Nothing But the Truth by Carsen Taite Page B

butt.”
    Brett hung up the phone and glanced at the clock. Four o’clock. Lori Logan, her sister-in-law, was the director of nursing at Pine Grove Nursing Home. Brett had just enough time to change before heading across town to pick her up.
    When she arrived, Lori met her at the front desk. “John said you were my taxi for the evening. Here you are, right on time.”
    Brett read from Lori’s harried expression and urgent tone that right on time wasn’t necessarily helpful. “Need a few minutes?”
    “More like half an hour. I have a little issue. Wanna head on without me?”
    “Not a chance. I love my parents, but I don’t need to brave a round of defending my chosen occupation all on my own.” Lori’s career choice drew even more skepticism than her own, and she and Lori had formed a strong alliance.
    “Fair enough. There’s a Starbucks next door. Grab a jolt of caffeinated courage. I’ll meet you over there in thirty.”
    Brett nodded. As she turned away, she spotted a familiar face across the nursing home lobby. She grabbed Lori’s arm and subtlety pointed. “Do you know her?”
    “Sure. That’s Ryan Foster. Her aunt’s a resident. She’s here every Saturday, like clockwork.” Lori cocked her head, her puzzled expression melting into a knowing smile. “She’s beautiful. Want me to introduce you?”
    Brett shuddered. “No thanks. Ms. Foster and I have met. Over the course of a few short moments, we managed to become bitter enemies.”
    “Too bad. Beneath her staid exterior, I imagine she’s a wildcat. Look at how buttoned up she is. All that control has to be holding something at bay.”
    “Lori dear, your imagination has gotten the best of you. Did you sneak in my house and raid my lesbian fiction collection? Now you’re romanticizing visitors to the nursing home.”
    “Ryan Foster has been here every Saturday afternoon for the last three years, without fail. No one, I mean no one, is that consistent. Consistency equals a need for control. Anyone who needs that much control has a wild side they’re working hard to cover up. Mark my words.”
    “You’re crazy. I’m going to get coffee. You get back to work. Meet me at Starbucks when you’re done.” Brett shook her head as she walked back toward the doors. Lori didn’t have a clue about Ryan Foster. She was probably a control freak because she couldn’t stand to think of a world with chaos in it. She was the embodiment of law and order, unable to see shades of gray in her black-and-white existence. Even as she felt disdain, Brett’s curiosity was sparked. Ryan must have some redeeming qualities if she was so dedicated to a family member as to make regular visitation part of her routine. She must love her aunt very much.
    “Excuse me.”
    Brett looked up then quickly down again. The door handle did seem strangely soft, perhaps because she was grasping Ryan’s hand and not the handle itself. Oh, shit. “I’m sorry; I was lost in thought and didn’t see you standing there.” Well, not right there. Actually, I was thinking about you, but not that way. Brett’s prior knowledge of Ryan’s presence did nothing to dispel her surprise at literally running into her while leaving. She judged by Ryan’s expression that the surprise was mutual.
    “I didn’t see you either.” Surprise was replaced by something else, but Brett couldn’t place it.
    “Odd, isn’t it? Us running into each other here?” Brett didn’t know why, but she felt compelled to strike up a conversation.
    Ryan arched her eyebrows. “What are you doing here?”
    “Giving my sister-in-law a lift. She works here.” Brett suddenly had a crazy idea. She tried to stop herself from saying it out loud, but she heard her voice before she could squelch it. “She’s running a bit late. If you don’t have somewhere you need to be, why don’t you join me for coffee?”
    Ryan glanced at her watch as if buying time to make an excuse. Although she still considered the idea