Marie glanced up at the IV bag at the top of Mr. Aragone's pole. "No, we're fine for now." She smiled at her. When Marie finished tending to Mr. Aragones, Linda wheeled the cart back toward the center of the room. Doris briskly walked past and Linda reached out to touch her shoulder.
"Is it okay if I play checkers with Cindy for awhile? I'll watch the board."
Doris narrowed her eyes in a quizzical expression and repeated "Cindy?"
"The girl my age back in the curtain room."
"In the corner? There's no one back there. Mr. Wheat and Mrs. Takashi are in the middle, under the light."
Linda started to walk back to the curtained area. "Well I was just playing with her a few minutes ago." When she entered the semi-private area she glanced at the wall where the black number panel had been. It was empty.
So was the recliner where Cindy had been. Doris had followed her back there.
"See? Now be up front in case you're needed up there. Mr. Wheat and Mrs. Takashi are just getting vitamins today."
No panel on the wall, and no Cindy. Linda shuffled toward the front room as though her legs had been made of lead. The clock on the wall near the check in area told her there was only an hour left. She idly arranged items in the cart, restacking the emesis pans, checking for lights above the poles the entire time.
At quitting time she tossed her smock into the laundry vat, even though it was still crisp and clean and headed out to parking lot. Jenny passed her on the way out. "See you next week," she said. "Are you okay? You look a little pale."
For a moment Linda considered telling Jenny about the mysterious non-patient behind the curtain. Instead, she said "Just tired, I guess."
Linda hurried home so she could tell her mother what had just happened. While Linda later told her, she listened quietly, nodding here and there. When she had finished the story, Linda anxiously asked "So what do you think that was?"
Her mother cleared her throat. "I think it was God telling you you're on the right track, honey."