by HMC
Her father had practically raised Travis, after he’d lost both parents. He’d booted an adolescent Travis in the arse, and sent him in the right direction. Now, hopefully, he could do the same for Sam. One can only dream.
‘You’ll need to pack some personal things, Samantha,’ he said, while leading her towards the master bedroom. ‘Travis said he’d explained everything and that you seemed okay. Are you okay?’
‘Yes.’
‘Really? I thought I’d be dragging you in kicking and screaming. Just imagining it broke my heart. You don’t realise how much easier this is for me to see you like this. At the same time…’ He studied her. ‘It could be that you’re doing this for my benefit. Acting like you’re fine with it. That wouldn’t be the case now would it?’
Sam took a deep breath.
‘I guess I expected worse was coming someday.’
‘Worse?’
‘Yeah. Jail maybe.’
‘Well, we can be glad that’s not the case, although, at times, what you’re about to experience may feel like prison. Those are the times I want you to call me straight away. You know I’m not working at Rowan’s Home anymore, which is sort of a shame now that we’re at this point. But I still have some influence over there with Clancy running the show.’ He paused and waited for her to respond but she remained silent. ‘You will call? Any time?’
‘I will.’ Reality hit her. She felt it in her chest and sucked the roof of her mouth to hold back the tears. They shaped in the corner of her eyes, too fast to stop, and she wiped them away before her father could see. This is really happening. Sam watched as her father dragged a large, brown, leather suitcase from her cupboard and tossed it onto her bed. He unzipped it on her multi-coloured bedspread and looked up at her with a torn expression.
The young woman before him had brought so much joy to his life. Although it had been difficult to have a child with her needs, he was more than willing to do it all over again. Karl Phillips had met Sam at a children’s respite centre when she was six years old. He’d waited years to adopt. He knew about her case and when he met her in person, there had been no hesitation. One of the main things that had caused the gravitation was that Sam had Conduct Disorder. The respite couldn’t handle her and wanted to send her to a detention centre.
Karl had been told over and over again that he wasn’t there to save the children and that he should choose wisely. He remembered what he had told them: ‘I deal with people like Samantha every day in the adult world. Who would be better equipped to care for her? Who would be the best parent for her? She needs love, understanding and guidance.’ Karl Phillips had meant every word and had given her those things, right from the start.
It had been hard to adopt, but he hadn’t give up, and his persistence paid off. Karl had always known that Sam was special and that someday he’d probably have to do this to her. It came with the territory – in more ways than he could explain to her now. He tried to focus on helping her pack.
‘Dad, honestly, is this necessary? I mean, I could change my behaviour if it meant that I got to stay here and have you visit me instead. You’re an amazing doctor. You could help me get better.’ She paused for a response. Karl gave her an unconvinced glower. He’d had enough. He treasured her but there was a time in a parent’s life when you had to let go. The guilt could simmer in your underbelly and win out every time but Karl had decided that this time … he would win. He would reach down into the depths of his courage reservoir and hoped that what he pulled out would be enough. Cruel to be kind.
‘I’m retired.’ He knew the difference between his daughter’s expressions of genuine concern versus her pleas to get out of things she didn’t want to do. ‘You seem sad rather than angry. Does this mean you’ll miss me?’
‘Of course I will. More than anything else.’ Her bottom lip quivered.
‘So I’m the thing you’ll miss most, I take it?’ he said.
‘You, Moo Owl, and Travis.’
‘I’m sure you’re not upset about the fact you’ll be locked away from drugs, alcohol, and parties then?’
‘Daddy, don’t be mean.’
‘Well, I’m glad you’re thinking about us. We who love you. Us three,’ he said pointing to the cat, and then the large framed photo of Travis on Sam’s wall, ‘rather than yourself. No offence, but it’s unlike you. I expected you to have a hissy fit, followed by an outburst about how I must find a way to smuggle in contraband for you. I’m pleasantly surprised at your maturity, Sam. It makes this even harder.’
‘I don’t want to go, it’s true. But I’m not surprised by it,’ she said as they packed her belongings together.
Karl was suspicious, but he nodded. ‘You remember Clancy? Doctor Clancy Green? You met him briefly before I retired. He’ll be looking after you, so you’re in good hands.’
‘How could I forget? He was about as cheerful as haemorrhoids.’
‘Samantha!’
‘Sorry.
‘Be nice to him. He’s there to help you. Goodness knows I’ve tried.’ The way she looked at him then made his heart sink, but he had to be strong. Karl Phillips had always been there to bail his daughter out of trouble or to make excuses for her, and now there would be no one to do that anymore. He hoped, however hopeless it seemed, that the experience at Rowan’s would change both their lives for the better.
Dr. Jade Louise Thatcher sat in an upholstered concrete chair in the waiting room of Rowan’s Home Psychiatric Institution. It was a small, open unit with freshly painted walls. The aged building was right next door to Maine Public Hospital, which had been there since she could remember.
Previously unaware of the high level of co-operation between the linked facilities, Dr. Thatcher had been told that her new boss was quartered next door and wouldn’t be able meet her until later that day. Right now, she was waiting for the Psychiatric Nurse, Anne White, who would be giving her an induction.
Jade was happy to be working in her hometown, though an unfortunate turn of events had led her back to Fairholmes. After twelve years of slavery at Grisham University, she had a doctorate in counselling psychology to show for it and loved her job, as exhausting as it was.
Fairholmes was the same as she’d left it – country towns don’t do a lot of changing. She had come home a couple of months ago, to find her father sunk into senility as a result of his cask-of-wine-a-day habit. He was still arguing with her younger brother, rehashing old incidents from years gone by.
Her brother was a builder who dabbled in other crooked activities. Jade preferred to bury her head in the sand when he talked about them. Angus was strong and tough but loving just the same. He had called Jade every weekend without fail, for the twelve years that she’d been in the city. It was good to be close to him again.
She could’ve gone somewhere else. Anywhere else. But Jade was lonely and wanted to be back with the family she loved, as small, imperfect and maddening as they were.
‘Dr. Thatcher … Dr. Jade Thatcher?’ A zaftig nurse marched through the doors of the ward and beamed at Jade.
‘Yes.’ Jade smiled back. The plump nurse exuded warmth and she liked her immediately. She smelled like honey, too.
‘I was told you’d be coming. Sorry I’m late. I’m Anne White.’ She spoke with the hint of an Irish accent. Anne extended a hand and Jade clasped it with pleasure. ‘So you’re the new Doc from Grisham. What brings you to this fabulously fine town of ours?’
Jade laughed. ‘I was born here, actually. I have a few family members around and I’m interested in working in a smaller facility.’
‘Oh, good for you. Anyone I’d know?’
‘Angus and Gregory Thatcher?’
‘Ah yes! I can’t believe I didn’t put the names together. Greg goes to the local pub down here.’
‘That’s my father.’
‘Oh, your poor mother.’ Anne pu
t her hands over her mouth. ‘I’m so sorry, I don’t know why I said that.’
‘It’s okay. The car accident was in the local news for weeks. Fairholmes supported us well after it happened.’ The colour had gone from Anne’s cheeks. ‘Really, don’t worry about it. It was a very long time ago,’ Jade said.
‘Sometimes I don’t have a filter. Forgive me, I’m a Sagittarian. I didn’t know your mother. Only heard the story. Well, let’s show you around, shall we?’
Jade bent down to retrieve her orthodox black briefcase fitted with gold clips and digital lock. She paid attention to Anne’s directions on how to get through the not-so intricate security doors: keys in their respective keyholes. She looked up to the sound of technological whirring and found security cameras down each side of the corridor.
Her heels tapped out the rhythm of her gait against the floor as she made a mental note to invest in something quieter straight away. Anne spoke as she trundled along. ‘Well, things are probably run a little differently here than what you’re used to, but you’ll catch on in no time. We run this place more like a group home. It’s the way it’s always been and the way it’ll probably stay. Nurses do the ward rounds and sleepover shifts. We’re a little understaffed, but the patients are well looked after.’
‘I see.’ Oh, yes. She belonged here. Definitely.
‘Okay then, let me give you the grand tour.’ Anne ambled towards a locked door. ‘Come on, then.’
The nurse took her down a narrow corridor and up to a double set of doors at the end. She took a deep breath in and with a flourish, pulled the doors back. They entered the ward’s common area.
The place was buzzing. An elderly lady sat reading to some of the patients, who didn’t look up as Jade trailed Anne around the room. There were giggles coming from the corner as two adolescent girls shared confidences with a grey-haired man in a wheelchair. Huge windows surrounding the oversize room made the drab walls dance with sunshine. It felt … vibrant. But mostly, it was non-threatening, and Jade felt herself relaxing.
Pleasing environment notwithstanding, though, she was still on edge over what she was about to take on. Perhaps her probationary period would include an observation of her with her patients. She swore at herself and wondered, with typical first-day jitters, how she was going to take on these real patients. She was used to handling people who paid out of their own pockets to go to counselling; rich, eccentric women who had problems with other mothers gossiping or insubordinate children. Her worst case had been a man with severe commitment phobia who wanted a wife.
A thirtyish man in a pair of Snoopy pyjamas with feet in them sat by the window and favoured Anne with a sunshine-filled smile. He waved to them both and continued to watch the birds outside, as they splashed in a small man-made bath. Jade gazed at him. He was hard to take your eyes off: this wide-eyed child of a man. He was so sweet; Jade could’ve watched him for hours.
‘Harry!’ Freddy said as they approached him.
Anne shook her head. ‘This isn’t Harry, Darling. I told you, Harry had to go away for a while. This is Jade.’
‘Hi, Jade!’ Freddy grinned at her. He clutched a huge multi-coloured lollipop in his right hand.
‘Nice to meet you,’ Jade said.
‘Will you be staying?’
‘I hope so.’
‘I hope so, too! We can watch Herbie Goes Bananas. Do you like movies, Jade?’
‘Of course. Doesn’t everyone?’
‘You would think so, but you know, my Aunt Ronda says they’re boring because she can always guess the ending. I bet she couldn’t guess the ending of … of, well I bet she can’t guess all the endings!’
Jade smiled. Freddy stared and seemed to forget what he was saying. ‘Well, goodbye, Freddy,’ Anne said as she ushered Jade away. He went back to staring out the window.
‘Freddy’s been here for a while now. Ever since Dr. Harry left, he’s been calling us all by that name,’ said Anne.
‘I think he’s adorable. And wherever did you find those Snoopy pyjamas? I didn’t know they made them for adults.’
‘We had to do some stepping, believe me,’ Anne laughed. ‘You’d be surprised what you can find these days, when you take a good look.’
As they made their way down another hallway, Anne opened a door to show Jade one of the bedrooms. It was small and stuffy. There were two single beds fitted with grey, itchy-looking army blankets, and identical bedside tables, lamps and a bright red curtain.
‘It ain’t the Marriot, but the beds are comfier than they look.’
‘They’d have to be.’
Anne chortled. ‘Aye, it’s a shockin’ state of affairs.’
‘Is that an Irish accent I hear?’
‘Aye, ’tis.’ She put it on thick. ‘Tort I’d gotten ridda dat by now.’
‘Well you know what they say?’
‘Oh here we go! What?’ Anne grinned.
‘You can always tell an Irishman, but you can’t tell him much.’ Anne chuckled and slapped her knee. ‘I’ve heard that one, cheeky. I can tell I’m going to just love having you around!’
Each room was much the same, with the odd sentimental object or two placed on a bedside table. The ward was split into two wings: males on the right and females on the left. The kitchen was joined to the dining room, which led to the common room. Jade was happy to see that the patients had free access to some areas.
The rest of the ward consisted of two main offices, a waiting room and a small, airless space, designated as the staffroom, of course. Although needing renovations and lacking the finer luxuries, it did offer a working tap, a loud humming refrigerator, an old table and two antique-looking chairs. It would do.
‘Well, here you are. Make yourself at home. Green should only be about fifteen minutes away, I hope.’ Apparently the first part of the induction was over.
‘Okay, then. Thanks so much for the tour. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you again soon. It was lovely to meet you.’
Anne grinned. ‘You, too, Doc. You, too.’
Jade sat in one of the less rickety chairs and opened her monthly medical journal to pass the time.
Not two minutes had gone by when a balding man marched straight through the staffroom doors.
‘Jade Thatcher?’ he demanded. The small space forced them together like sardines in a can.
‘Yes. Dr. Green?’ She stood and held out her hand.
He shook it hastily. ‘Follow me.’ He was as abrupt as Anne had been welcoming. ‘Where are we going?’
‘Session,’ he growled over his shoulder.
‘A session … right now?’ It was only supposed to be her induction day.
‘Now is the perfect time to start and there’s no one else available. It’s a tight ship with a skeleton crew. We have few social workers and volunteers at the moment. There are three nursing staff, myself and you. That’s it. We need someone immediately and you assured us that you could work right away. Have your circumstances changed?’ He turned and glared.
She could tell that she was going to just love her new boss.
Chin up, Jade. There was no point in letting his rude demeanour get her down. She was a doctor, after all, and a bloody good one too. Having a broken heart didn’t change that.
Charging the hall, Dr. Green bee-lined into an office and Jade called over his shoulder. ‘Of course I’ll start right away.’ He didn’t bother to return the reassuring smile she plastered on her face, and he sat in a swivel chair without offering her a seat.
‘Fredrick Parks has been with us a long time. His old doctor is not here to help him through a difficulty. Fredrick needs his new doctor and it can’t wait.’ He clamped his hands together.
‘Well,’ she stammered ‘may I ask for the patient’s diagnosis and medical history? I’d also like to know …’
‘That’s an assessment I
’d like you to make. Think of it as a small examination before your job is secure at this institution.’ The corners of his mouth twitched. He was enjoying this! She could feel a sliver of loathing sticking in her throat, and it must’ve been obvious to him.
‘I’d like to know if your interpretations are the same as mine. Third door that way.’ He pointed, then turned in his chair, dismissing her with a wave of his hand.
Wanker. Jade left the room and shut the door a little harder than she strictly had to. She wished she had the gall to slam it until his teeth rattled.
Jade smoothed down her skirt and in a quiet instant, changed her attitude. This was going to be easy. She had years of training. She was ready for this because she had met and helped hundreds of patients in the city. How could she have let that little man – with his beady eyes – make her feel so incompetent? Shaking off his words, she headed down the corridor to find Fredrick Parks.
Breath held, she tapped on what she hoped was his door.
‘Come in, please.’ She barely heard him.
He gazed up from his small, hard-looking bed with its starched white sheets. The room was almost sadder than his face. She wondered what had happened to the cheerful man she’d met only moments ago. Green more than likely had something to do with his diminished mood.
She supposed that the session was meant to take place in his room. It seemed unprofessional and awkward. The walls were paper-thin and she could hear thumping and murmurs coming from next door.
‘Hi there. We met before. My name is Dr. Thatcher.’
‘Hello.’
‘Go ahead and call me Jade.’ She couldn’t help but be nervous in these uncharted waters. Not to mention the fact that her previous credentials meant absolutely nothing to her pompous new boss. She was going to have to prove herself all over again. Damn it, Jade – relax.
‘I wasn’t trying to kill us,’ he assured her.
Jade nodded, smiled, and pretended to know what on earth he was talking about. ‘I don’t believe you would ever do that, Fredrick – try to kill someone on purpose.’
