room, Dr. Abrams looked out the window, seemingly unimpressed, and asked questions of Claire that Daniel couldn’t understand.
“What about the echo machine?”
“Right here, Doctor.” Claire pointed to some outlets in the wall.
He rudely asked about three or four more medical devices before he turned to Daniel. “Who is this man?”
Before he could answer, Claire jumped in to defend Daniel. “This is Daniel Clay. He is from New York and has graciously offered us the use of this room temporarily, at no cost to the hospital.
“But you’re not a doctor, are you
Mr
. Clay?”
“No, Doctor, Daniel is a…” She paused self-consciously.
Daniel wasn’t sure if he had informed her of his profession or if she had simply forgotten what he did for a living. A few weeks ago, this would have been devastating to him; now it didn’t faze him.
“Dr. Abrams, I’m an investment advisor,” he said with pride, though feeling a little uncomfortable with his casual attire. “And, yes, I would like to offer this room to the hospital for Claire’s use. I will pay to prepare it with any outlets and additions you require.”
This shocked Claire. This wasn’t part of the request, but she pretended as though it had always been understood.
“I’d like to sleep on it,” he said and walked back toward the stairs.
Claire touched Daniel’s arm again, this time to assure him that she would be calling soon to thank him for the help. They left as fast as they had come, and Daniel returned to work, wondering if he was getting in over his head. However, there was no time commitment required on his part, and having company around the house would make it a more enjoyable undertaking, especially if it meant more time with Claire.
He worked through the day, taking breaks from time to time and checking the phone to make sure a dial tone was still audible. He was disappointed that there was no call from Claire before he retired for the night, but he reassured himself that it was only a late shift or work emergency that kept her from making contact.
----
Two cars—driven by Claire and Brenda—pulled up to the house; both vehicles were filled with supplies. Daniel had been up for hours, still fixing up his sleeping space in hopes of sharing it in the near future.
“I take it you have the go-ahead!” he shouted from the doorstep across the driveway.
“We do! Daniel, this is Brenda. She will be working here with the children during the day, and I’ll be taking the night shifts.” She came close to him and whispered, “If that’s okay with you.”
Her glance assured him that the work on his bedroom would not be without rewards.
“That sounds good to me. Let me give you ladies a hand.”
Daniel helped unpack the weighted-down cars and insisted on carrying the heavier objects up the stairs. Brenda was quiet, rarely acknowledging him during the several trips up and down as they passed one another. They made eye contact only once when he nearly dropped a box. It was filled only with towels and bedsheets and hardly warranted the stern glance.
She was Claire’s close coworker but was dissimilar in every way except for her care of children. She was much older, nearing retirement, and had no time for casual conversation or discussions of any kind while working. Her little white nurse’s hat was part of her wardrobe, regardless of whether she was on duty or not. It helped hide her thinning gray hair, and she found it preferable to any curly wig suggested at her salon.
By early evening, the room was finished; Brenda re-cleaned it before she headed outside toward her car. She came across as unhappy and not particularly concerned about anything going on around her.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Claire, and you too, Daniel.”
They both responded with their good-byes.
Once they were alone, Daniel turned to Claire. “Tomorrow?” he questioned with a little concern in his voice.
“Well, that’s what I was hoping to talk to you
“What about the echo machine?”
“Right here, Doctor.” Claire pointed to some outlets in the wall.
He rudely asked about three or four more medical devices before he turned to Daniel. “Who is this man?”
Before he could answer, Claire jumped in to defend Daniel. “This is Daniel Clay. He is from New York and has graciously offered us the use of this room temporarily, at no cost to the hospital.
“But you’re not a doctor, are you
Mr
. Clay?”
“No, Doctor, Daniel is a…” She paused self-consciously.
Daniel wasn’t sure if he had informed her of his profession or if she had simply forgotten what he did for a living. A few weeks ago, this would have been devastating to him; now it didn’t faze him.
“Dr. Abrams, I’m an investment advisor,” he said with pride, though feeling a little uncomfortable with his casual attire. “And, yes, I would like to offer this room to the hospital for Claire’s use. I will pay to prepare it with any outlets and additions you require.”
This shocked Claire. This wasn’t part of the request, but she pretended as though it had always been understood.
“I’d like to sleep on it,” he said and walked back toward the stairs.
Claire touched Daniel’s arm again, this time to assure him that she would be calling soon to thank him for the help. They left as fast as they had come, and Daniel returned to work, wondering if he was getting in over his head. However, there was no time commitment required on his part, and having company around the house would make it a more enjoyable undertaking, especially if it meant more time with Claire.
He worked through the day, taking breaks from time to time and checking the phone to make sure a dial tone was still audible. He was disappointed that there was no call from Claire before he retired for the night, but he reassured himself that it was only a late shift or work emergency that kept her from making contact.
----
Two cars—driven by Claire and Brenda—pulled up to the house; both vehicles were filled with supplies. Daniel had been up for hours, still fixing up his sleeping space in hopes of sharing it in the near future.
“I take it you have the go-ahead!” he shouted from the doorstep across the driveway.
“We do! Daniel, this is Brenda. She will be working here with the children during the day, and I’ll be taking the night shifts.” She came close to him and whispered, “If that’s okay with you.”
Her glance assured him that the work on his bedroom would not be without rewards.
“That sounds good to me. Let me give you ladies a hand.”
Daniel helped unpack the weighted-down cars and insisted on carrying the heavier objects up the stairs. Brenda was quiet, rarely acknowledging him during the several trips up and down as they passed one another. They made eye contact only once when he nearly dropped a box. It was filled only with towels and bedsheets and hardly warranted the stern glance.
She was Claire’s close coworker but was dissimilar in every way except for her care of children. She was much older, nearing retirement, and had no time for casual conversation or discussions of any kind while working. Her little white nurse’s hat was part of her wardrobe, regardless of whether she was on duty or not. It helped hide her thinning gray hair, and she found it preferable to any curly wig suggested at her salon.
By early evening, the room was finished; Brenda re-cleaned it before she headed outside toward her car. She came across as unhappy and not particularly concerned about anything going on around her.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Claire, and you too, Daniel.”
They both responded with their good-byes.
Once they were alone, Daniel turned to Claire. “Tomorrow?” he questioned with a little concern in his voice.
“Well, that’s what I was hoping to talk to you
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