Truths Unveiled

by Kimberly Alan

  “Tom told me you might be hesitant to come here,” Marlene said, laughing. “But I didn’t think he’d have to actually carry you in!”

  Everyone chuckled while Pam shot arrows with her eyes in Tom’s direction. “Believe me,” she replied dryly. “It wasn’t my idea.” At the same time, she felt an anxious flutter in her stomach. What else did he tell her?

  After a few minutes of exchanging pleasantries and discussing the factory explosion, Marlene turned to Pam, “Would you like to meet some of the staff?”

  Pam followed the petite brunette through a set of double doors. They led to a busy nursing station and a huge, square-shaped hallway that contained several treatment rooms. Passing by, she noted a patient in each one.

  While Marlene made the introductions and Pam responded, she realized that Tom kept his distance but maintained a gaze locked on her. In spite of her efforts to remain calm, that worried flutter turned into a full fledged tumble.

  “As you can see,” Marlene continued, drawing Pam back and pointing to various areas of the department, “We’re busy, but everything’s under control after today’s little explosion. And I must say, your timing was impeccable. We really appreciated your help.”

  Pam nodded. “Of course. And I’m so impressed at how quickly the response teams reacted.”

  “You can thank Tom for that. Right, Chief?”

  “Right, Doc,” he answered, then winked at Pam.

  Confused, Pam crinkled her forehead. Did she miss something? Marlene must have noticed because she said, “In case Tom didn’t mention it, the response teams are tied directly to this hospital, under his command. He also helped design this place and is a member of the board of directors.”

  Pam’s attention darted back to Tom. Why was she surprised? The job suited him perfectly. “That’s a huge responsibility,” she said finally. “And from what I saw today, you’ve done a fantastic job.”

  The compliment sounded flat, but she meant it sincerely. They’d both come so far since the last time they saw each other. And though she thought of him from time to time, it never occurred to her that they could be standing here like this, faced with the potential of working together.

  Tom gave her a rare, quiet smile, as if he appreciated her opinion. “Thanks.”

  “I know it’s late,” Marlene said, pushing a dark lock away from her face. “And I’m sure you’re exhausted, but since you’re here, how about seeing the rest of the place?”

  Pam looked to Tom. “Do you mind?” Now, feeling so totally impressed with everything, she no longer felt tired or cared about her appearance. The hospital seemed to possess all she could hope for, and then so much more.

  “Of course not,” he encouraged. “Take your time. That’s why we’re here.”

  He’s being awfully nice, she noted. And he hadn’t uttered a single wisecrack in at least five minutes. How unusual. She’d think about that later. For now, she turned to Marlene. “Thank you. I’d like that.”

  Walking out of the ED, they headed toward an intensive care unit. “Didn’t the two of you work for the ambulance company years ago?” Marlene asked.

  Pam heard Tom utter a groan. Flashing him a blinding smile, she shook her head. “No. I volunteered at Hopewell’s company. One town over. That made us rivals, so to speak.”

  “Really? But didn’t you live in Middleton?”

  “Yes, she did,” Tom quickly chimed in.

  Amused, Pam tossed him a look that asked, “Will you tell her, or should I?”

  “I acted a dufus back then,” he shot back, trying to make light of the situation.

  Pam laughed. “I think that’s a fairly accurate description.”

  “A dufus?” Marlene repeated, as they entered another wing of the hospital.

  Pam gave her a firm nod. “Definitely a dufus.”

  “With good reason,” Tom weakly defended.

  Pam arched her eyebrow. “I’m glad you think so. If I remember right, I’d been volunteering as a candy striper at a Boston hospital since turning fourteen. At sixteen, I joined a rescue company. A few months later my father’s job transferred us here.”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Tom stifled a yawn. “How about those Phillies? I heard they were heading to the World Series this season.”

  “Oh no,” Marlene scolded. “You’re not changing the subject. I want to hear the rest of the story. From Pam!”

  “Thank you.” Pam bowed. “Tom hired all the rescue volunteers at that time. And he told me I was a liability.”

  Marlene shot Tom a teasing frown. “You turned her down?”

  Sheepishly, he shrugged. “Like I said, I was a dufus.”

  “Yeah. He told me I was too young. So he rejected me.”

  “And you went to the competition?” Marlene asked Pam.

  Tom answered first. “She sure did. And she became a major pain in my butt every time both Middleton and Hopewell worked a scene.” He threw her an exaggerated scowl. “And that wasn’t the half of it. Imagine these county picnics and little contests that the companies held against each other every couple of months. We did it for fun. Yeah. Right. Pam showed up at every one of them looking for blood. And most times, she got it!”

  “Hell knows no fury like a woman scorned,” Marlene quoted, draping an arm around both of them. “Well, I’m glad to see there’s a good, healthy rapport between the two of you. That’s the kind of team cooperation we need around here to make this medical center a success. Getting this place built, up and running was the easy part. Now for the real test: Living up to the reason why we’re here.”

  Several minutes later, after showing Pam numerous treatment units and sections, Marlene led them to one of the hospital’s general patient wings.

  “The service area is large,” Pam commented, passing the numerous rooms.

  Marlene nodded. “We’re an acute treatment facility for five counties. After patients are stabilized and begin recuperating here, they are transported back to their community rehab hospitals. That way we don’t put those places out of business and the patients are close to their family and friends.”

  “How many of tonight’s folks were admitted?” Tom asked.

  “About forty in all,” she said. “At least twenty are serious. The others suffered mainly from minor smoke inhalation.” She paused in the doorway of a patient’s room. “Here’s one of them now. Good evening, Mr. Maloney.”

  The elderly man turned his attention from the television and gave them a wave. “Hi, Doc.”

  “How are you feeling?” Marlene asked, finding his pulse. Then she reached for his chart.

  “Much better, thanks.”

  His raspy voice confirmed that he had inhaled a lot of smoke. Pam noted the oxygen cart set up next to the bed.

  “Who you got there?” he asked, reaching for his glasses. “Oh, Thomas. Good to see you. Your guys drive a mean ambulance. And is this the little lady who helped me out back there?”

  “Sure is,” Tom agreed. “This is Dr. Harrington.”

  Nodding to Pam, Mr. Maloney gave Tom a knowing wink. “Another beautiful woman doctor? Heck, it almost makes it worth getting sick.”

  “I heard that,” a short, graying woman interjected. She walked into the room wearing a feisty grin and carrying a small overnight suitcase.

  “Here. Let me help you with that.” Tom took the bag and placed it on the bureau. After a minute or so, he and Pam followed the doctor out of the room.

  “I understand the lure of the big city,” Marlene told Pam. “Believe me. And Chicago General would be lucky to have you. You would do well there. But I don’t think you’ll be disappointed if you decide to come here instead. During these next few days, take a good look around. Ask questions. Talk to everyone you meet. I believe you’ll be pleasantly surprised at what you find.”

  “Thank you,” Pam answered sincerely. “It’s a beautiful facility.”

  “Different from what you expected?”

  Smiling, she flashed a look at Tom. �
��I really wasn’t sure what to expect.”

  “That’s fair. I remember feeling the same way. I’m glad you decided to make the trip.” She brought them to an elevator. “Let’s go back to my office. I’ve got some paperwork for you to look over: the job description, the hospital’s policies and mission statement, salary and benefits packages. That sort of thing. Nothing’s cast in stone. Feel free to talk to me about it tomorrow and give me your input.”

  Tom pulled her close and whispered, “That means you’ve got an open ticket. We’ll do whatever it takes.”

  His statement took a second to sink in. Then Pam coughed. “That’s good to know.”

  A few minutes later, back in her office, Marlene gave Pam a folder and extended her hand and a warm smile. “I’m glad we got a chance to meet before all the formalities begin tomorrow. Please think about what I said. We may be out here in the middle of nowhere, but I can promise you it’s never dull.” She then looked to Tom. “When you recommended Pam, you told the hiring committee that she would fit in perfectly.” Marlene turned her attention back to Pam. “He was right.”

  Pam spun around to face him. “You recommended me?”

  Truths Unveiled

  Truths Unveiled

  Chapter Six

  “You didn’t know?” Amused, Marlene’s eyes sparkled.

  Pam could only stare at her. Then at Tom. Leaning against the wall, his arms crossed, he gave her a look that said, “Of course. What did you expect?”

  The doctor smiled at Pam’s obvious surprise. “Do you want to hear the story?”

  “Another time,” Tom interrupted, making a reach for Pam’s arm. “It’s getting late.”

  “Oh, no. Now’s fine,” she assured him. “Please go on, Marlene. I’m very curious about how this happened.”

  Much to Pam’s delight, and that of the other doctor, Tom groaned again.

  “As a member of the board,” Marlene began. “Thomas here votes on all hired personnel. Last month, after we decided to hire another staff ED doctor, I mentioned your name. I also mentioned another candidate Chicago General intended to hire. We wanted someone exceptional here and I knew both of your files. When Tom heard your name, he let out this walloping hoot of laughter and insisted we extend you an invitation.”

  “Hm. I see.” How totally strange, Pam thought.

  Tom jingled his keys. “And here you are. So can we go now? I’m starved.”

  Pam looked to Marlene. The woman’s knowing-smile made her giggle. “Sure.”

  ****

  Fulfilling his promise, Tom had retrieved Pam’s luggage from the SUV before heading to the medical center. Now he brought it to her in the doctor’s lounge. Ten minutes after leaving Dr. Everett, Pam emerged, wearing navy slacks and a white linen blouse.

  “Gee, it’s amazing what a little soap, water and hair spray can do,” she murmured, carrying a garment bag and wheeling a small suitcase behind her. Suddenly self-conscious, she looked up and found Tom openly admiring her from across the hall. He too had changed clothes and looked incredibly handsome. More refined than she remembered. His tanned face and arms contrasted nicely with the white polo shirt tucked into black chinos.

  “You look great,” he complimented, taking the garment bag. “Ready to go?”

  Heading toward his truck, Pam marveled at the evening’s unusual events. Once on the road, the uneasiness that plagued them during the ride to the medical center now disappeared. Effortlessly, they talked about the facility and the people she had met. Then Tom asked, “Does any of this look familiar?”

  Slowly, he drove by the brightly lit shops and restaurants that lined both sides of a busy street. Pam peered out of the passenger side window, amazed at what she saw. Though almost eleven o’clock, a fair number of people strolled along the sidewalk, chatting and window shopping, or sat on benches, munching ice cream cones.

  “Yes and no. We’re on Center Street, right?”

  “That’s right. But not like you remember it.”

  Pam nodded. “It feels a bit like the Twilight Zone. I recognize some of the buildings. There’s the bank, and Sonny’s gas station, but everything else looks so different. Including all these people. The last I remember, this place closed down tight by six every night.”

  “And it didn’t exactly boom any time before then either,” Tom reminded her.

  “That’s for sure.”

  “Let’s stop here.” He pointed toward the right.

  Pam followed and found a number of tables set up on a large verandah in front of a restaurant. She counted over a dozen people lingering over deserts and drinks, enjoying the evening’s Indian summer breeze. The clatter of silverware and glass echoed through the air, mingling with festive chatter and delicious aromas.

  Pam inhaled. “Something smells wonderful.”

  “It is,” he assured her, backing into a parking spot.

  She hesitated, marveling at the day’s unpredictable twists. So much for that fast food she’d planned to pick up on the way to the hotel.

  Tom opened her door and took her hand. “At last we’ve arrived. Along with today’s cow poop, I smell like smoke from the fire. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “Don’t be silly,” she replied, easing out of the truck.

  Years ago, she remembered his amazement at how impressed she was with his family’s business. Coming from a large city, she had really never given any thought to the fact that some people earned their living providing food for the rest of the world.

  “A close buddy owns half of this place,” Tom whispered, guiding her to the restaurant’s entrance.

  Noting her surroundings, Pam realized she felt as if they were on a date. That’s stupid, she told herself. She’d gone to lots of restaurants with lots of men. Most were friends or business associates, both single and married. And she and Tom had a history. Bleak, but still. It would not be unusual for two people who hadn’t seen each other for a while to get together, briefly. Right?

  An image of Tom’s supposed ex-wife flashed in Pam’s mind. Quickly, she dismissed it, along with all the negativity it conjured up. Instead, she focused on Tom, propelling her through the crowd. He stopped here and there, returning greetings and answering inquiries about the explosion.

  With Tom’s hand guiding her, Pam smiled politely, intentionally avoiding eye contact. Would anyone recognize her? Suddenly being there, out in public with Tom, didn’t seem like such a good idea. The base of her neck began to tingle with alarm again. Blood rushed to her temples, making them pulse.

  Almost frantic, Pam searched the walls for a back exit. Get me out of here, God, she prayed. Please!

  Truths Unveiled

  Truths Unveiled

  Chapter Seven

  At that moment, Tom squeezed her hand. “Just up the stairs.”

  Determined to stop her rising sense of panic, Pam followed gratefully. Once at the top, he led her to a dimly lit balcony and closed the door. To her relief, much of the clatter evaporated. Immediately, she noticed one candlelit table. It overlooked the street and contained two place settings.

  Tom pulled out a chair for her. “You look like something’s on your mind.”

  Feeling a little better, Pam shook her head and smiled. “No. Just confirming that you’re still a popular guy.”

  “He should be,” a large burly man interjected, appearing out of nowhere. “He owns half the joint.”

  Something about the voice jolted Pam’s memory.

  “Eddie?” She looked to Tom, then back to the man she knew to be Tom’s best friend all those years ago. And a really nice guy.

  “None other,” he grinned, offering her a friendly hug. “Welcome back, Doc. It’s good to see you.”

  “He’s the other owner,” Tom added.

  Out of the corner of her eye, Pam noticed Tom make a motion toward what appeared to be a kitchen. An instant later, a waiter carried over a cheese and fruit platter. He set it in the middle of their table.

  “The two of you? This
place?” Impressed, Pam nodded approvingly. “You’ve done a great job. It’s beautiful.” And it was. Pam recalled the building, formerly called the Middleton House Inn. Built back in the late eighteen hundreds, at one time it had included a fancy restaurant and saloon along with rooms for rent upstairs. At the time Pam moved to Middleton, it still hosted a semi-upscale restaurant, but it had desperately needed refurbishing and a new chef. She and the high school kids who worked there expected it to close at any second.