Tranquility

by Laurie Gardiner

  “Hey,” she said breathlessly. “Why’d you leave so fast? I wanted to talk to you.”

  “I needed to get out of there.”

  “Uh-oh, what happened?”

  “You mean besides the fact that you’re the only who would talk to me all day?” I took a deep breath. “Look, I don’t want to talk about this here.”

  “Okay, so let’s go have coffee.”

  “I can’t. I have to pick Kayla up from her friend’s place. She’s been there all day.”

  “Okay, then I’ll meet you at your place and we’ll talk there.” I hesitated, but Tracey wouldn’t take no for an answer. “Go, get Kayla,” she said, “I’ll be at your place in thirty.”

  Half an hour later, I had Kayla settled in front of the TV, watching a movie and eating a snack of apple slices, crackers and cheese. She’d talked excitedly all the way home about her day with Amelia. I was glad she’d had fun, but her constant chatter had made my head hurt.

  I threw in a load of laundry and headed to the kitchen, where I put on a pot of coffee and started unloading the dishwasher. Mom must have turned it on before she’d left that morning. I wondered how she was doing. I understood why she felt she should be at the hospital with Gran as much as possible, but I could see it was taking a toll on her. A knock at the door interrupted my thoughts and I went to answer it.

  Tracey didn’t wait for me to open the door. She let herself in. “Hello?” she called as I came around the corner.

  Kayla came flying out of the living room and pushed past me in the narrow hallway. She threw her arms around Tracey’s waist and gazed up at her. “Tracey! I didn’t know you were coming over. Come watch the movie with me.”

  “Not right now, kiddo. I came over to talk to your mom.”

  Kayla pushed her bottom lip out and hung her head dejectedly.

  “Kayla, stop sulking,” I said a little too sternly. The pounding in my head was making me irritable.

  “Tell you what, when I’m done talking to your mom, I’ll come see you,” Tracey promised, tousling Kayla’s hair playfully.

  Kayla went begrudgingly back to the living room to watch her movie. Tracey and I went to the kitchen. She pulled up a stool and waited quietly while I poured us both a cup of coffee. I dragged a stool around to the other side of the island so I could sit facing her.

  She didn’t say a word until I’d sat down and taken a sip of coffee. “So, what happened?”

  I sighed and massaged my temples in an attempt to ease the throbbing pain. “Sheila got me alone in the staff room.”

  “Oh, shit,” Tracey blurted. She clamped her hand over her mouth and peered into the living room. “What’d she say?” she continued more quietly.

  I told her what Sheila had said and about Abby walking in.

  “Wow, I heard she was a bully, but this is way more than that. She threatened you, Sarah. You should go talk to the administrator.”

  I shook my head emphatically. “You know exactly how that’ll go. I’ll go in there with my theories and assumptions, because right now that’s all they are and they’ll ask if I have any proof, which I don’t. They’ll talk to Sheila, who’ll deny everything, then Abby, who’ll back Sheila up. Sheila will find a way to twist it around and say I have a vendetta against her and I’ll end up jobless and looking like a fool.”

  I took a deep breath and sat back, waiting for Tracey to shoot down everything I’d said and tell me how it was really going to work.

  “You’re right.”

  My shoulders sagged and I let out a defeated sigh. “Are you kidding me? You pick now to agree with me? What happened to the Tracey who believes there’s always a bright side? A solution to every problem?”

  “There’s a solution. We just haven’t found it yet. And you’re right, there’s no proof.”

  “So,” I said slowly, “maybe that’s the solution.”

  “What is?”

  “We get proof.”

  Chapter 21 - Realization Dawns

  MOM OFFERED TO STAY HOME with Kayla Friday while I worked. She didn’t say it, but I knew she needed a break from the hospital. I hoped being with Kayla would take her mind off Gran for a while.

  Edie was scheduled to have a bath at seven-thirty that morning—right after Mrs. W. I went into her room shortly after six-thirty to unlock her wardrobe and help her gather her things.

  She put her hand on my arm as we packed her clothes and toiletries into a small mesh bag. “I’m sorry to bring it up when I’m sure you’d rather be forgetting your troubles, but I’ve been worried about you. How’re you holding up, lassie?”

  “I’m doing okay, Edie. Thanks for asking, but please don’t worry about me.”

  “Och, well, I’ve few enough people in my life to worry about. I need something to keep my mind occupied.”

  It warmed my heart knowing Edie was concerned about me and I left the room feeling a little lighter. “Don’t do anything to anger the Dragon today,” I warned on my way out.

  Later, when Tracey and I went in to make Mrs. Sellers’ bed, I was surprised to find Edie in her room. She looked forward to Pet Therapy on Friday mornings. “Edie, I thought you’d be in the auditorium with the pets this morning.”

  “I was hoping to talk to you for a moment if you’ve the time.” She looked pointedly at Tracey.

  Tracey could take a hint. “I’ll be next door making beds. Come get me when you’re done.”

  “Come on, then,” Edie said, when Tracey was gone. “I’ll not be holding you up. We can talk while we work.” She went to Mrs. Sellers’ bed and began straightening the bottom sheet. She spoke quietly and kept an eye on the door as we worked. “I went down to the bathing room early this morning to wait on the bench in the hall. I could hear her in there, badgering and bullying poor Mrs. W the whole time. She was ordering her about, calling her nasty names an’ saying things she must have known would set her off. The whole time she was banging things about.” Edie’s brogue became more pronounced as she spoke and by the time she’d finished, her face was tight with anger.

  “What kind of names,” I asked.

  “She called her a dirty Polack.”

  My jaw dropped. I was speechless. The way Sheila spoke to the residents was condescending and disrespectful, in my opinion. Racial slurs, however, were another thing altogether. And, after seeing Mrs. W’s reaction to the holocaust documentary that day in the lounge, I could only imagine how she must have reacted to the name-calling.

  “You remember, lass, when I told you I was planning to act differently around Sheila to give her the idea I have the disease?”

  I nodded.

  “Well, it’s been working. And since I called her out in the dining room, I can tell she has it in for me. She’s careful, mind you, but it’s little things she says and does that give it away.”

  I hadn’t seen Sheila speak to Edie at all since the confrontation between them in the dining room, so I was unsure of what she meant. “Like what?”

  “The way she looks at me for one. Her eyes are hard and full of hate like her heart. She makes fun of my accent and tries to make it seem like a joke, but I know she’s trying to get a rise out of me. She’s a bitter, miserable woman. I believe the only joy she finds in life is in terrorizing helpless, old people.”

  We pulled the last blanket up, folded the top down and tucked it under the pillow. Edie smoothed the wrinkles out as she rounded the bed and came to stand beside me. “That’s not all. This morning when she put me in the bath it was barely lukewarm. When I complained about it, she said it was because the hot water was running out. Now, I know that’s a load of malarkey.”

  “Yes, it is. You were the second bath this morning, so there’s no way the hot water was low.”

  “Exactly. I know you told me not to anger the Dragon, but I just couldn’t help myself.”

  “Oh, Edie, what did you do?”

  “No, no, it’s fine, lass. I know how far to push and when to stop. I made an awful fuss about the wat
er, though, and I could see the rage boiling up in her. She scrubbed my back so hard she likely took a layer of skin off. Then she threw the cloth into the water and told me to wash my ‘fish’.” She wrinkled her nose in distaste when she said the word.

  I’d heard Sheila and Carol refer to the women’s privates that way. They didn’t seem to think there was anything wrong with it, but I found it offensive and apparently many of the residents did as well.

  “She drained the water and left me sitting in the tub while she washed my hair. The water she used to rinse my hair was downright cold. By the time she took me out of the tub, I was shivering and covered in goose bumps. I used to enjoy a nice soak in the tub, but that was not a pleasant experience.”

  I gave Edie a quick reassuring hug. “Be careful with Sheila, and be patient. Tracey and I are working on a plan.”

  We walked to the door together. I stopped Edie before we stepped into the hall. “I haven’t forgotten about you, Edie. I don’t know if we can depend on Abby for help, but I’ll find a way to get you out of here.”

  “I know you will, lass. But as I said before, don’t be worrying yourself over me. These things have a way of working themselves out.”

  When I went to gather the residents for lunch, I found Mrs. Sellers in her room, crying and pulling at her mouth frantically.

  I bent down in front of her, concerned she’d somehow hurt herself. “What’s wrong, Mrs. Sellers?” She mumbled something inaudible. I pulled her hands gently away from her mouth. “It’s okay, I’m going to help you. Tell me what’s wrong.”

  “No teef, no teef.” She pulled her hands free, opened her toothless mouth wide and pointed inside.

  No teeth. It finally occurred to me why she was so upset; the poor woman was distraught over the fact she had no teeth in her mouth.

  I went to the bathroom, assuming her teeth would be there. They weren’t. I checked all the cabinets and drawers, the toilet and the wastebasket.

  Tracey popped her head in while I was searching the room. She looked at Mrs. Sellers, who was still crying, and asked, “You okay?”

  “I will be, as soon as I find her teeth.”

  “Oh, that sucks. I’ll make sure all your residents get to the dining room.”

  “Thanks, Trace,” I said, opening the nightstand drawer for a second look.

  “No prob. I had a resident once who flushed her teeth down the toilet.”

  I shot her a reproving look. “You’re not helping.”

  She smiled wickedly and flounced away calling, “Check under the pillow, maybe she left them for the tooth fairy.”

  I continued to search the room for a few minutes after she left. They were nowhere to be found. I stood in the middle of the room, watching helplessly as Mrs. Sellers continued to bemoan the loss of her teeth.

  “Where could they be?” I wondered aloud, surveying the room “Where haven’t I looked?” My eyes drifted to the bed. They settled on the pillow. I marched over and lifted it up. Nothing.

  I went to Mrs. Sellers and crouched in front of her. “Do you know where your teeth are?” I asked, pointing at her mouth. She burst into tears.

  I sighed in frustration and hung my head. Think like a resident, I told myself. Aside from the toilet, where could they be? Albert’s name popped into my head. I looked up and patted Mrs. Sellers’ hand. “I’ll be right back.”

  I hurried down the hall to Albert’s room and opened the nightstand drawer. He’d filled it with treasures again since I’d cleaned it out last. The teeth were nestled between the red scarf Georgia had lost the week before and a neatly stacked pile of cookies. I stared at the teeth balefully, put on a glove and picked them up. I need to check Albert’s drawers more regularly. I laughed at the thought and hurried back to Mrs. Sellers’ room.

  I went into Edie’s room that afternoon during my rounds. Mrs. Sellers was asleep in her bed. She would sleep until Connie came on shift and got her up again. Edie was in her chair by the window with her tartan blanket on her lap, knitting.

  Earlier, when I’d come in to help Mrs. Sellers prepare for her nap, I’d opened Edie’s wardrobe so she could get her knitting bag. I went to the wardrobe now, closed the door and took out my key, intending to lock it.

  “Leave it, please, lass. I’ll want to put this away when I’m finished. I’ll have Connie lock it up later.”

  * * *

  I headed straight to the hospital after work to spend some time with Gran. From there, I’d go home to be with Kayla while Mom went to sit with Gran for the evening.

  I went through the usual routine with Gran. I checked her for skin tears and bedsores and performed her exercises. When I finished, I shifted her to her side and placed pillows under her arm and between her knees. She moaned when I turned her. I stroked her hair and spoke quietly to her, but there was no response. I sighed and sat down to read to her.

  An hour later, I came home and Mom left to go to the hospital. I put the bean burritos she had prepared for dinner in the oven, made myself tea and flopped down on the couch to watch Kayla play the Wii.

  Later, after Kayla went to bed, I tidied the kitchen and swept the floor. I was exhausted. I went into the living room and lay on the couch with a book.

  The sound of the door opening woke me. “What time is it?” I asked when Mom came into the room.

  She sank into the recliner with a tired sigh. “A little after nine.”

  “I meant to read for a bit before bed, but I guess I dozed off.”

  Mom stared blankly into the flames dancing in the gas fireplace. Her face was lined with fatigue, her eyes bright with the sheen of unshed tears. “She’s not coming back to us is she?”

  My heart ached for her. I understood how hard it must have been for her to come to that realization. It was something she hadn’t been able to do with my dad. She’d been in denial until the end. “No, Mom,” I said gently. “She’s not.”

  * * *

  The next morning dawned clear and unseasonably cold for mid-March. I wiped the salt and slush from my boots as I entered Tranquility.

  Tracey called out to me as I opened the doors leading into Long-Term. “Hey, Sar, wait up.”

  I stopped and held the door open.

  “Wow, you look like hell,” she said when she caught up.

  “Gee, thanks.”

  “Sorry, didn’t mean it like that. You just look exhausted.”

  “Yeah, I know. I didn’t sleep well last night.” I waved at Marg when she looked up from her desk at reception.

  Tracey smiled brightly and waved. “Hiya, Marg.”

  Marg didn’t even smile. She gave a slight nod of recognition, put her head down and went back to work.

  Tracey was impervious. “Hey, did you hear what happened here yesterday?”

  “No, what?”

  “You know my friend, Meghan?”

  I stared at her blankly.

  “I worked with her in Long-Term. Anyway, she texted me last night on her break and said she heard a resident got out of Dementia yesterday afternoon. Apparently, the police picked her up at her son’s place a couple hours later.”

  I stopped walking and gave Tracey an astonished look. “Did she say who it was?”

  “Nope. But I think I know.”

  “Edie,” I said flatly.

  “That was my first thought.”

  “Damn it! She told me she wouldn’t do that again.”

  Tracey’s mouth fell open. “You mean it’s happened before?”

  I cringed. “She got out once, a few months ago. I caught her sneaking back in and she told me I wouldn’t catch her doing it again.”

  Tracey laughed. “Is that how she said it, that you wouldn’t catch her doing it?” She shook her head incredulously. “She’s one smart lady.”

  “Smarter than me, apparently. I promised her I wouldn’t tell anyone because she’d promised not to do it again.” I sighed as Tracey punched in the code and we went through the doors into Dementia. “At least someone else caug
ht her this time and I don’t have to be the one to rat her out.”

  When I marched into Edie’s room fifteen minutes later she was sitting in her chair, wringing her hands. She jumped up when she saw me and immediately began defending herself. “I’m sorry, lassie, but I had tae do it. There was something important I needed tae take care of.”

  I shook my head at her accusingly. “You told me you wouldn’t leave again.”

  “Well, technically—”

  “How you said it doesn’t matter, Edie. You led me to believe something that wasn’t true.”

  She hung her head in shame. “You’re right. It was wrong of me and for that, I apologize. But, I won’t apologize for coming and going as I please, when I’ve every right to.”

  I couldn’t disagree with her, so I left it alone.

  * * *

  I was in the lounge after lunch, helping some of the residents settle in to watch a Saturday afternoon movie. Tina and Tracey were helping a few residents prepare for their naps. Carol had the day off and because Abby and Sheila rarely worked on the weekends, it had been a relatively stress-free day for me.

  Maria wheeled Mrs. W in and left her beside Mr. Roberts while she unlocked the cabinet that held the DVDs. Mrs. W had been in a confrontational mood all day and I questioned the prudence of leaving her in a room full of residents, but she seemed calm enough for now.

  I surveyed the room. Edie was in the corner with her knitting. Tom and Anne had cancelled their Saturday visit because Anne was feeling “under the weather.” Edie hadn’t appeared troubled by the news. Georgia sat beside Edie, overnight bag on the floor and coat draped over the back of her chair. She was waiting for Lloyd to pick her up and take her home for the night.

  I noticed Mrs. Sellers’ blanket was slipping off her lap and made my way across the room to her. I passed Mrs. Amaral and smiled at her. She grabbed my hand tightly and tugged. I bent over to see what she wanted. She put her hand on my face, pulled me in close and gave me a big, loud kiss on the cheek. I kissed her cheek in return and smiled warmly.

  “Obrigada,” she repeated over and over, patting my cheek affectionately.

  “You’re welcome, Mrs. Amaral.” I pulled slowly out of her grasp and made my way to Mrs. Sellers. I bent down to retrieve her blanket and tucked it around her legs, glancing up when I heard Sam teasing the twins.