by Holly Law
“Your mother,” Paula said with a rueful smile.
“Ugh,” Kristen said, making a face of disgust. Her mother did not like Eranians. They had never treated her well and they had nearly cost her mother her career and life’s work. Her mother would not be happy about the extra security and the hassle of it. If the patient was already that much of a pain in the neck, she knew her mother would be putting in a lot of long, sleepless nights.
“That doesn’t even begin to describe it.”
“I brought my mother her dinner. Is that going to be a problem?”
“From here it shouldn’t be. I can give you a security pass,” Paula told her with a confident smile. She produced a pass Kristen had never been required to have before. Kristen fingered the new plastic warily. She shouldn’t need that just to bring her mother her dinner. Eranians always complicated things. “You can bring it back to the staff room. You probably won’t get to see your mother. She’s been occupied with meetings all night, when she’s not with the new patient.
“Thanks, I hope things calm down for you,” Kristen told her.
“Not until the new one leaves,” Paula said with a sigh.
Kristen gave her a sympathetic smile and moved down the main hallway. She was promptly stopped and asked for security clearance. Kristen presented it immediately and was allowed to continue. She turned a corner and headed down another hallway. She was stopped again and forced to show the badge for a second time. That was going to get very old.
“I think you guys are just after my mother’s dinner,” Kristen said as the security guard scrutinized her badge and glanced at the food in her other hand. The guard clearly was not in a joking mood and let her pass.
Kristen entered the staff lounge and was relieved to see that there were no security guards in there. There was another doctor in there relaxing and sipping coffee. “Your new security is intense,” Kristen commented.
The doctor made a face. “Trust me, you don’t know the half of it. They interrogated each of us in turn. Not a friendly bunch.”
“And you’re even Eranian,” Kristen commented with a smile. She had always gotten along well with Dr. Delis. He was an older man only a couple years from retirement. His face was good natured and friendly around his wrinkles.
“I think your mother got the worst of it.”
“I would imagine so,” Kristen said as she carefully labeled her mother’s food. “Will you make sure my mother knows this is here? She forgot to bring dinner with her.”
“I’ll let her know,” Dr. Delis promised and then gave her a mischievous smile. “Though considering it’s your cooking, I may have to eat it myself.”
Kristen laughed. “That may be the last of it for a while if the security is going to be this insane.”
“I think we may need your cooking more with this mess.”
“I’m going to head home before I run into anymore security guards.”
“Wise decision. They’re not very friendly or understanding.”
“I’ll see you later.”
“Stay out of trouble.”
Kristen stepped into the hallway and the security guards watched her as she left. She turned a corner and saw a tall Eranian man speaking with a nurse. The nurse looked pale and terrified as he spoke.
“Do you or do you not know how to do your job?” the Eranian man demanded and his accent gave away that he was a true Eranian and not one of those who lived in Duras. “Do you even care about doing things correctly? I had my thoughts on the effectiveness of this place and I fear I won’t be disappointed if your incompetence is any indication. If I wanted my father to have substandard care, I would have placed him in the hands of a senile wesha. I have scullery maids who take more care in their work than you. Get out of my sight, you worthless Dorite.”
Kristen cringed at the exchange, even as the nurse hurried by her, but understood some of it. She had a strong hunch that the man before her was likely under a great deal of stress and worry. The only Eranians that came to her mother were in the worst of shape and near death. She glanced at the nurse scurrying away who was fighting back tears, her face ghostly white.
Kristen hesitated a moment and approached the man who was busy glancing at his cellphone. “They really do care you know,” Kristen volunteered. The man cast an irritated glance at her. Up close, he was far more intimidating. He was dressed in an expensive looking and well-fitting suit that displayed the wealth Eranians were known for. Despite that, his hair was brushed into a more Durashite style that didn’t look natural on him. He clearly was trying to be inconspicuous—and failing.
“What do you know about it?” the man said arrogantly, giving her a dismissive glance that was full of contempt. “And you have no business addressing me.” He turned back to his cellphone making it clear any conversation was unwelcome.
“My mother is Dr. Morrin,” Kristen volunteered then and the man’s fingers paused on the screen of his phone. “I would suspect, given your behavior, that you’re related to this new patient I’ve heard she got today.”
The Eranian man looked at her again. His gaze was steady and assessing. Then he nodded to her imperiously, giving her silent permission to continue and affirming her suspicions. There was still nothing friendly on his face.
“My mother cares very much about what she does and helping her patients. My mother is good at what she does, even if she is not highly respected,” Kristen informed him. She knew from his earlier statements that he must have known something about how poorly her mother was regarded in her field. “No one who works with my mother would be here if they didn’t care about doing what is best. They could make more money in other places.”
“I heard,” the Eranian man said in a cold, clipped tone, “that Dr. Morrin’s husband died of Bourne’s Syndrome. I do not find that information encouraging.”
Kristen felt frustration at that comment. That fact was always thrown in her mother’s face and sometimes in hers. It was painful, but no one cared. No one did enough research to find out why that had happened.
“If you had done some research,” Kristen said in a forced calm she did not feel, “you would have discovered that her husband, my father, died before even half of her new treatments were okayed for testing. Eranian policies blocked that research for years. I was only trying to reassure you. Dealing with Bourne’s Syndrome sucks, I know that from personal experience. My mother and her staff do care and will do their best, whether you believe it or not.”
Kristen continued down the hallway, not bothering to wait for a reply. The Eranian irritated her. She had known some arrogant Eranians, but he took the cake by far. She found it difficult to believe that someone like him would bring a relative to her mother if he had such strong feelings against her.
Kristen stopped by the front desk to see a friendly face before she left. Paula smiled at her and commented, “You look annoyed. Did the guards bother you too much?”
“The relatives of that new patient aren’t too pleasant,” Kristen said shortly.
Paula flinched, then whispered, “I would be careful of him and his family. They’re dangerous people.”
“I’ll avoid them whenever possible.”
“Good. They’re not ones to cross. Have a good night.”
“You, too,” Kristen said with a forced smile.
She was glad to be in the elevator and even more glad to be out of the building and beyond security. She went to her car and plopped into the driver’s seat with a sigh. She stuck her key into the ignition and turned it. Nothing happened.
Kristen turned the key again and heard a small sound. She leaned her head back against the seat and moaned. This was not turning out to be a good night. She gave the key one more try and the engine turned over. Sort of. Smoke started coming from the hood of her car. Kristen let out a startled cry and turned it off. Kristen hit her head on the steering wheel. This was not a good night.
###
About the Author:
Holly Law
is a teacher who lives on the Colorado Front Range. She is married to her husband and lives with his guide dog and cat. She trained in Tae Kwon Do for eight years and briefly studied Kendo. Her fifth grade teacher inspired her to write and she hasn't stopped since.
Connect with me Online:
www.hollylawnovels.com
