no one knew why. “You’re smiling. That’s a good thing. Your oxygen level is perfect.” She patted her arm and recorded her vital signs before making sure she swallowed her pills. “Your aide, Pat, will be in soon to help you to the bathroom. Make sure you push the call button if you need anything.” Kelly pointed to the button built into the bed railing and made sure Mrs. Grist could reach it before leaving for her next patient. She leaned against the wall outside the door to check her list. Only two more. Things may be settling down around here.
Her phone pinged and she glanced at the readout. Janis? Can you come to my office ASAP? Kelly said she’d be there after her next patient and slid her cell phone back into its case. Whatever Janis wanted must be important to interrupt her rounds.
Kelly knocked softly before entering Janis’s office. “Reporting as directed.” She grinned, expecting Janis to at least chuckle, but she frowned at her and indicated the chair opposite her desk.
“Have a seat. I know you’re busy, so I won’t keep you long, but this is important.” She toyed with her pen for a second before continuing. “As you know, we’ve been overcrowded and understaffed for a while now. I found out two days ago that the owners have finalized plans with a corporation to sell this place.” Janis paused, looking uncharacteristically uncertain.
“What is it, Jan? You look…spooked.”
“I’m sorry, Kelly, but we’ve been gobbled up by the growing move toward corporate ownership of healthcare facilities, and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it. Our little nursing home is now part of a corporation buying nursing homes and assisted living places all over the state.” She leaned back into her desk chair and sighed.
Kelly sat quietly absorbing the news. “So, what’s it mean for us, specifically?”
“I don’t have all the details yet, but I’ve been put in the position of having to decide how to distribute our resources.”
“Of which I am one.” Kelly didn’t think her job was in jeopardy. They were filled to capacity with residents, and she had the most seniority of the nursing staff.
“Yes. You are.” Janis opened her laptop and typed for a minute before turning it around to show her a list of names. “This is a listing of places this company now owns. There are a few brand-new buildings they want operational by the end of this summer, and they need a senior staffing nurse to oversee the implementation for each one.” She pointed to one name on the list. “This one, Woodland Care Center, is scheduled to open in June. It’s the closest to your house, but still too long a distance to commute, so I’m assigning you to it with the condition they provide you lodging.”
“What?” Her stomach twisted, and she swallowed to dislodge the lump in her throat. “Jan, I have a house and a horse and a life here. I can’t just move to…where is this place?”
“It’s in the Upper Peninsula.”
“The Upper Peninsula? That’s a five-hour drive!”
“Six, actually. But it isn’t a permanent position, Kelly. I only need you to be there to get them up and running. We’ve worked together for twenty years and you’re valuable here. They’re willing to send several support staff to cover things here, if I’m willing to send my senior staffer to
help get one of their other places ready. It’s a trade-off, and I don’t want to lose you, but I have to ask you to please take this assignment. It’s only for a few months. The place should be autonomous by October. Will you please think about it?”
Kelly stood, circled behind her chair, and leaned on the back. Her thoughts whirled, and she fought to calmly sort them out before speaking. “What about my vacation plans? I’m taking two weeks off in the beginning of June.” She thought about the lesbian resort located on Drummond Island, in the same location as her new job. It would give her a chance to check out the area.
“Not a problem. You can still take your vacation, but I do need an answer soon in case I have to find someone else.”
Kelly turned to leave the room without a good-bye, feeling like she’d been ambushed, but stopped with her hand on the doorknob. She’d wanted a change, and maybe her sister, Tory, would be excited to stay at her house and care for Pogo for a few months before beginning college in the fall. Maybe she could look at it as a creative challenge. “Fine. But if I have trouble making arrangements for my house, that will change things.”
“Hell. I’ll take care of your house and your horse if you take this position.” Janis smiled weakly, but Kelly saw the spark of hope in her eyes.
* * *
Kelly saw Megan sitting at a corner table as soon as she walked into the cafeteria. She waved before going through the food line and wondered how much she should disclose about the reason for being late. Janis hadn’t said to keep anything a secret, and the staff would have to find out soon about the changes.
Love Came Calling Page 2