into a box of Godiva chocolate the size of a silverware chest. Helen remembered Violet saying that Blossom had bribed the nurses with a lavish assortment. Helen estimated the box held more than a hundred pieces of light, dark and white chocolate. Her stomach growled loudly.
Nurse Abbott looked up and asked, “May I help you, Reverend?”
“Just taking a break,” Helen said. “I thought Blossom would be back by now.”
The nurse unwrapped a dark chocolate and bit into it. Helen watched the caramel ooze out. Her favorite. There was another loud rumble from Helen’s stomach.
Nurse Abbott ignored it. “That poor thing needs a little time away,” she said. “She sat with her husband for eleven hours straight. Caretakers must take care of themselves, too. If you need a short break, I’ll keep an eye on Mr. Zerling.”
“I would like a cup of coffee,” Helen said. “I’ll be back in half an hour.”
She ran down the stairs to the courtyard. The concrete was littered with cigarette butts and the air was thick with stale smoke. Most of the smokers wore hospital scrubs. Didn’t the staff know cigarettes caused cancer?
Helen fished out her cell phone and found a message from Phil. He was practically crowing. “You’re speaking to an estate manager,” he said. “Blossom hired me. It’s six thirty. I start work at nine tomorrow morning. I’ll stop for dinner before I go home. See you when I see you. I love you.”
Poor wilted Blossom went home and found enough energy to interview a new estate manager? She’d hired Phil an hour and a half ago. Helen wondered if her hot, silver-haired man had given Blossom a new interest in life—and frisky ideas.
Surely not. But where was she? Blossom had had enough time to eat, shower, even take a nap.
Helen called Phil’s cell phone. No answer. She left a message that she was still sitting with Arthur Zerling and waiting for Blossom to return to the hospital. Next she called Nancie and gave her report.
“Did the wife let you in his room?” the lawyer asked.
“Blossom couldn’t wait to get out of the ICU,” Helen said. “Not that I blame her. She’d been sitting with Arthur since six this morning. She said she needed a shower and food. She ran home and hired Phil.”
“I know,” Nancie said. “He already checked in. How does Arthur look?”
“Bad,” Helen said. “And our client didn’t tell us everything.”
“They never do,” Nancie said. “What do I need to know?”
“Violet made such a scene in the ICU that security had to escort her out. She accused Blossom of murdering her father.”
“Terrific,” Nancie said. “Blossom could sue our client for slander if she decides to go after Violet.”
“She’ll probably win,” Helen said. “Blossom has looks and charm.”
“Any more bad news?” Nancie asked.
“I’m no doctor, but Arthur looks like he hasn’t much time left. If I hadn’t seen that photo, I wouldn’t believe it was the same man. Blossom said the doctors told her Arthur could die any time now. She had him taken off the ventilator.”
“Like I said, that’s her right as next of kin,” Nancie said.
“Arthur is still breathing on his own, but who knows how long he’ll last,” Helen said.
“I’d better tell Violet,” Nancie said. “If the wife’s not there, she might be able to get in and see her father one last time.”
“Don’t get her hopes up,” Helen said. “The nurse on duty doesn’t like Violet.”
The hospital cafeteria was closed. Helen had a cup of vending machine coffee and a sandwich made with stale bread, gray meat and soapy-tasting cheese. By eight thirty, she was back in the ICU. There was still no sign of Blossom.
“No change in Mr. Zerling,” Nurse Abbott said briskly. Helen saw a golden mound of candy wrappers by her computer. She longed for a chocolate to take away the taste of her awful meal.
Helen settled into the iron embrace of the visitor’s chair andtook out her paperback. Miss
Nurse Abbott looked up and asked, “May I help you, Reverend?”
“Just taking a break,” Helen said. “I thought Blossom would be back by now.”
The nurse unwrapped a dark chocolate and bit into it. Helen watched the caramel ooze out. Her favorite. There was another loud rumble from Helen’s stomach.
Nurse Abbott ignored it. “That poor thing needs a little time away,” she said. “She sat with her husband for eleven hours straight. Caretakers must take care of themselves, too. If you need a short break, I’ll keep an eye on Mr. Zerling.”
“I would like a cup of coffee,” Helen said. “I’ll be back in half an hour.”
She ran down the stairs to the courtyard. The concrete was littered with cigarette butts and the air was thick with stale smoke. Most of the smokers wore hospital scrubs. Didn’t the staff know cigarettes caused cancer?
Helen fished out her cell phone and found a message from Phil. He was practically crowing. “You’re speaking to an estate manager,” he said. “Blossom hired me. It’s six thirty. I start work at nine tomorrow morning. I’ll stop for dinner before I go home. See you when I see you. I love you.”
Poor wilted Blossom went home and found enough energy to interview a new estate manager? She’d hired Phil an hour and a half ago. Helen wondered if her hot, silver-haired man had given Blossom a new interest in life—and frisky ideas.
Surely not. But where was she? Blossom had had enough time to eat, shower, even take a nap.
Helen called Phil’s cell phone. No answer. She left a message that she was still sitting with Arthur Zerling and waiting for Blossom to return to the hospital. Next she called Nancie and gave her report.
“Did the wife let you in his room?” the lawyer asked.
“Blossom couldn’t wait to get out of the ICU,” Helen said. “Not that I blame her. She’d been sitting with Arthur since six this morning. She said she needed a shower and food. She ran home and hired Phil.”
“I know,” Nancie said. “He already checked in. How does Arthur look?”
“Bad,” Helen said. “And our client didn’t tell us everything.”
“They never do,” Nancie said. “What do I need to know?”
“Violet made such a scene in the ICU that security had to escort her out. She accused Blossom of murdering her father.”
“Terrific,” Nancie said. “Blossom could sue our client for slander if she decides to go after Violet.”
“She’ll probably win,” Helen said. “Blossom has looks and charm.”
“Any more bad news?” Nancie asked.
“I’m no doctor, but Arthur looks like he hasn’t much time left. If I hadn’t seen that photo, I wouldn’t believe it was the same man. Blossom said the doctors told her Arthur could die any time now. She had him taken off the ventilator.”
“Like I said, that’s her right as next of kin,” Nancie said.
“Arthur is still breathing on his own, but who knows how long he’ll last,” Helen said.
“I’d better tell Violet,” Nancie said. “If the wife’s not there, she might be able to get in and see her father one last time.”
“Don’t get her hopes up,” Helen said. “The nurse on duty doesn’t like Violet.”
The hospital cafeteria was closed. Helen had a cup of vending machine coffee and a sandwich made with stale bread, gray meat and soapy-tasting cheese. By eight thirty, she was back in the ICU. There was still no sign of Blossom.
“No change in Mr. Zerling,” Nurse Abbott said briskly. Helen saw a golden mound of candy wrappers by her computer. She longed for a chocolate to take away the taste of her awful meal.
Helen settled into the iron embrace of the visitor’s chair andtook out her paperback. Miss
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