it. Even if it pays less. Trust me, whatever you’re making, it’s not enough.”
Lori was used to patients who were frustrated by their condition. “I’ll be fine.”
“You’ve already met her?”
“Ah, no.”
It was Lori’s practice to visit her patients before bringing them home. Establishing a good working relationship ahead of time often smoothed the transition process. However both times she’d stopped by the rehab facility to meet Gloria, she’d been told that Mrs. Buchanan was refusing all visitors. Calling ahead to make an appointment hadn’t changed the fact.
Vicki shook her head. “It’s your funeral, hon. You haven’t met anyone like this woman before. But that’s for you to decide. I’ve made copies of her chart. She’s already signed out by the doctor. He was as happy to get rid of her as the rest of us. She had her lawyer call and threaten to pull his license—twice. I hope they’re paying you a lot.”
They were, which was why Lori had taken the job. She was saving up so that she could take a few months off next year. But even without the high pay, she would have kept the job—just to prove everyone wrong about Gloria Buchanan.
Lori took the thick folder. “She’s making progress with her physical therapy?”
“If the screaming is anything to go by.” Vicki sighed. “Yes, she’s healing. We took x-rays of the broken hip yesterday and she looks good. The heart attack was minor, the blockage is gone and with her new medication, she should live another twenty years…God help us.”
Lori knew very little about Gloria personally. Researching her, she’d discovered that the woman had been widowed at a young age. She’d taken a single restaurant and, during a time when women were more likely to either stay home or be school-teachers, created an empire. Gloria’s only son had died in his early thirties and his wife had been killed in a car accident a few years later.
Despite what must have been overwhelming grief, Gloria had taken in her four grandchildren and raised them herself, all the while managing four restaurants. Anyone who had suffered that much had earned the right to be a little difficult.
“I’ll go introduce myself, then,” Lori said. “The ambulance is already here to transport her home. I’ll pick up the paperwork on the way out.”
Vicki nodded. “Sure thing. I’ll be right here. Good luck.”
Lori waved and walked toward Gloria’s room.
The poor woman. Everyone was determined to see her as difficult. But from what Lori had been able to find out, no one in her family wanted anything to do with her. Gloria was injured, lonely and probably feeling frail. Isolation was never good under any circumstances.
She found the right room and knocked once before entering.
“Mrs. Buchanan,” she said as she smiled at the small, white-haired woman lying in the hospital bed. “I’m Lori Johnston. I’ll be your day nurse while you’re convalescing.”
Gloria put down the book she’d been reading and glanced at Lori over her glasses. “I doubt that. Reid was going to be choosing the nurses who would care for me. I’m sure he found the idea hilarious. He only likes beautiful women with large breasts. Unfortunately they have IQs smaller than their waist. You’re neither attractive nor well-endowed. You have the wrong room.”
Lori opened her mouth, then closed it. She was too surprised to be insulted, which was probably a good thing. “I don’t doubt your grandson’s taste in women. In fact it fits everything I already know about him. I may not be his ideal, but I’m still your nurse. At least during the day. You’ll have an evening and a night nurse.”
“You’re not anyone I want to work with.”
“How do you know?”
“I have a sense about people. I don’t like the look of you. Go away.”
Now this was a level of crabby Lori could relate to. She smiled as she crossed the room to the bed. “Here’s the thing. I have an ambulance waiting right outside. There are a couple of burly guys who are going to drive you home. At your house, there’s a bed waiting downstairs, food and privacy you never get in a place like this. Why don’t you wait until we’re there before firing me?”
“You’re humoring me. I loathe that.”
“I’m not thrilled about being insulted, but I’m going to go with it. What about you?”
Gloria narrowed her gaze. “You’re not one of those perpetually cheerful people, are you?”
“No. I’m sarcastic and demanding.”
“Have you had sex with my grandson?”
Lori laughed. In her dreams, perhaps, but never in real life. After all, she was neither attractive nor well-endowed. Talk about being dismissed. “There hasn’t been time. Is it a requirement?”
Gloria sighed. “The man has no Off switch. If it has a vagina, he’s probably been in it.”
“Not mine. I’ll agree he’s shallow but pretty. Isn’t that always the way? So are you packed?”
Gloria’s expression tightened. “I do not pack my own belongings. Even if I did, my condition would prevent any such activity.”
So the momentary rapport was gone. Well, it had been good while it lasted.
“No problem. I’ll collect everything. Do you have a suitcase? If not, I’m sure there are some shopping bags in the staff’s lunch room.”
The older woman practically crackled with outrage. “You will not put anything of mine in a shopping bag. Do you know who I am?”
Lori was careful to keep her back to her patient as she pulled a suitcase out of the closet by the bathroom. Gloria knowing she found this conversation kind of funny wouldn’t help things. “Sure. You’re Gloria Buchanan. Speaking of which, I think I’m going to call you Gloria. Mrs. Buchanan is so formal and we’re going to be getting really close.”
“Not after I have you fired.”
Lori set the suitcase on the only chair in the room and opened it. “You don’t want to fire me, Gloria. I’m really good at my job. I have experience with both heart and orthopedic patients. I’m tough enough to bully you into doing everything you should be doing. That’s going to get you on your feet faster. Because here’s the thing. Old ladies who break their hips have one of two outcomes. They get better or they die. My patients don’t die.”
Gloria glared at her. “You’re not a very nice person.”
“Neither are you.”
Gloria stiffened. “How dare you? I am incredibly polite and thoughtful.”
“Really? Want to hear what the staff here has to say about you?”
“They’re a group of incompetent fools. Everything about this place is substandard.”
“Then you’re going to love my standards.”
