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Authors: Constance Phillips
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help him and you. Unfortunately, time doesn’t move backwards, and there is no way to solve for the past’s injustices.”
“Amen,” she whispered. A moment later she straightened her posture and reached for a smock hanging on a hook next to the door. I’m not here to wallow in my own pain. I’m here to help others. What needs to be done?”
Bess set the last lunch tray on the cart outside the ward and wiped her hands on the tails of her smock before checking her watch.
“My dear Bess, I heard rumors you were here today.”
Recognizing Martin’s voice immediately, she turned and greeted him with a warm smile. “No tall tales, it’s true.”
“It’s so gracious of you to come week after week and volunteer your services.” Martin bent to give her a hug. “Gail mentioned to me over dinner last night that you were having problems with that old furnace again. Are you sure you don’t want me to send over a repair man?”
“Thank you for the offer, but I took care of it yesterday. I hired that nice young man who’s working for Will now. He fixed it straight away.”
Martin’s eyebrows furrowed. “Who’s this?”
“Erich. Erich Welch. He’s new in town.”
Martin looped his arm in hers and led her away from the doorway. “You need to be careful, my dear. It’s not safe for any woman to be bringing a stranger into her home, add your fame to the equation—”
“I’m well aware of the dangers, and I’ve learned the hard way that not everyone is trustworthy, but I do have faith in Erich.”
“Well, well. I’m planning to meet Gail for a cup of coffee at the deli on my mid-day break. I’ll have to check out this Erich Welch for myself.”
“This is perfect. I have business in town, and I was hoping to discuss another matter with you and Gail together. May I intrude on your break?”
“It’s no intrusion at all, and I know Gail will be pleased to see you. Can you meet us in an hour?”
“Yes. Now, I have one more question for you.”
Martin arched his eyebrows in question.
“I want to take care of Edwin’s bill. Who do I see about that?”
That fatherly concern that Martin tended to take with her showed itself as his lips narrowed to a think pink line. “Edwin? The burn victim?”
“Yes.”
“You have no responsibility for him, Bess. And he’s been here for weeks, it will be quite expensive.”
“Which is why I want to take care of it. Now who do I see?”
He took her elbow and led her away from the door to the ward. Martin lowered his voice to a whisper, but his tone was still hard as steel. “Mr. Fricano in accounting – but it’s not up to you to take care of everyone who’s in need. I know that you got quite a nice settlement from Harry’s insurance policy, but I’m concerned that you’re going to shoot right through it with this careless benevolence for others.”
“It’s not a matter of charity. That’s not why I want to do this.” Bess knew that Martin made a valid point. Still, she couldn’t fight the urge to do what she could to help those who needed it most, especially when they were sincere like Edwin. Like Erich. “It’s what Harry would want, Martin, and you’re not going to talk me out of it. I’m going to go up and talk to Mr. Fricano right now. I will see you at the deli in an hour.
Chapter Seven
Erich wiped the sweat from his brow with the sopping wet dishtowel. The kitchen reminded him of a sweatbox. The dishwater, hot enough to redden his hands, didn’t help matters. The heat dampened everything from his clothes to the outer walls of the walk-in refrigerator.
Will had propped open the back door, hoping to get some air circulating, but it only made matters worse. The sweltering breeze blowing in from the back alley smelled of the overflowing garbage cans just outside the door: unnaturally sweet, like rotten fruit.
He dipped the rag back into the bucket of bleach water and continued washing down the aluminum prep trays. The kitchen
“Amen,” she whispered. A moment later she straightened her posture and reached for a smock hanging on a hook next to the door. I’m not here to wallow in my own pain. I’m here to help others. What needs to be done?”
Bess set the last lunch tray on the cart outside the ward and wiped her hands on the tails of her smock before checking her watch.
“My dear Bess, I heard rumors you were here today.”
Recognizing Martin’s voice immediately, she turned and greeted him with a warm smile. “No tall tales, it’s true.”
“It’s so gracious of you to come week after week and volunteer your services.” Martin bent to give her a hug. “Gail mentioned to me over dinner last night that you were having problems with that old furnace again. Are you sure you don’t want me to send over a repair man?”
“Thank you for the offer, but I took care of it yesterday. I hired that nice young man who’s working for Will now. He fixed it straight away.”
Martin’s eyebrows furrowed. “Who’s this?”
“Erich. Erich Welch. He’s new in town.”
Martin looped his arm in hers and led her away from the doorway. “You need to be careful, my dear. It’s not safe for any woman to be bringing a stranger into her home, add your fame to the equation—”
“I’m well aware of the dangers, and I’ve learned the hard way that not everyone is trustworthy, but I do have faith in Erich.”
“Well, well. I’m planning to meet Gail for a cup of coffee at the deli on my mid-day break. I’ll have to check out this Erich Welch for myself.”
“This is perfect. I have business in town, and I was hoping to discuss another matter with you and Gail together. May I intrude on your break?”
“It’s no intrusion at all, and I know Gail will be pleased to see you. Can you meet us in an hour?”
“Yes. Now, I have one more question for you.”
Martin arched his eyebrows in question.
“I want to take care of Edwin’s bill. Who do I see about that?”
That fatherly concern that Martin tended to take with her showed itself as his lips narrowed to a think pink line. “Edwin? The burn victim?”
“Yes.”
“You have no responsibility for him, Bess. And he’s been here for weeks, it will be quite expensive.”
“Which is why I want to take care of it. Now who do I see?”
He took her elbow and led her away from the door to the ward. Martin lowered his voice to a whisper, but his tone was still hard as steel. “Mr. Fricano in accounting – but it’s not up to you to take care of everyone who’s in need. I know that you got quite a nice settlement from Harry’s insurance policy, but I’m concerned that you’re going to shoot right through it with this careless benevolence for others.”
“It’s not a matter of charity. That’s not why I want to do this.” Bess knew that Martin made a valid point. Still, she couldn’t fight the urge to do what she could to help those who needed it most, especially when they were sincere like Edwin. Like Erich. “It’s what Harry would want, Martin, and you’re not going to talk me out of it. I’m going to go up and talk to Mr. Fricano right now. I will see you at the deli in an hour.
Chapter Seven
Erich wiped the sweat from his brow with the sopping wet dishtowel. The kitchen reminded him of a sweatbox. The dishwater, hot enough to redden his hands, didn’t help matters. The heat dampened everything from his clothes to the outer walls of the walk-in refrigerator.
Will had propped open the back door, hoping to get some air circulating, but it only made matters worse. The sweltering breeze blowing in from the back alley smelled of the overflowing garbage cans just outside the door: unnaturally sweet, like rotten fruit.
He dipped the rag back into the bucket of bleach water and continued washing down the aluminum prep trays. The kitchen
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