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Authors: Mary Higgins Clark
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paperâs graphic account, she had checked both her front and back doors, and, as usual, found them unlocked.
16
D R . W ILLIAM L ANE WAS NOT ESPECIALLY PLEASED BY Maggie Hollowayâs request for an appointment. Already irritated by his wifeâs aimless, nonstop chatter over the lunch table, and behind in completing the ever-increasing load of forms the government required of him as director of Latham Manor, he found the thought of another lost half-hour galling. He regretted now having agreed to it. He couldnât imagine what she needed to talk to him about.
Particularly since Nuala Moore had never signed the final papers committing her to move to the residence. She had completed all the forms for entrance, had taken her physical, and, when she started to seem hesitant, he had taken it upon himself to have the second bedroom of the available suite stripped of the carpeting and furniture to show her how easily it would accommodate her easels and art supplies and cabinets. But then she called and simply said she had decided to keep her house instead.
He wondered why she had changed her mind so suddenly.She had seemed the perfect candidate. Surely it wasnât because she fantasized that the stepdaughter would come live with her and wanted to have a place for her to stay?
Ridiculous! Lane muttered to himself. How likely was it that an attractive young woman with a successful career would come rushing up to Newport to play house with a woman she hadnât seen in years? Lane figured that now that she had been left the place, Maggie Holloway would take a good look at all the work and expense involved to fix it up and would decide to sell it. But in the meantime she was coming here to take up his time, time that he needed to spend getting that suite put back in order to make it suitable for viewing. The management of Prestige Residence Corporation had made it clear that they would not tolerate empty living space.
Still, an uneasy thought would not go away: Was there any other reason Nuala had backed out of the arrangement? And if there was, had she confided it to her stepdaughter? What could it be? he wondered. Maybe it was all to the good that she was coming to see him after all.
He looked up from his work as the door to his office opened. Odile wandered in, as usual without knocking, a habit that drove him crazy. And one that she unfortunately shared with Nurse Zelda Markey. In fact, he would have to do something about that. Mrs. Shipley had complained about Nurse Markeyâs habit of opening doors without waiting to be invited.
As he expected, Odile ignored his look of annoyance and began speaking. âWilliam, I donât think Mrs. Shipley is that well. As you saw, she had a little episode after the funeral Mass yesterday and a dizzy spell last evening. I wonder if she shouldnât go into the nursing section for a few days of observation?â
âI intend to keep a close eye on Mrs. Shipley,â Dr. Lanesaid brusquely. âTry to remember, my dear, that in our family, Iâm the one with the medical degree. You never finished nursing school.â
He knew it was a stupid thing to say and regretted it immediately, knowing what was coming next.
âOh, William, thatâs so unfair,â she cried. âNursing is a vocation, and I realized it wasnât for me. Perhaps it would have been better for youâand othersâif you had made the same choice.â Her lip quivered. âAnd I think you should keep in mind that it was only because of me that Prestige Residences considered you for this job.â
They stared at each other in silence for a moment; then, as usual, Odile became contrite. âOh, William, that was unkind of me. I know how devoted you are to all our guests. Itâs just that I want to help you, and I worry that another episode could ruin you.â
She came over to the desk and leaned over him. She reached for his hand, lifting it to her face,
16
D R . W ILLIAM L ANE WAS NOT ESPECIALLY PLEASED BY Maggie Hollowayâs request for an appointment. Already irritated by his wifeâs aimless, nonstop chatter over the lunch table, and behind in completing the ever-increasing load of forms the government required of him as director of Latham Manor, he found the thought of another lost half-hour galling. He regretted now having agreed to it. He couldnât imagine what she needed to talk to him about.
Particularly since Nuala Moore had never signed the final papers committing her to move to the residence. She had completed all the forms for entrance, had taken her physical, and, when she started to seem hesitant, he had taken it upon himself to have the second bedroom of the available suite stripped of the carpeting and furniture to show her how easily it would accommodate her easels and art supplies and cabinets. But then she called and simply said she had decided to keep her house instead.
He wondered why she had changed her mind so suddenly.She had seemed the perfect candidate. Surely it wasnât because she fantasized that the stepdaughter would come live with her and wanted to have a place for her to stay?
Ridiculous! Lane muttered to himself. How likely was it that an attractive young woman with a successful career would come rushing up to Newport to play house with a woman she hadnât seen in years? Lane figured that now that she had been left the place, Maggie Holloway would take a good look at all the work and expense involved to fix it up and would decide to sell it. But in the meantime she was coming here to take up his time, time that he needed to spend getting that suite put back in order to make it suitable for viewing. The management of Prestige Residence Corporation had made it clear that they would not tolerate empty living space.
Still, an uneasy thought would not go away: Was there any other reason Nuala had backed out of the arrangement? And if there was, had she confided it to her stepdaughter? What could it be? he wondered. Maybe it was all to the good that she was coming to see him after all.
He looked up from his work as the door to his office opened. Odile wandered in, as usual without knocking, a habit that drove him crazy. And one that she unfortunately shared with Nurse Zelda Markey. In fact, he would have to do something about that. Mrs. Shipley had complained about Nurse Markeyâs habit of opening doors without waiting to be invited.
As he expected, Odile ignored his look of annoyance and began speaking. âWilliam, I donât think Mrs. Shipley is that well. As you saw, she had a little episode after the funeral Mass yesterday and a dizzy spell last evening. I wonder if she shouldnât go into the nursing section for a few days of observation?â
âI intend to keep a close eye on Mrs. Shipley,â Dr. Lanesaid brusquely. âTry to remember, my dear, that in our family, Iâm the one with the medical degree. You never finished nursing school.â
He knew it was a stupid thing to say and regretted it immediately, knowing what was coming next.
âOh, William, thatâs so unfair,â she cried. âNursing is a vocation, and I realized it wasnât for me. Perhaps it would have been better for youâand othersâif you had made the same choice.â Her lip quivered. âAnd I think you should keep in mind that it was only because of me that Prestige Residences considered you for this job.â
They stared at each other in silence for a moment; then, as usual, Odile became contrite. âOh, William, that was unkind of me. I know how devoted you are to all our guests. Itâs just that I want to help you, and I worry that another episode could ruin you.â
She came over to the desk and leaned over him. She reached for his hand, lifting it to her face,
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