another hand to get that answer.”
“What’s the big deal? Everyone does it,” said Robin.
“Talk about winning hands,” said Bess.
Carla said, “I don’t.”
“You should,” said Robin. “And you should have a drink once in while, too. It won’t kill you.”
“Speaking as a health care professional?” asked Carla, her dark eyes focused on Robin, a sly smile on her lips.
She likes me
, thought Robin,
especially when I bait her
. “A blind woman could see that you need to loosen up, Carla. Starting now. Tell those kids they can watch a little TV.”
Carla shook her head and said, “My deal.”
The other women passed their cards over to her. Carla shuffled expertly while talking. “Even though I had a bad day, I’m not going to take the easy route and turn on the TV. I’m
not
going to give in to temptation by drinking in the house. When you feel weak, you have to be extra vigilant. Otherwise, TV and alcohol become the things you rely on, instead of inner strength.” Carla drew in a breath, dealt the cards quickly while talking. “I’ve been seeing a patient for about a month now, a one-year-old boy who kept having respiratory problems. His parents didn’t want me to, but I insisted on giving him a sweat test for cystic fibrosis. It came back negative. I gave the results to the parents in my office today, assuming they’d be happy with the result. Instead, they were angry because they’d have to cover twenty percent of an expensive test. They’ve complained to the hospital and are refusing to pay.”
Bess said, “That’s unfortunate.”
“You don’t even know,” said Carla. “The hospital keeps track of complaints and unpaid bills. I’ve been given a warning by the board. They already think of me as a troublemaker. Sometimes I wonder why I bother.” She glanced at her hand. “I’ve got nothing, by the way.” Carla turned over her cards, showing a deuce and a five.
The rest turned over their cards. Alicia won the hand, with two pair. To Carla, she asked, “Why are you so pissed off at your husband for working late tonight?”
Excellent question
, thought Robin. She’d been itching to ask the same one. That seemed to be happening a lot. Like minds? Or were they all clueing in to the same signals, grabbing from the air the one question that begged to be asked? Carla had said, “Why bother?” about her hospital job, but was her frustration only about work or about her home life, too?
Carla sighed. “I asked Claude to be here to take Manny and Zeke out to a movie so we could have privacy. I called to remind him to come home early. He said he forgot. Couldn’t make it. The boys were disappointed. I’m angry. And Claude does it all the time. He makes promises but nothing happens—like fixing the bathroom door—and then I’m a nag for complaining about it.”
“Textbook passive-aggressive behavior,” said Robin. “He’s making you angry on purpose, Carla, so he can blame you for starting a fight. He
forgot
to be here.
Forgot
to fix the door. Maybe he’s forgotten a few other things, too?”
Carla stared at Robin for a few seconds, mentally spinning through a list of other things Claude hadn’t done. “You just hit the nail on the pinhead,” said the host.
Bess had gathered the cards and was shuffling the deck. “Since we’re on a husband theme,” said the blonde, “I have a complaint about Borden.”
Alicia said, “I just realized. You’re Bess and Borden. And,” turning toward Carla, “you’re Carla and Claude.”
“Cute, ain’t it?” said Carla.
Turning toward Robin, Alicia said, “And you’re …”
“Just glad to be here,” said Robin, smiling.
Alicia blushed. For a second, she’d forgotten that Robin was husband-free.
Maybe that’s a good thing
, thought Robin. She was usually self-conscious about being single.
Bess finished shuffling and dealt the cards. “I’m sorry if this sounds strange, considering Alicia’s situation,” said
“What’s the big deal? Everyone does it,” said Robin.
“Talk about winning hands,” said Bess.
Carla said, “I don’t.”
“You should,” said Robin. “And you should have a drink once in while, too. It won’t kill you.”
“Speaking as a health care professional?” asked Carla, her dark eyes focused on Robin, a sly smile on her lips.
She likes me
, thought Robin,
especially when I bait her
. “A blind woman could see that you need to loosen up, Carla. Starting now. Tell those kids they can watch a little TV.”
Carla shook her head and said, “My deal.”
The other women passed their cards over to her. Carla shuffled expertly while talking. “Even though I had a bad day, I’m not going to take the easy route and turn on the TV. I’m
not
going to give in to temptation by drinking in the house. When you feel weak, you have to be extra vigilant. Otherwise, TV and alcohol become the things you rely on, instead of inner strength.” Carla drew in a breath, dealt the cards quickly while talking. “I’ve been seeing a patient for about a month now, a one-year-old boy who kept having respiratory problems. His parents didn’t want me to, but I insisted on giving him a sweat test for cystic fibrosis. It came back negative. I gave the results to the parents in my office today, assuming they’d be happy with the result. Instead, they were angry because they’d have to cover twenty percent of an expensive test. They’ve complained to the hospital and are refusing to pay.”
Bess said, “That’s unfortunate.”
“You don’t even know,” said Carla. “The hospital keeps track of complaints and unpaid bills. I’ve been given a warning by the board. They already think of me as a troublemaker. Sometimes I wonder why I bother.” She glanced at her hand. “I’ve got nothing, by the way.” Carla turned over her cards, showing a deuce and a five.
The rest turned over their cards. Alicia won the hand, with two pair. To Carla, she asked, “Why are you so pissed off at your husband for working late tonight?”
Excellent question
, thought Robin. She’d been itching to ask the same one. That seemed to be happening a lot. Like minds? Or were they all clueing in to the same signals, grabbing from the air the one question that begged to be asked? Carla had said, “Why bother?” about her hospital job, but was her frustration only about work or about her home life, too?
Carla sighed. “I asked Claude to be here to take Manny and Zeke out to a movie so we could have privacy. I called to remind him to come home early. He said he forgot. Couldn’t make it. The boys were disappointed. I’m angry. And Claude does it all the time. He makes promises but nothing happens—like fixing the bathroom door—and then I’m a nag for complaining about it.”
“Textbook passive-aggressive behavior,” said Robin. “He’s making you angry on purpose, Carla, so he can blame you for starting a fight. He
forgot
to be here.
Forgot
to fix the door. Maybe he’s forgotten a few other things, too?”
Carla stared at Robin for a few seconds, mentally spinning through a list of other things Claude hadn’t done. “You just hit the nail on the pinhead,” said the host.
Bess had gathered the cards and was shuffling the deck. “Since we’re on a husband theme,” said the blonde, “I have a complaint about Borden.”
Alicia said, “I just realized. You’re Bess and Borden. And,” turning toward Carla, “you’re Carla and Claude.”
“Cute, ain’t it?” said Carla.
Turning toward Robin, Alicia said, “And you’re …”
“Just glad to be here,” said Robin, smiling.
Alicia blushed. For a second, she’d forgotten that Robin was husband-free.
Maybe that’s a good thing
, thought Robin. She was usually self-conscious about being single.
Bess finished shuffling and dealt the cards. “I’m sorry if this sounds strange, considering Alicia’s situation,” said
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