Surrender My Love by Lisa Eugene Page A

months ago when she’d needed some time off for her mother’s surgery. Nurse Wall had firmly denied the request, stating she didn’t have the staff to cover Chloe’s absence. Some of the nurses had banded together and each had volunteered to take a turn covering her shifts. Chloe had been deeply appreciative and moved by the support, but Nurse Wall had been furious, saying that her authority had been undermined. She’d upbraided Chloe for allowing her personal issues to disrupt the nursing department. Since then, she’d taken every opportunity to torment her and voice displeasure at almost everything Chloe did.
    Chloe startled when Susan fluttered long strips of paper in front of her face.
    “Don’t worry about Witch Wall. Look what I’ve got!” Susan danced excitedly.
    “What?”
    “Free passes to Club Silo!” She winked.
    “And…”
    “ And one for you, one for me! Don’t ask how I got them.” Susan grinned, following Chloe to her locker.
    “I a lready told you that I can’t go. I can’t afford it.”
    “Look, you have no excuse. There’re no extra shifts that night. Come on out with us! You’re a young , beautiful girl. Stop being such an old woman!”
    Chloe’s hand hesitated as she reached for her locker door, the familiar words resonating through her brain, banging against her conscience. I am so tired of being called that! Just because she was responsible and didn’t party like her friends did, it didn’t mean she was old. She had a lot on her plate. She sighed, fatigue and a strange melancholy washing over her.
    “Come on…” Susan cajoled.
    She chewed on her bottom lip. Her mother did have an aide for Saturday night. And she hadn’t been out in a long time. Maybe socializing with some friends was exactly what she needed to take her mind off her problems…and other things, like the handsome Dr. Brad Markson. She turned to Susan and eyed her skeptically.
    “You sure you didn’ t pay for those?”
    “Well, depends on what you call pay . My jaw still hurts if that counts.”
    Chloe’s eyes rounded in shock and Susan laughed heartily.
    “ I had a lunch date with Freddie today—you know, the guy I’ve been seeing. He works for the owner of Silo. He got me the passes with some… persuasion . And don’t look so shocked. The passes came with a bonus. I got the better end of that deal.” She winked again.
    “ Susan, you’re crazy!” Chloe laughed.
    “ I’m not. You’re just such a goodie-two-shoes! Will you come?”
    “How can I say no after the lengths you went through?” She grinned at her friend.
     
     
    By Thursday morning, Chloe was regretting her decision to go out. It was six a.m. and she was hunched over her last chart, writing notes at the nurse’s station. Most records were electronic, but the hospital still insisted on some handwritten documentation. The previous day, she’d been reconciling her bank accounts and realized that Richard had been siphoning more money than she’d assumed. She knew he’d been taking small sums for food and other necessities, but according to the account statement he’d withdrawn over a thousand dollars in the last month.
    Chloe sighed deeply and squeezed her tired eyes shut, praying that her brother wasn’t in trouble again. Two years ago he’d been in rehab for cocaine addiction. It had been a downward spiral that had torn their small family apart. Following that, her mother had had her devastating accident and Chloe’s life had been forever altered. She’d have to keep a close eye on Richard.
    To make matters worse, he’d exploded yesterday when he found out she’d taken his name off the account. Now he had to go through her if he wanted to withdraw funds.
    He’d lashed out in a caustic rant, assailing her with debasing names, calling her a prudish hag, a bitch, a spinster, and other epithets that broke her heart! He knew her vulnerable spot, and that was where he shot his barbs. He seemed to take great pleasure in reminding