Though Barbara has just a bit part in the story, she's the starting point.
"Do you really think I'll tell you?" Barbara
Denton's strident voice rasped against Susan's nerve endings. "Believe me,
when I say it's dynamite. Someone isn't going to like what I've learned. And
let me tell you, this time, I have all the facts."
The practical nurse's harsh laughter and the veiled threat
in her voice added to Susan's uneasiness. Whom had Barbara targeted this time?
Her stories always contained a dram of truth but little more. Susan halted in
the doorway and waited to hear further hints of scandal. When the practical
remained silent, Susan stepped into the room and closed the door.
The hospital's gossip queen sprawled on the bright green
loveseat facing the door. She stabbed a cigarette toward the round table that
was partly hidden by the jutting powder room wall. A gold bracelet glittered on
her arm and slid up and down as she used the cigarette to emphasize the
importance of the tidbit she dangled.
Susan shook her head. Had anyone reminded Barbara that
smoking in the hospital was illegal? Would it matter? The practical had chosen
to break the rule, but so did the unit's nurse manager.
"Don't tease," Susan said. "We know you're
dying to tell all."
Leila is Susan's best friend and adds to the developing tension.
Goodbye, Barbara." Susan carried a salad and a cup of
coffee to the table. Fifteen minutes later, the lounge door opened and Leila
walked in.
"You're late," Susan said.
Leila poured a cup of coffee. "It's been one of those
evenings. ICU had a visitor who refused to leave. The OR needed four units of
blood stat. A patient on Five Med/Surg fell." She sat across from Susan.
"I like the hair. It's about time you colored the gray."
"That's what my mother said, plus a lot of other
advice." Susan closed the salad container. "Why don't we get together
for lunch tomorrow and I'll fill you in about the state of nursing practice in Florida ?"
Leila lit a cigarette.
Susan raised an eyebrow. "I thought you quit."
"Stress."
"And the rules?"
"Will you turn me in?"
"I might. About lunch?"
"I can't. I have class. Just one more semester."
Susan cleaned the area of the table she had used.
"Wednesday?"
Leila shook her head. "I'm picking up my new car. Do
you have time to talk about one of your co-workers?"
"Here? I wouldn't want to chance being overheard. What
about Friday?"
"I'll be away. It's a four-day weekend."
"Joe?" Susan asked.
A dreamy look misted Leila's dark eyes. "We're going to
his hunting cabin."
"Don't you ever get tired of spending so little time with
him?"
"Quality counts." Leila's smile brought an elegant
charm to her pointed features. "It's a good relationship. We both know how
much we're willing to give. I don't want him to leave his wife and marry
me."
Julie is the young nurse Susan has mentored.
Julie turned in the chair at the doctors' desk where she sat
beside De Witt. "Is there a problem?" she asked. "Can I help?"
"Just an admission and no Barbara." On her way to
the clean utility room, Susan paused beside the younger nurse.
De Witt captured Julie's hand the way a lion grasps its
prey. "Don't be late." As he rose, he smoothed his ash blond hair and
slung a black leather jacket over his shoulder. He strode down the hall.
"Go get the equipment," Julie said. "As soon
as I finish this chart, I'll meet you in the patient's room."
A short time later.
Julie stepped out of the semi-private room across from the
desk. "What took you... Susan, what's wrong?"
"In...in..." Susan couldn't force her frozen
tongue to form the words.
Trish strode across the green carpet. "You look like
you've seen a ghost."
Susan cleared her throat. Her knees buckled. Only her grasp
on the counter kept her erect. "In the storage room... Barbara..."
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