Chapter 9

Dana

I only had time to grab a muffin from the corner store before getting to the hospital on Friday morning. Between my nerves about going out of town with Kendal and the weariness that hung on me like a well-worn coat, I was fried. The date with Cameron ended better than I expected, but I needed to talk with Kendal about the guy. Not that I expected my handsome new beau to defend me against my ex, but I wanted to be on the up and up. Something told me that it wasn't the last time Cameron would end up on my doorstep.

My stomach grumbled angrily as I parked in my usual spot and grabbed my stuff. I had half the muffin in my mouth by the time I walked into the bustling halls of the hospital. It was twenty-four seven, a place that never slept nor rested. I loved it.

"Morning, Dana." One of the nurses from the first floor waved and gave me a warm smile.

"Morning," I mumbled around my muffin and gave her an apologetic smile. I jogged toward the elevator as a large group of nurses and doctors piled in. "Hold the door?"

"Of course." One of the doctors reached out and held it open for me.

"Thanks." I got in and put my back to them as a feeling of rightness swelled in my chest. Being a nurse was one of the greatest decisions of my life, but I wanted more. I wanted to push farther to see what I was capable of. Maybe with the right scholarships and focus I could eventually get my master’s in medicine. It would be a long road, but one that would light me up along every step on the path.

Kind of like Kendal being a professor. Guilt tugged at me.

He loved his profession with a passion - obviously. Was I asking him to taint his own first love just so we could be together for the next eight months? I was. Or maybe he was offering, but either way... I wasn’t just falling in lust with the man, I was falling in love. I wanted something long-term and solid to exist between us.

Maybe we should wait?

I walked out of the elevator on my floor and caught Tensely’s eye. A groan lodged in my throat. I was good with the morning shift so long as she wasn't there. The woman had it out for me and every other intern on the floor. Whether she was forever lamenting over her youth slowly slipping away or she was just naturally hateful, I wasn't sure, but starting the day with her badgering me wasn't something I was looking forward to.

"Oh, good." She stood up and pushed her hair over her shoulder. "Mrs. Delmaz threw a holy hell fit last night because no one has brought Larry to see her yet."

"That's because no one knows who Larry is." I paused by the nurses’ station and tried to keep my tone even. "Her husband’s name is Frankie and he's been dead for twenty years."

"You’re shitting me." She rolled her eyes and huffed again. "Well, see what you can do to calm her, please? You're the only one around here with the ability to help keep the crazies at bay."

"I'll take that as a compliment." I walked to the far end of the hall and locked my stuff up. I wanted to blast her with the reason that I was able to help people the way I was, but it would come off as me being an ass, and I didn't want to go there just yet. I was compassionate and caring. It was that simple. It was the part of me that they kept giving me grief over. I snorted and walked back down the hall toward Mrs. Delmaz's room.

I knocked before sticking my head in. "Mrs. Delmaz?"

"Thelma. Just call me Thelma, girl." She glanced up from reading something and gave me a tight smile. "You promised that you would help me, but like all these other uppity nurses with too much to do and no care in your minuscule hearts, you didn't."

"That's because I can't figure out who Larry is." I offered her a genuine smile and moved to stand next to the bed. I reached down to work her IV out of the tangled mess she'd somehow gotten it in and continued our conversation. "Tell me who Larry is and I'll bring him in to see you."

She pulled her glasses down off her nose and narrowed her eyes. "He's my best friend. Duh. I put his name on all of the emergency contact information. He's where he always is. He's at my house."

"He lives with you?" I finished working on the IV and cupped her wrist lightly.

"I just said that. Open your ears up, kiddo." Her tone was demeaning, but she was scared and out of sorts being in the hospital for the last few days. Her chart showed that she was without additional family members and her dementia had set in to the point of her not remembering much of anything.

"Got it." I rubbed her arm softly and gazed down at her. "I'm headed out of town this weekend, but on Monday I'll bring Larry in to see you, okay?"

"Good. If you break your promise, I'm going to throw a fit that will have everyone talking. I want what I want when I want it!" She accented each word, making me smile. She was a firecracker and a half. Some part of me wanted to see her back in her hay day when she was ruling the corner of the world she inhabited.

"Will do. Let me know if you need me. I'm here for most of the day. I'll stop by a little later and you can tell me all about Larry, okay?"

"Fine." She pulled her glasses back on and glanced down at her magazine as I released her. The sly smile playing on the edge of her lips was enough to let me know that she enjoyed my company. Now I just needed to figure out who the hell Larry was, and get the guy up to the hospital on Monday morning. Otherwise, things would get more interesting than any of us really wanted them to.