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Authors: Kaitlin Saunders
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parent’s place in time for dinner.”
“What!” Mary said with astonishment, “You can’t leave!”
“Why not?” Charles asked. “The doctor said Nick’s fine… nothing a good night’s rest won’t cure.” Mary roughly pulled Charles into the hallway as he continued to plead his case. “…and your sister’s with you, Mary,” Charles said, stating the obvious. “I’d ask you to come too, but I figured you wouldn’t want to leave Nicholas. I mean, after all, what use am I here? Besides, I really want to meet this Rick Wentworth.”
Mary exploded. “Rick Wentworth! What’s Rick Wentworth compared to your own son?”
“Come now, Mary, you know the answer to that! I wouldn’t even consider going if the doctor thought Nicholas’ condition was serious,” Charles said defensively.
“Fine, go!” Mary replied tersely, stomping back into the hospital room, leaving Charles alone in the hallway.
Anne tried to act as if she hadn’t been listening, but it would have been impossible to not overhear with how loud their voices were raised. Mary looked quite unhappy as she sat down in her chair with a big ‘thump’. Charles appeared a moment later, slightly embarrassed. He kissed Nicholas goodbye, ruffled Little Charlie’s hair lovingly and then turned to Anne.
“If you need anything, please give me a call,” asserted Charles as he left.
The atmosphere in the room following the departure of Charles was subdued, but Anne knew it was the lull before the storm.
Nicholas’ pain medication by now had kicked in, so Anne busied herself with tucking in the sleeping boy before tidying up the room.
“I knew this was how it would be. If there is anything difficult going on, men will be sure to get out of it, and Charles is no different. Look at him! He gets to go enjoy himself and just because I am the woman, I have to stay here. What do I know when it comes to medical care? I’m no doctor! I am just as useless as Charles is in that regard,” Mary ranted.
Anne tried to make peace. “Nursing doesn’t come naturally to men, Mary.”
Sulkily, Mary spoke, “Well, it doesn’t for me either, but do you see me avoiding my duty? It’s just that I don’t handle stress well. You saw how hysterical I was earlier. I’m quite exhausted. I hardly know which way is up. What good am I here?”
Anne looked at her sister, amazed at how different they were. Trying to hide the annoyance in her voice, she asked, “Mary, would you be comfortable spending the evening away from Nicholas?”
“Well, if Charles can, why shouldn’t I?” Mary justified while blushing slightly. “After all, the doctor did say Nicholas was perfectly fine.”
Anne looked down, knowing her eyes would betray her disappointment in Mary’s un-motherly and selfish nature. Sighing, Anne offered what Mary wanted. “If you wish to go, I’ll stay with the boys.”
Mary jumped at Anne’s suggestion, eager to escape. “Really?” she asked.
Anne nodded. Perhaps it was for the best. If Mary had stayed, Anne was certain the night would have been filled with continual complaints. This way at least, Anne could have some peace and quiet.
Chapter 13
Anne fell asleep in the chair next to Nicholas and Little Charlie. It had been a restless night and Anne knew her appearance would be the worse for it.
The sound of clicking high heels coming down the hospital hallway was like an annoying alarm. She opened one eye and looked at the clock—eight-ten in the morning.
“Rise and shine!” came the shrill voice of Mary.
Sitting up, Anne felt the effects of a poorly slept night. Boy, Mary’s sure up early…no doubt she slept like a baby ! Anne thought crossly. Her joints were stiff after dozing pitifully on the hospital recliner. Glancing at the small mirror on the wall, Anne’s suspicions regarding her appearance were confirmed. She looked awful! With hair all amuck and clothes wrinkled, she was a dreadful sight to behold. Stretching, Anne
“What!” Mary said with astonishment, “You can’t leave!”
“Why not?” Charles asked. “The doctor said Nick’s fine… nothing a good night’s rest won’t cure.” Mary roughly pulled Charles into the hallway as he continued to plead his case. “…and your sister’s with you, Mary,” Charles said, stating the obvious. “I’d ask you to come too, but I figured you wouldn’t want to leave Nicholas. I mean, after all, what use am I here? Besides, I really want to meet this Rick Wentworth.”
Mary exploded. “Rick Wentworth! What’s Rick Wentworth compared to your own son?”
“Come now, Mary, you know the answer to that! I wouldn’t even consider going if the doctor thought Nicholas’ condition was serious,” Charles said defensively.
“Fine, go!” Mary replied tersely, stomping back into the hospital room, leaving Charles alone in the hallway.
Anne tried to act as if she hadn’t been listening, but it would have been impossible to not overhear with how loud their voices were raised. Mary looked quite unhappy as she sat down in her chair with a big ‘thump’. Charles appeared a moment later, slightly embarrassed. He kissed Nicholas goodbye, ruffled Little Charlie’s hair lovingly and then turned to Anne.
“If you need anything, please give me a call,” asserted Charles as he left.
The atmosphere in the room following the departure of Charles was subdued, but Anne knew it was the lull before the storm.
Nicholas’ pain medication by now had kicked in, so Anne busied herself with tucking in the sleeping boy before tidying up the room.
“I knew this was how it would be. If there is anything difficult going on, men will be sure to get out of it, and Charles is no different. Look at him! He gets to go enjoy himself and just because I am the woman, I have to stay here. What do I know when it comes to medical care? I’m no doctor! I am just as useless as Charles is in that regard,” Mary ranted.
Anne tried to make peace. “Nursing doesn’t come naturally to men, Mary.”
Sulkily, Mary spoke, “Well, it doesn’t for me either, but do you see me avoiding my duty? It’s just that I don’t handle stress well. You saw how hysterical I was earlier. I’m quite exhausted. I hardly know which way is up. What good am I here?”
Anne looked at her sister, amazed at how different they were. Trying to hide the annoyance in her voice, she asked, “Mary, would you be comfortable spending the evening away from Nicholas?”
“Well, if Charles can, why shouldn’t I?” Mary justified while blushing slightly. “After all, the doctor did say Nicholas was perfectly fine.”
Anne looked down, knowing her eyes would betray her disappointment in Mary’s un-motherly and selfish nature. Sighing, Anne offered what Mary wanted. “If you wish to go, I’ll stay with the boys.”
Mary jumped at Anne’s suggestion, eager to escape. “Really?” she asked.
Anne nodded. Perhaps it was for the best. If Mary had stayed, Anne was certain the night would have been filled with continual complaints. This way at least, Anne could have some peace and quiet.
Chapter 13
Anne fell asleep in the chair next to Nicholas and Little Charlie. It had been a restless night and Anne knew her appearance would be the worse for it.
The sound of clicking high heels coming down the hospital hallway was like an annoying alarm. She opened one eye and looked at the clock—eight-ten in the morning.
“Rise and shine!” came the shrill voice of Mary.
Sitting up, Anne felt the effects of a poorly slept night. Boy, Mary’s sure up early…no doubt she slept like a baby ! Anne thought crossly. Her joints were stiff after dozing pitifully on the hospital recliner. Glancing at the small mirror on the wall, Anne’s suspicions regarding her appearance were confirmed. She looked awful! With hair all amuck and clothes wrinkled, she was a dreadful sight to behold. Stretching, Anne
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