Veronica opened the door and dragged the litter box, scratching post, and bag of toys inside. "Tabitha, come on you little fuzzball, I've got toys for you." She sat down on the floor and pulled out the various items. The orange and white cat came bouncing over to see what the tall human was up to. She sat back and watched as the dark haired woman opened the many packages and tossed fake mice, bagged catnip, and various toys into a pile. "There you go," Veronica said, fully expecting the feline to dive into the pile and play. Tabitha did what any cat would do, walked past the pile of cat toys and started batting at the empty wrappers. "Hey, the toys are over here." She grabbed the little ball with the bell hidden inside and shook it to get the cat's attention. "See? Toys here, garbage there." Tabitha looked at it, looked at the wrappers, and went back to playing with the clear plastic.
"Fine, be that way, see if I care," the dejected woman said, stuffing the wrappers into the plastic bag. "I got you a litter box too, think you'll use that?"
"Mrrow?"
"That's what I thought." She stood up, tucked the bag of litter under one arm, the cat box under the other, and headed to the kitchen. "Seventy five bucks on toys and the stupid thing wants to play with the packages they came in." She set the bag and box on the table. A note held to the refrigerator with a magnet told her that Maria had left for the day along with instructions on how long to microwave the dinner that she had prepared.
Exhaustion begged her to stop and rest but there were just too many things that had to be done. She quickly set up the litter box and put it in the mud room, leaving the door ajar so Tabitha could come and go freely. That task done, Veronica strode out to the living room, picking up the cordless phone and dialing the familiar number on the way.
"Cartwright Insurance, how can I help you?" The crisp feminine voice on the other end of the phone asked.
"Susan Cartwright, please."
"She's busy right now, may I ask who's calling?"
"Veronica Cartwright. Interrupt her, this is important."
"One moment." She heard a click followed by the most boring hold music she had ever heard. The raven haired woman flopped down on her soft brown leather couch and kicked her shoes off, tucking her feet beneath her. Tabitha bounded out of the kitchen and climbed up next to her.
"Mrrow?"
"What do you want?" She asked, reaching out with her free hand to scratch the cat behind the ears. "Let's get something straight right from the start, okay? I bought a scratching post for you. The ten thousand dollar couch is off limits to your claws, got it?"
"Mrrow." The orange and white feline laid her upper body across Veronica's thigh and began purring.
"Veronica, how are you?"
"Fine Sis, listen, I need you to add an employee to the insurance rolls."
"Usually Human Resources sends over their paperwork once they've reached the appropriate service mark." Veronica heard the clacking of the keyboard. "What's the person's social?"
"She's not in the computer yet, Susan. I need you to add her and push the paperwork through."
"She has to be in the system. All employees are added once they've filled out their I-9's and their W-4's."
"She hasn't filled them out yet. She's a new hire." Veronica heard the clacking stop and the squeak of her sister's chair moving.
"What department does she work for?"
"Um…she's a clerk in the accounting office downtown."
"An entry level? Ronnie, don't you know they have to have six months service before we give them benefits?"
"I didn't realize that." She rubbed her forehead, drawing a protest from the purring pile of fluff on her leg.
"What's that?"
"I'm watching a friend's cat for a few days. Look, I hired her personally and promised her full benefits. Can't you push it through?"
"It's so rare that my only sister asks me for a favor. Of course I can. Fax me her forms and I'll add her to the rolls."
"Actually Susan, I need you to fax me the forms for her to sign. I also need you to give her the best medical plan we have and backdate it to the first of the month. Can you do that?"
"It'll cost you," the younger sister said in a sing song voice. "Dinner with Mom next Friday?"
"Can't I just buy you a new car or something?" The raven haired woman groaned.
"Veronica Louise, you never spend any time with Mom. Jack and I are there every Friday night for dinner and Tommy is there on Sundays. She always asks about you."
"She knows my phone number, Susan. I talk to her."
"I know. We heard for two weeks about how you called her on her birthday. Funny, that was a month ago."
"All right, all right. Fax me all the forms and I'll get them back to you later tonight."
"So we'll see you next week at Mom's?"
"Fine. I'll be there, but don't expect me to stick around after dinner while she goes through the scrapbook and tries to relive our childhood."
"At least you'll be there. That'll make her happy."
"Whatever. Fax those forms over, will ya?"
"They'll be there in a few minutes. Wish you'd let me in on why you personally hired someone for an entry level job."
"Sis, if I thought you needed to know, I'd tell you. Nice talking with you too, bye." Veronica pressed the off button on the cordless phone and set it down on the coffee table. "Well Tabitha, that's all set. How about you hop down and play with some of your toys while I take a nap, hmm?" She tried to nudge the feline but the purring pile of fur refused to move. "Fine, be that way." She adjusted the end pillow and closed her eyes. At first the rhythmic purring annoyed her but within a few minutes Veronica was sound asleep, as was a very contented Tabitha.
Rose was awake but very obviously in pain by the time Veronica returned to the hospital. "Hi."
"Hi Rose. How are you feeling?" She set the attaché on the floor and pulled the chair next to the bed.
"Everything hurts but other than that I'm fine," she joked.
"Doesn't the medicine they give you help?"
"It puts me to sleep, but yeah. It's the only thing that touches the pain," she replied, smoothing the blanket covering her.
"I brought some forms that I need you to sign. I filled them out as best I could but I didn't know all the answers." She pulled a manila folder out of the case and set it on the bed. "I never realized how many forms it takes to hire someone." She held the pen out and was surprised to see Rose take it in her left hand. "You're a lefty?"
"Yeah."
"Me too," she smiled. "The first three just need your signature. The others have some blanks that you have to fill in."
"You know, I still can't believe you're just giving me a job, especially since I can't even work," Rose said, shaking her head. "It just doesn't make any sense."
"I do a lot of things that don't make any sense, just ask my mother."
Rose signed the forms quietly before handing the pen back. "Are you close to your mother?"
"Not really. We have different opinions on how I should live." She hesitated for a moment before deciding to broach the subject that had tugged at her mind. "What about your family? Did you have a falling out with them or something? I mean, it seems strange that you wouldn't want them to know that you were in the hospital."
Green eyes turned away to stare at the venetian blinds that covered the window. "I was a baby when they died. Car accident. A drunk driver ran a stop light and hit them. That's all I know."
"I'm sorry, I didn't realize." She felt bad for bringing the subject up.
"It's all right," the young woman said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "I don't remember them. I guess you can't miss what you never had." Rose tried to sound casual about it but Veronica suspected that it was an act put on for her benefit.
"Who raised you?"
"The State. Sometimes foster families but mostly I lived in state-run orphanages or homes. As soon as I graduated high school I got a job working as a cashier. I've been on my own since then." Not wanting to continue the topic of her past, Rose changed the subject. "So how's Tabitha?"
"She's fine. She likes to purr a lot."
"Mmm, that means she's happy," Rose replied. "You must be good with animals."
"I wouldn't know. This is the first time I've ever had one."
"You never had pets while you growing up?"
"No. My father was allergic to cats and my mother was afraid that a dog would wreck the place. How'd you end up with Tabitha?"
"Oh." She reached for the water glass only to have the raven haired woman help her. She took a long swallow of the cool liquid before answering. "I found her, or rather she found me. I was walking home one night and she appeared out of nowhere. Just skin and bones. Followed me home. She's been with me since." A fearful look came to her eyes. "The landlord didn't see her, did he? I'm not supposed to have any pets."
"Actually…he came downstairs while I was there."
"Oh no." A worried look covered the young woman's face. "Was he nice?"
"Not in the least," Veronica replied. "He seems to think the word fuck is an adjective and should be used every time he opens his foul little mouth."
"What did he say to you?" The trepidation was evident in her voice.
"Nothing you need to worry about right now."
"He kicked me out, didn't he?" While the executive would never consider it a great loss, the young woman was obviously upset by the news.
"Rose, don't worry about it, please? I promise everything will be all right." She looked at her watch. "Come on, I think Jeopardy is coming up soon. We'll sit back and see who get the most questions right, okay?"
"I like Jeopardy," Rose said, pressing the button to raise the head of the bed slightly. "There's TV in the employee lounge at work and sometimes my dinner break is at seven-thirty so I can watch it. I'm pretty good too, although I don't know if I'll be able to stay awake too long."
"Oh, do you want me to leave so you can get some sleep?"
"No." She reached out for Veronica's hand. "Please stay."
"Sure, just don't get upset if I get more answers right. No one will play trivial pursuit with me."
"Oh, do you have that? It's such a fun game. I played it once down at the community center."
"I'll make you a deal. I'll bring it in tomorrow for us to play and I promise not to beat you too badly."
"We'll see who beats who," Rose countered with a smile. The Jeopardy theme song drew their attention to the television. "Ooh, it's starting." She settled her head back into her pillow to watch the show but before the first commercial break she was sleeping. The dark haired executive gently tucked Rose's blanket in and shut the television off. She sat there for several minutes looking at the large casts and the stitches that formed a line on the young woman's cheekbone.
"I'm sorry," she whispered before leaving the room.
Tabitha was waiting none too patiently at the door when Veronica returned home. "Mrrow!"
"What? You have food."
"Mrrow!"
"You have toys and you have food. What more do you want?" Tabitha responded by rubbing against Veronica's leg, leaving orange and white hairs all over her black slacks. She bent down and picked the feline up, apparently turning on the purr button at the same time. She held the happy cat with one arm and the attaché in the other. "Wanna see how the fax machine works? Come on."
Veronica's office was on the first floor near the stairs. Five minutes later the insurance forms were faxed and the dark haired woman ran upstairs to change into her 'comfortable' clothes, namely an oversized sweatshirt and sweatpants. She glanced at her watch and groaned. She had a meeting first thing in the morning and had yet to review the monthly reports. "I think it's gonna be a long night, Tabitha." She plodded over to her desk and turned on her computer, dreading the idea of spending the next few hours pouring over spreadsheets and reports. Of course the heads of each division would go over the same things with her tomorrow but Veronica prided herself on knowing exactly how good or bad each department was doing before hearing the glossed over version from her relatives. A push of the power button and the computer hummed to life, the Cartwright corporate logo covering the twenty inch screen. She typed her password and the logo disappeared, revealing the main screen. "Mrrow?"
"No. This is human stuff, nothing up here for you to see." She said to the anxious cat standing up on hind legs in anticipation of being picked up. Tabitha extended her front claws into the light grey of Veronica's sweatpants. "Don't even think about it."
"Mrrow?"
"No. Go play with your toys." She turned her attention to the first report, Cartwright Real Estate. Veronica's younger brother Tommy was in charge of that division. Several tracts of land had been purchased throughout the region in anticipation of building housing developments but they were seriously behind in their growth projections. The timetable had called for one hundred homes to be built and sold yet as of the end of last month only twenty had actually been completed and barely half of those had bids in on them much less sold. "What am I gonna do with him?" She leaned back in her comfortable leather chair and rubbed her eyes. The movement seemed to be an open invitation to Tabitha, who quickly jumped up onto her lap. "Come on, I can't get any work done if you're here." She gently scooped the purring animal in her arms and set it down on the floor. "Go play."
The clock in the lower right corner of the computer read 2:53AM by the time Veronica gave up and shut the computer down for the night. She went out to the main room to set the alarm for the night when she spotted the dark blue vinyl checkbook sitting on the entry table next to the library books. Common sense told her not to look, that Rose's financial business was her own, but curiosity got the best of her and she found herself sitting on the soft brown leather sofa with the checkbook in hand.
There weren't that many entries. The register only went back four months, but it gave a wealth of insight into the life of the woman lying in the hospital. Small, neat writing detailed every deposit, every check. No deposit was over one hundred fifty dollars. Four withdrawals were listed as being for rent, each time wiping out money that had taken most of the previous month to build up. Two entries existed for the power company, and several were written to Money Slasher. Every week deposits of various meager amounts were recorded followed by checks to the supermarket for groceries. The highest check was for slightly over ten dollars and the lowest was for just over five. What Veronica found most interesting were the remaining checks, all written to someone named Delores Bickering. Those checks ranged in amount from five to twenty-five dollars, each one taking what little remained in the young woman's account after paying for her weekly expenses. Those entries appeared just as often as the checks to Money Slasher. The current balance showed one hundred twelve dollars and change in the young woman's account, far less than the rent that had been due. Veronica's eyes went back to the entry for the November rent. It was that week that Rose had purchased the five dollars and change worth of groceries, the register showing a negative amount of two dollars and fifteen cents after that entry. It was the only time that Rose had overdrawn her account and Veronica couldn't even imagine what the young woman had purchased to try and survive that week.
She closed the checkbook and set it down on the coffee table. Why was Rose, who didn't have two dimes to rub together, constantly writing checks to someone else? Did she have an old debt she was trying to pay off? What other explanation could there be? The young woman said that there was no one to contact, so this Bickering person couldn't be a relative. The late hour and the heavy thinking took its toll as exhaustion finally won out and the couch once again became the wealthy woman's bed for the night, Tabitha curled up against her.
Somewhere in the distance a phone was ringing. Veronica rolled over, disturbing the sleeping cat. The ringing became louder and louder, penetrating her dream world and pulling her out of her sound sleep. Her arm shot out and clumsily fumbled about the coffee table for the annoying telephone. "Mmm…Cartwright."
"Ronnie?"
"Yeah?" came the sleep muddled reply.
"Ronnie, do you have any idea what time it is?" The sound of her sister's voice helped to clear the cobwebs in her mind as she slowly rolled into a sitting position. "It's quarter to ten."
"Oh shit!" Blue eyes shot open as she realized the purpose of the call. "Dammit, I fell asleep on the couch. I'll be there as soon as I can." She was already heading for the stairs, cordless phone in hand. "Susan, not a word. I had a flat tire, got it?"
"I can't believe you overslept," the younger sister chuckled. "I thought you had a built in alarm clock. Wait until Mom hears this."
"Susan…" she growled, reaching the top of the stairs and racing into her bedroom. "I'll be there, stall them or something." She hit the off button on the phone and tossed it on the bed as she headed for her bathroom. Ten minutes later she was in her Jeep Cherokee and heading for Albany, speed limits be damned.
At ten-thirty, the double oak doors opened wide as Victoria raced into the meeting room. "Sorry, flat tire." she said while taking her seat at the far end of the long rectangular table. "Shall we get started?" The silence she received caused her to take a look around. Apparently she wasn't the only one to have trouble getting to the meeting on time. "Where's Tommy?"
"I don't know. I've been calling him ever since I got off the phone with you and there's no answer at any of his numbers," Susan replied. Seated just to the right of her older sister, the head of Cartwright Insurance could never be mistaken for Veronica. Susan had, thanks to hours with a stylist, flaming red hair permed into large curls that swarmed about her head and on down to her shoulders. Though married for thirteen years to a successful lawyer, she refused to give up her family name, deciding that the stature it provided was far better than the common name of Smith. Unlike Veronica, who outside of light nail polish could only rarely could be coerced into wearing the slightest amount of makeup, Susan believed wholeheartedly that it enhanced her features and thus spent two hours every morning applying everything from base to blush to mascara.
"Did you try his beeper?" It was a stupid question but Ronnie still had to ask. Over the last few months, her youngest sibling had become increasingly difficult to get hold of and his attentiveness at meetings left plenty to be desired. "Fine, we're running late enough, let's just get started." She opened her portfolio and pulled out the first report. One by one they went around the room, ten different Cartwrights or relations of Cartwrights explaining how their particular division was doing and what their plans were for the next month. Most of the words sailed past Veronica, who nodded occasionally but rarely paid any attention. Her mind was several miles away, wondering what Rose was doing, how she was feeling, and how Delores Bickering fit into the young woman's life.
It was quarter past twelve when the doors opened to reveal a sandy haired man, hair disheveled, suit rumpled. "Sorry," he mumbled, slinking over to his chair. "Power outage, alarm didn't go off."
"I suppose you didn't have a clean suit either?" Veronica said disapprovingly. The various cousins and relatives surrounding the table looked from the raven haired woman to Tommy and back again, fully expecting a battle. The young man, however, pretended not to notice his oldest sister's comment.
"Did I miss anything important?"
"No, of course not," her tone barely betrayed her annoyance at him. "I was just getting ready to go over the figures for your latest project."
"I'd say we're in pretty good shape, all things considered," he replied. Ten pairs of eyes flew back to Veronica.
"And just what things would you like me to consider in light of the figures I'm looking at?" She pulled out the computer generated report and flipped through the pages until she found what she was looking for. "Sales are off almost thirty percent over last year and expenses are through the roof."
"I can't help it if the contractors raised their prices. Inflation, you know," he shot back angrily. Veronica didn't miss the bloodshot eyes or the way Tommy kept looking at his watch.
"Inflation has nothing to do with this. According to these figures, over fifty housing units should be completed. As of last week, only twenty were finished. What the hell is going on, Tommy?"
"I'm on top of it, all right?" He shot back angrily, his fist striking the marble tabletop with enough force to shake the water glass in front of him. Silence filled the room as everyone waited for Veronica to react. Instead she turned her attention to Frank.
"I hear you got the variance you wanted. When's the ground-breaking?" For the rest of the meeting, the raven haired woman refused to look at her angry brother, and vice-versa. Tommy left the instant the meeting was over, only adding to the speculations and comments by the relatives.
"Ronnie, what's going on with him?" Susan had pulled the executive aside, concern clearly written on her face. "He's been so strange lately, so angry. You don't think he's doing drugs, do you?"
"I don't know what I think, Sis, I just know that something is wrong." She glanced at her watch. "I need to be somewhere."
"Yeah, what's going on with you? What's with this Grayson person?" Her younger sister's natural curiosity for gossip, particularly whenever it concerned anyone in the family, was showing through.
"Nothing, just someone I met and decided to hire. Did you take care of that insurance?" As she was talking, Veronica was heading toward the door.
"Of course. It's on my list of things to do today." Susan replied casually.
"No. It has to be done right away. And don't forget to backdate it to the beginning of the month. It's very important." She gripped her younger sister's upper arm to stress her point.
"I'll do it the instant I get back to my office. Really, Ronnie, you'd think it was a life or death situation."
"Just make sure it's done today, Susan. Fax the confirmations to me at home." Veronica walked out to the elegant hallway and pressed the down button for the elevator. She stepped in only to have her younger sister stick her arm out to keep the doors from shutting.
"Hey, I almost forgot to ask. What'd you get Mom for Christmas?"
"I've got to go, Susan." She pressed the button and waited expectantly.
"You mean you haven't gotten her anything yet? Christmas is only twenty days away."
"That's twenty days that I have to pick something out. Don't worry about it. Mom will have an appropriate gift from me. Come on, Susan. I need to get going here." She pushed her sister's arm out of the way of the doors.
"Just don't forget to be at Mom's next Friday for dinner. You promised."
The Jeep wound its way up Madison Avenue just as a light snow began to fall. Veronica remembered her promise to bring a trivial pursuit game with her but the darkening clouds and the late hour made her decide to forgo a trip to the mall to pick one up in favor of getting to the hospital before it got too much later.
She walked through the open door to Rose's room only to find the bed empty, an orderly changing the sheets. "Where's Miss Grayson?"
"X-ray. They'll be bringing her back in a few minutes," the burly man replied, tucking the last corner in. She went to the chair in the nearby corner and sat down to wait for the young woman's return.
Fifteen minutes went by before Rose was wheeled back into her room. The first thing Veronica noticed were the fresh tears that streamed down the sides of the injured woman's face. The two orderlies were as careful as they could be with their patient but Rose still cried out in pain when they switched her from the gurney back to her bed.
"Hey, how'ya feeling?" The tall woman asked softly, pulling the stiff plastic chair closer to the bed.
Rose forced a smile to her face at the sight of the raven haired woman. After a long night of being in agony and an even more grueling morning of having doctors and residents coming in to poke and prod her, the sight of the woman who made her recovery possible was quite welcome. "They took new X-rays of my legs to make sure everything is still lined up right." Her face betrayed her pain as she shifted and she rubbed her hip. "They're giving me Hepasomething to thin my blood. Doctor Barnes is worried about clotting."
"Did he say anything about how you're doing? I mean, he doesn't foresee any long term problems, does he?" Veronica reached over and helped adjust one of the pillows behind the honey haired woman's head.
"She said we won't know that for weeks," Rose replied.
"She? Well, what did you think of her? Did she seem competent? If you don't like her, Rose, you just let me know. I'll get you another doctor." The words came out in a rush and Veronica was just as surprised as the injured woman. "I mean, if you aren't happy with the way she's treating you, you have the right to ask for another doctor." She hoped her explanation didn't sound as lame to Rose as it did to her.
"No, she's fine, really. I mean, she can't help it if I'm in pain. She said I'm getting the most pain medicine she feels comfortable giving me."
"If you need more…"
"No. I don't think they make anything strong enough to touch the pain. It just hurts so much all the time. Even when I'm sleeping, I'll move and the pain is just so strong it wakes me up." She looked down dejectedly at her smashed legs and ankle. "It feels like the pain will never end."
"Rose, it may not seem like it now, but you will get better. It's just going to take time." Veronica tried to keep her voice as reassuring as possible. "Tabitha is quite the character," she said, hoping that the change in subject would help take Rose's mind off her injuries.
"She's the best thing that ever happened to me," the young woman said honestly. "Whenever I need her, she's right there. All she ever asks for is food and attention."
"And I'm sure you gave her plenty of both," Veronica replied.
"Well, the love and attention I can always give her." The green eyes took on a sad look. "Food isn't always as easy." She looked up at the sculptured features of her generous benefactor. "I'm sure she's very happy with you."
"Rose, I haven't taken Tabitha away from you, believe me. I'm only watching her while you're here. Once you're back on your feet, I'll bring her right back to you, I promise."
"I don't know what I'm going to do," she said softly, tears from both the constant pain and the fear of losing her beloved pet clouding her eyes and threatening to spill over. "I can't even take care of myself anymore much less her. I don't even have a place to live."
"That place wasn't fit for a rat to live in. When you get out of here-"
"When I get out of here I won't be able to walk, I'll have no money, and I won't even have a place to live," Rose snapped. "You should have left me there on the street."
"NO!" Veronica stood up and leaned over until she was only inches from Rose's face and looking into deep green eyes. "Listen to me. You will walk again and you don't have to worry about finding a place to live. Rose, I'm not going to give up on you so don't you go giving up on yourself. You're a survivor, I know that. Don't let this take that away."
"What am I supposed to do when they release me? It's the fourth already. Cecil would certainly have changed the locks by now. He warned me to never be late with the rent."
"That overgrown bully wouldn't bother changing the locks."
"He did kick me out, didn't he?"
"Yes," Veronica admitted. "But I wouldn't have let you continue to live there anyway. It's not fit for a human to live in and certainly not you. When they release you from here they'll probably send you to a rehabilitation center until you can walk again. After that I'll make sure you get a decent place to live." She returned to her chair and took a deep breath before continuing. "Rose, we both know that you need help and that I want to help. I know you've been taking care of yourself for a long time but right now you need someone else to look out for you. Please let me be that someone."
The room was quiet for a minute while Rose looked down at her lap, chewing her lower lip. "I haven't had to rely on anyone to take care of me for a long time. I guess I don't have much choice now." Her face betrayed her feeling of failure and the hopelessness of her situation. "This is hard for me. I'd rather go without than take charity."
Veronica found it hard to believe that it was so difficult for Rose to accept the help being offered when the alternatives were so clear but when she paused to consider the story that the checkbook told, it made perfect sense. There was a depth to the young woman's character that she wouldn't have believed still existed in the modern age where so many people seemed more than ready to accept anything the state or government offered, whether they deserved it or not. "Don't think of it as charity, Rose. I don't."
"What do you think of it as?" She asked curiously. Before Veronica could answer, another blast of intense pain shot through the young woman, causing her face to screw up with agony. "Oh god, it hurts," she hissed. "It hurts so much." Tears began to stream down her face. "Make it stop, please make it stop hurting," she begged.
Unable to take the pain away, Veronica did the only thing she could think of. She sat on the edge of the bed and pulled Rose into a tight embrace, unmindful of the tears that soaked her silk blouse. It didn't matter, nothing mattered except trying to help the incredibly brave young woman get through this. "It's okay, Rose. I've got you," she murmured into the golden hair while her hand gently rubbed up and down the bare back exposed by the hospital gown.
"It hurts…it won't stop hurting…oh god, please make it stop, make it stop hurting so much," Rose sobbed, her grip around Veronica's neck tightening. The strong arms wrapped around her offered comfort, something which had almost never been offered to the young woman before and Rose accepted it gratefully.
"I'm sorry, Rose, I'm so sorry," Veronica whispered over and over, feeling her own emotions threatening to come forth in empathy for the young woman's pain, pain caused by her actions on that fateful night. "It's gonna be all right. Shhh…okay now, it's all right." She continued to make shushing noises and hold Rose as the sobbing continued. Mercifully the nurse arrived a few minutes later and gave the injured woman enough a shot to bring on an uneasy sleep. Veronica remained for quite a while after, watching Rose sleep and wishing that there was something, anything that she could do to remove the damage she had done to the courageous young woman.
Rose awoke several hours later to find herself alone. She pressed the call button for the nurse.
"What do you need, deary?" The dark skinned woman said as she entered.
"Nothing really, " Rose replied, embarrassed about having pressed the button just to see another face. It had been four days since she was brought in and the only people she ever saw were hospital personnel and Ronnie.
"Well, I'm glad you're awake," the nurse replied. "It's time to check your vitals."
"Do you know what time Miss Cartwright left?" the honey haired woman asked just before the thermometer found its way into her mouth.
"Would that be your friend that was here earlier?" Rose nodded. "She left shortly after I went on duty so I'd say about an hour or so ago. She left you a note."
It was only then that Rose saw the cream colored paper folded in half sitting on her bed tray. She reached for it but her arms weren't long enough. The nurse handed it to her before wrapping the black blood pressure cuff around her upper arm. Rose let the note lay on her chest until the nurse was done, preferring to read it in private. She grimaced as the cuff constricted more and more around her small arm. When she thought it couldn't possibly get any tighter she heard the hiss of the air being released. "Fine. Your pressure is good and your temperature is normal. At this rate you'll be out of here in no time." The nurse removed the Velcro fastened cuff and made a notation on the chart. "Your dinner will be here shortly and I'll be back later to check on you."
"Thank you." Rose smiled, she had been put back on solid food the day before and her appetite had returned stronger than ever.
Once the nurse was gone Rose picked up the note and unfolded it. There on Cartwright letterhead was a note from Veronica.
Rose,
I had to return to the office to take care of a few things. I'll be back in time for Jeopardy. Try to rest and don't be afraid to ask for more painkillers if you need them. Leave some room after dinner. I hope you like Chinese food.
Ronnie
The young woman's fingers slid over the textured paper. Where her own handwriting was small and neat, Veronica's was full of flourish and style. She grinned at the comment about leaving room after dinner. When it came to food, Rose knew she could always eat everything in front of her and then some. She pressed the remote for the television, once again silently grateful to her benefactor, and noted that the local news was on. That meant less than an hour before Veronica would return. Rose took the plastic comb off of the table and ran it through her thick golden hair, trying to make herself look a little more presentable to her new friend. "My friend," she said aloud, smiling at the thought. She thought about the way she had cried so hard earlier and how good it felt to be held by Veronica. In her arms, she felt safe, cared for, comforted. Strangely, Rose found herself wishing for that feeling again, to be held in those strong arms, to smell the light scent of perfume on the tall woman's tanned neck, to feel the compassion and tenderness within her touch and voice. Rose still didn't understand why Veronica chose to befriend her but she was grateful that she did.
Wheel of Fortune was halfway over when Rose was treated to the sight of Veronica entering the room, a small bag full of delightfully smelling food in one hand, the ever present attaché in the other. "Hi there."
"Hi," the young woman replied, happily sniffing the air as Veronica set the bag on the bed tray and took her usual seat next to the bed, her leather bomber jacket tossed haphazardly across the back of the chair. "Smells wonderful."
"Did you save room? I've got shrimp chow mien and boneless barbecued spare ribs," she said while pulling the white boxes out of the bag along with two sets of plastic utensils.
"When it comes to food, I always have room," Rose replied, taking the fork offered to her. Her legs were throbbing but somehow the pain seemed to be diminished by the presence of her new friend.
"I didn't get any bowls or plates so we'll just have to share," Veronica said as she opened the boxes to reveal steaming hot food. "I didn't know what you liked but I figured I couldn't go wrong with the ribs."
"I've never had shrimp chow mien but yeah, the ribs won't last long." Her fork was already headed for the box.
"Oh, you'll have to try it. It's really good." She pulled out a forkful of the chow mien and put it into her mouth, drawing air in at the same time to try and counteract the burning hot temperature of the food. Rose was busily pushing the small pieces of meat into her mouth, humming with delight.
"Oh, this is sooo good," she mumbled around the mouthful of pork. "Thank you."
"You're welcome. We've even got fortune cookies for dessert." Since Rose didn't think anything of talking with food in her mouth, Veronica relaxed and did the same. "I didn't have time to stop anywhere for dinner so I figured I'd pick some up and have it here."
"Oh, I'm glad you did. This is delicious," Rose said. "Thank you." She pulled the box of chow mien close to her mouth and pulled out a forkful of vegetables and shrimp. "Oh, this is good."
"Told you," Veronica smiled, pleased that her choices were so well received. "So did you rest well? I'm sorry I had to leave but I had some matters to take care of at the office."
"Is everything all right? You're helping me isn't causing any problems, is it?" Rose asked with concern, not wanting to do anything to add stress to her new friend.
"No Rose, my problems are with one of the divisions." She set her fork down and gave a polite burp. "Oh, that was good. I've forgotten how tasty Chinese food was." The theme music for Jeopardy began on the television followed by the host introducing the contestants. "So you didn't answer me. Did you have a good rest?"
"Yes, I slept very well, thanks." She turned to catch the deep blue eyes of the older woman. "Thanks for staying until I fell asleep."
Their picnic was interrupted by the nurse returning. She took one look at the two empty boxes and the guilty looks on the women's faces and frowned. "You really shouldn't be bringing food into the hospital," she chastised. "Miss Grayson, you're not on any special diets, are you?"
"No. I'm sorry, I asked her to bring it," Rose said, trying to take the blame.
"In the future you really should stick to the food we serve. Our nutritionists work hard to design a meal-"
"Who is Abraham Lincoln," Rose blurted, her attention on the show and not on the lecture she was receiving.
"Naw, it was Johnson."
"No. He didn't take office in February, he took it in April." The host verified that Rose's answer was correct complete with the dates that the presidential succession took place. The nurse looked at the two women focused on the television and gave up her attempt to explain why the Chinese food wasn't as good for a patient as hospital food. She left the room knowing full well where she was going to go on her dinner break.
Just as the theme music was ending the announcement came over the loudspeakers that visiting hours were over. "I guess that's my cue to leave," Veronica said reluctantly. "I'll see you tomorrow." She stood up and picked up her jacket. "Oh, I almost forgot." She reached into the pocket and pulled out a business card and pen. "Let me leave you my number in case you want to call or if you want me to bring you anything." She scribbled her private phone number down on the back of the card and set it down on the bed tray before picking up the empty food boxes and bag. "Really, if you want or need anything, just give me a call. I'm usually up until eleven." She smoothed an imaginary wrinkle on the blanket before donning her bomber jacket. "Rest well, Rose. I'll see you tomorrow."
"I don't want to keep you from your work."
"Trust me, I'd much rather be here then there. I'll be by sometime after breakfast. Remember what I said. Call me whenever you want to, even if it's just to talk." Just to be sure, Veronica pushed the phone a bit closer on the side table.
"Thanks. Good night, Veronica."
"Hey, call me Ronnie. All my friends do," she said with a smile.
"Ronnie. Good night, drive carefully." Rose didn't notice the look that flashed across the older woman's face before being covered up with a fake smile.
"Good night, Rose."
Ronnie was curled up in bed, Tabitha laying next to her when the phone rang. A quick glance at the clock told her that it was almost eleven. "Hello?"
"Um…hi, it's Rose. I hope I'm not calling too late."
"No, no you're not calling too late at all." She sat up, much to Tabitha's displeasure. "You okay?"
"Yeah, I um…I guess I just wanted to…see how Tabitha was," came the lame excuse. Ronnie smiled, propping a pillow behind her back and leaning against the oak headboard.
"The purr machine is fine. You want to say hi to her? She seems to think that wherever I am is a good place for her to be." Without waiting for an answer she put the phone near the cat. "Say hi to Mommy, Tabitha." She held it there for a few seconds before putting the receiver back to her ear. "Did you hear her purring?"
"Yeah." Ronnie could feel the smile through the phone and in turn smiled herself. "Is there anything you want me to bring tomorrow? I'll probably be there around ten or so."
"Um…if it wouldn't be too much trouble, do you think you could check my mail for me?"
"Damn, I completely forgot about that. I'll have to stop at the post office and put a forwarding address in for you before that jerk Cecil starts going through your mail."
"Oh…I don't know where you could have it forwarded to."
"I'll take care of it, don't worry. But yeah, I'll swing by there tomorrow and see if you've gotten anything."
"I'd really appreciate it." There was a momentary silence before Rose continued. "Ronnie?"
"Yeah?"
"Um…sleep well, okay?" That caused the executive to smile again.
"You too, Rose. I'll see you in the morning."
"Good night."
"Night." She waited a few seconds before pushing the off button on the phone and putting it back in the charger on her night stand. Tabitha crawled onto her chest and began trying to imprint her paw marks on Ronnie's internal organs. "Oof, I don't think so, Missy," she said, gently pushing the cat back onto the bed and receiving a dejected meow in response. "Come on, I've got a lot of things to take care of tomorrow. It's a huge bed. There's plenty of room without you having to be right on top of me." Nonetheless, the raven haired beauty would end up falling asleep with the purring feline curled up against her.
The alarm went off at six as usual, announcing the start to Ronnie's day. "Mrrow?"
"In a minute," she replied sleepily, throwing the blankets off and sticking her feet into the soft blue slippers waiting next to the bed. With eyes half closed, she trudged into her bathroom. Returning a few minutes later, teeth brushed and bladder emptied, she stripped off her sweats and donned her light grey spandex workout suit with matching shorts that ran down to mid thigh and headed for the basement.
Ronnie's private gym would be the envy of any fitness junkie. With the exception of the room that held the furnace and water heater, the rest of the basement was devoted to her myriad of benches, machines, and mats. Growing up in the house that was now hers and hers alone, Ronnie had often dreamed of renovating the once musty basement into a place where she could just be herself, pumping iron and working up a healthy sweat. Her goal was accomplished with the private gym. The room was brightly lit from the overhead fluorescents, enhanced by the walls of mirrors. She grabbed a fresh towel from the shelf, turned on the stereo, and headed for the stair climber to get warmed up.
Duran Duran blared through the speakers placed throughout the large room while Ronnie pushed her calves and thighs to the limits on the stair climber. In her own private haven, no one could hear her singing to the music, see the sweat forming on her brow, neck and chest, or notice the way she pushed herself. She prided herself on her fit body and strength but both required constant maintenance. Twenty minutes climbing stairs that never went anywhere and she moved on to the next piece of equipment, taking the time to tie her hair up to keep it off her face and the back of her neck. She checked the amount of weights on the bar before lying down on the bench, pulling the bar off of its rest, and bringing it down to her chest. She wiggled her fingers to make certain her hands were in the proper position and began her grueling repetition, pushing the barbell up to maximum height before lowering back down to her chest. Then it was off to the leg press, the crunch machine for her abdominals, the forearm grips, then the skiing machine for a good all over workout. By the time the CD was finished, Ronnie was a mass of well-earned sweat and muscles that begged for a break. She threw the soaked towel into the hamper near the door and made her way back to her bedroom where she peeled the sweat covered spandex from her body and entered her bathroom. Her shower head sent pulses of hot water against her body, massaging while cleaning. Ten minutes with the hair dryer and Ronnie was refreshed and ready to face whatever the day had to offer her.
Snow had fallen during the night, covering the city with a light coating of white. The bright blue Cherokee made its way up the narrow Albany streets, fighting the rest of the Friday morning traffic. She found a parking space on Morris Street and carefully made her way up the stairs to retrieve Rose's mail. She picked through it, planning on leaving the junk mail for Cecil to deal with when one small envelope caught her attention. She tucked it into the inside pocket of her bomber and returned to the warmth of her sports vehicle. Only then did she pull it out and examine the return address. D. Bickering, RR 3 Box 4120, Cobleskill. Cobleskill was a small village over an hour away from Albany, known more for its agricultural college than anything else. It was thought of as being mostly farmland, although there were a fair number of residents in the area. The overwhelming majority of the residents were either farmers or people who were willing to travel forty minutes or more to get to work each day, so far from any real cities was the village. Ronnie shoved the letter back into her pocket and put the Jeep into gear, determined to get to the hospital and hand the letter to Rose before the urge to go home and steam the envelope open got the best of her. She desperately wanted to know how the mysterious Delores Bickering fit into Rose's life and why the young woman with no money was writing checks to this person.
Ronnie arrived just as the nurse finished checking Rose's vitals. As expected, the young woman's face showed the pain that the drugs couldn't completely erase. "Hey you," she said softly, drawing Rose's attention from the nurse to her.
"Hi," the honey haired woman smiled. "Looks like the snow got you."
"Just a little," Ronnie replied, brushing the melting flakes off her dark hair and the shoulders of her soft brown jacket. "Should I come back in a little while?"
"I'm almost done," the nurse said without looking up from her task. She stood and made several notations on Rose's chart. "There. All finished for now," she said as she peeled off the latex gloves into the red waste container. "Doctor Barnes will be in to see you in a little while," she said before leaving the two women alone.
Curiosity won out the instant they were alone. Ronnie pulled the envelope out of her pocket and handed it to Rose. "Here's your mail."
The smile that had been on the young woman's face melted at the sight of the writing on the envelope. She opened it and read the words written on spiral bound notebook paper while Ronnie hung her coat over the back of the chair, set her attaché down on the floor, and took her usual seat next to the bed. Rose was quiet as she finished reading the letter and put it back into the envelope. "Could you do me a favor and bring me my checkbook tomorrow?"
"Is something wrong? Anything I can help with?"
"No, it's just something I have to take care of." She couldn't bring herself to meet the piercing blue eyes looking at her. "I hate to ask, but could you spare an envelope and a stamp too?"
"Of course, Rose," Ronnie replied, still dying with curiosity about the contents of the letter. "Look…if you have a debt that you need help paying…" She regretted the words instantly, thinking that her new friend would be offended.
"No, it's not that. It's from someone I used to live with." Rose's head never lifted up and her whole mannerism changed, withdrawing into herself.
"A boyfriend?"
"A foster mother. I lived with her for about two years. She took care of me when no one else would." The honey haired woman's shoulders slumped and she let out a defeated sigh. "She's had a hard time since the state took all the kids she was caring for away. You don't want to hear about this," she said, giving the tall woman a way out if she wanted it.
"Sure I do," Ronnie said, reaching over to clasp the smaller hand within her own. "That letter seemed to really bother you. Care to share?" She expected Rose to elaborate a little about Delores but was surprised to find the letter pushed into her hand.
"I think that pretty much will explain everything."
Ronnie looked at Rose before opening the envelope and reading the letter.
Rose,
I haven't heard from you for a while. Things are really hard here. I can barely keep a roof over my head much less anything else. The idiots at social services don't understand anything I tell them. I know you're busy with your life and don't have time for an old lady like me but you have to remember that I took care of you when no one else would. I opened my home to you, put food in your stomach, and made sure you got to go to school. You've been good about trying to help me but I really need more than what you've been sending. You know it costs a lot to feed someone else's kid. Without me you would have starved. I was there when you needed someone to take care of you. I'll be looking forward to whatever pit…pittnce…whatever little amount you can send me.
Your auntie Delores
Ronnie folded the note back up and shoved it into the envelope, trying hard to keep her temper in check, which was quickly becoming hard to do. She set the envelope down on the bed tray and gripped the side rails of the bed with both hands so tightly that her knuckles turned white. She took several breaths to try and calm down before feeling the green eyes looking at her expectantly. "You don't owe her, Rose," she said through gritted teeth, unable to bring her head up to meet the gaze.
"I feel like I do," the young woman said sadly. "When I was living with her, there were four of us. She always made it clear that the state didn't give her enough to take care of us."
"Bullshit." The executive flew out of her seat and stormed over to the window, looking out at the light snow falling. "I have no right to tell you what to do with your money, Rose, but she's just using you, playing on your sympathy. As long as you keep giving her money, money that you can't afford to spare, she'll just keep coming back for more." She turned to look at the young woman. "Did she once thank you for the money you've sent so far? No, she just said that you needed to send more. She's guilting you into giving her money, Rose. Whatever debt you think you owe her, it's been paid long ago. Now she's just sucking you dry." She returned to her seat and lowered her voice, not wanting to upset Rose any more than she was. "Not once did she ask how you were doing, not even one kind word. That letter was nothing more than 'send me money'. You don't deserve to have your kindness taken advantage like that, Rose. You're too good a person to be treated like that."
"She's the closest thing I have to family," the young woman protested, albeit weakly. She had never shared this problem with anyone else before and was surprised to see her friend's reaction. Rose had heard for so long about how she owed Delores for taking care of her that she believed it to be a debt that she'd never be able to repay, regardless of her own personal feelings about it. To have someone voice the feelings that had been buried deep inside her was something she didn't expect.
"You don't need family like that. You deserve better," Ronnie said. She gave a resigned sigh. "I told you I would bring you your checkbook and I will. I'll also bring you the stamp and envelope but I really wish you'd think about this before you send her any more money." She reached out and took Rose's hand in her own. "Promise me that you'll give this some thought first, okay?"
"Okay," the young woman replied, drawing a smile from Ronnie. "Let's talk about something else instead, okay?"
"Sure, name it."
"Why don't you tell me about your family? I'd love to hear about them."
"It's not as interesting as you might think." Ronnie was going to try and worm her way out of it but the expectant look on Rose's face changed her mind. "All right, but I'll warn you, it's pretty boring." She shifted in her seat, wishing she had worn jeans instead of her dress slacks. "I'm the oldest of three. There's me, Susan, and Tommy. Susan is the complete opposite of me. She runs Cartwright Insurance. She's married to Jack; he's a lawyer downtown." She grinned as if sharing some big secret. "Susan wears more makeup than Tammy Faye Baker and she thinks she's a knockout. But she can add numbers in her head faster than a calculator and brought the insurance division up from average earnings to being one of our leading revenue producers. I have to warn you though, don't ever let her catch you alone at a party. My sister is the biggest gatherer of gossip and information in the state. Once she gets hold of you she won't let go until she knows everything down to your blood type."
"What about your brother?" Rose asked, watching as the smile left Ronnie's face.
"Tommy's a lost soul. He's twenty five but he still acts like a teenager. It took him six years and three colleges to get his Bachelor's because he wouldn't apply himself. The family insisted that I put him in charge of something so I gave him the Real Estate division." She sighed. "I figured it was doing so well that he couldn't do anything to mess it up. Now we're posting the worst growth since the recession and he acts like it doesn't matter. That's why I had to go back to the office yesterday. I hate irresponsibility."
Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Doctor Barnes. "How are you today, Miss Grayson?" she asked.
"Same as yesterday, I guess," Rose replied. "Oh, Doctor Barnes, this is my friend Ronnie. Ronnie, this is Doctor Barnes." She didn't see the smile form on Veronica's face at the title bestowed on her.
"Hello," the shorter woman said. She looked at Rose's chart for a moment and made a notation. "Well, Miss Grayson, it looks like everything is healing up just fine." She set the chart down and moved to the head of the bed to check the stitches on Rose's cheek. "The bones are properly set and I see no reason why you can't go home."
"Home? But…" She looked fearfully to Ronnie for help.
"How can you send her home? She can't even walk yet," the raven haired woman said, falling into the role of protector easily. It seemed a natural thing to do when it came to Rose.
"Look Miss…"
"Cartwright, Veronica Cartwright."
"Miss Cartwright," the doctor corrected, unimpressed with the tall woman's name. "There's nothing more that we can do for her right now. Her body is reacting well to the treatment. It's nothing more to do except wait for the bones to heal."
"But she can't walk yet," Ronnie protested.
"She won't be able to walk for the better part of a year," the doctor replied. "There's no sign of infection, the thinning agents have kept any clots from forming and the swelling has gone down to an acceptable level. At this point there's nothing else the hospital can do except give her a bed. I'll write her a prescription for the pain and she should come back next Friday to have the stitches on her face removed. At that time I'll look at her legs and ankle then we'll see where we go from there."
Rose's breathing increased and she looked ready to cry. Ronnie quickly leaned over the bed, blocking the young woman's view of the bearer of bad news. "Rose," she whispered. "Let me take care of this. I promise everything will be okay."
"I can't…I don't-"
"Shh, let me handle this. Trust me." She spoke softly, as if calming a small child. "Do you trust me?" She received a shaky nod. "I promise everything will be fine."
"But…"
"Trust me, Rose." She maintained her gaze, letting deep blue search out and calm green, silently trying to convey that everything would be all right.
Finally the younger woman let out a heavy breath and nodded, placing her life in the hands of the woman who seemed so willing to help her. As scary as the prospect seemed, there was a comfort in knowing that Ronnie was there for her.
"What do I need to know about caring for her?" Veronica asked, turning her attention to the doctor.
"I'll have the nurse show you how to properly bathe her to prevent infections. I suggest you get a home health aide or a private nurse if you can afford it." That comment earned a raised eyebrow from the woman who donated six figures to the hospital last year. "The important thing after making sure the wounds are kept clean." She made another notation on the chart. "I'll have an instruction sheet prepared to explain exactly what needs to be done each day."
"Fine," Ronnie said, her mind already figuring out which room would be turned into a recovery room. It was an unexpected turn of events but one that she was able to handle. She dimly noted that it wasn't guilt that was making her open up her sanctuary to Rose, it was something stronger; concern and caring. Somewhere in the course of trying to make up for her mistake, Veronica began to care. "Whatever it takes to make her better."
"I'll have the nurse give you all the details. I'll sign the discharge papers before I start the rest of my rounds." She turned to look at her patient. "I'm sorry, Miss Grayson, I've heard you've become rather fond of our food." Her attempt at humor wasn't received as well as she hoped, earning only a weak smile from the reddish blond. "Well, if there was a way I could justify keeping you here, I would."
"I know," Rose replied. "Thank you."
"Don't forget to make an appointment with our out-patient clinic to have those stitches removed next Friday. Make certain they schedule the appointment with me and not with one of the physician's assistants. I want to take a look at those legs too."
"I will."
"I'll take care of it," Ronnie said firmly, leaving no doubt in the young doctor's mind that her patient would be well taken care of.
It was a busy afternoon for Veronica. Her portable cell phone was constantly on, eventually draining the battery down enough that the executive had to resort to using the phone in Rose's room to complete her preparations. She called a surgical supply company to purchase a hospital bed, wheelchair, and various other things that the nurse insisted were necessary for Rose to recuperate properly. But no matter how hard she tried, Ronnie was unable to get them to deliver the bed that day. In frustration she told them to just deliver the other items and called several furniture stores until she found one that sold adjustable beds. Even that one took some work to convince them to send a truck out with it that day. Then she had to call Maria to let her know what was going on. She explained to her trusted housekeeper which room they were to go in and what items needed to be moved in order to make room for the new furniture. The next call had been to a private ambulance service to arrange for transportation from the hospital to her house for Rose. The remaining calls had been to the various agencies in an attempt to get a private nurse to come in on a long term, full time basis, then back to Maria again to fill her in on the latest developments.
"Ronnie?" Rose called gently, drawing the tall woman's attention.
"I've got to go, Maria. Call me on the Jeep car phone if there's any problems." She hung the phone up and sat on the edge of the bed. "I guess everything's ready. Now we're just waiting for the ambulance to arrive." She took her usual seat next to the bed.
"I don't know how to thank you," Rose whispered, her voice cracking with emotion.
"Shh…you don't need to be worrying about things like that."
"But no one's ever…I mean, it's so much…" Her eyes welled up with the heartfelt feeling.
"Hey, it's no problem, remember? I promised that I'd take care of you." Ronnie reached out and caught a tear before it fell down the cherubic face. "Hey, none of that. Tabitha misses you and this is the perfect way to make sure that she has someone else to get her attention from so I can get some work done." She received the barest of smiles but it was better than more tears to her. "Besides, I've been alone for a long time. It'll be nice to have the company."
Accidental Love Ó 1998 B L Miller. Do not distribute or copy without permission of the author except for personal use.