Sumter Point
Page 4
Against her better judgment, Beth took a miniature chocolate bar. She could never refuse chocolate. While she was curious about what Francine had said, she was even more curious about why Hazel would be telling her.
“She wants to move to third shift.”
This wasn’t a big surprise to Beth, or to anyone else who worked seven a.m. to three thirty. As first shift charge nurse, Francine had many administrative duties, and it was obvious to everyone she couldn’t handle the paperwork.
“I asked her if she could hang on until December and she said yes.”
“Why that long?”
“So I can get the charge nurse I’ve been wanting for the last seven years.”
It suddenly dawned on Beth who she was talking about. “Me?”
“Don’t act so surprised.”
“Oh, my God!” Beth had never imagined her nursing degree would pay off so quickly. But the best part was if she did a good job as first shift charge nurse—and she knew she would—she would be at the top of the list to take over as administrator when Hazel retired in six years. “Are you serious?”
Hazel nodded and smiled. “You know there isn’t anyone else in Sumter County who could do this job better than you. You understand how everything in this place works, and you’re good with the families.”
“I can’t believe this. I don’t know what to say.”
“Don’t say a word—not to anyone, even Francine. I think the county has rules about hiring people for vacancies that don’t exist yet.”
“I won’t, I promise. But are you sure it won’t be a problem with the county? You’re bound to get a lot of applications.”
Hazel waved her off. “I’ve been here long enough to know where all the bodies are buried. I can hire whoever I want.”
“I won’t let you down, Hazel.”
“I know you won’t.” She smiled her congratulations. “So did you get Mrs. Pippin settled in all right?”
“Sure did. She’s got good use of her right side and her mind is sharp as a tack. She’s down in the sunroom right now reading a library book.”
Hazel nodded. “I guess that explains why she didn’t think she should do a POA or a DNR.”
Beth cocked her head to one side. “Yes and no. I think she was ready to sign—at least the power of attorney—but her granddaughter’s pretty insistent that she’s going to get to go back home.”
“Norma says there isn’t much chance of that.”
“I’m afraid I agree. And I told Audie—that’s her granddaughter— that it was pretty rare for someone to go home after a stroke that severe. I just think they both need a little time to adjust to the idea.”
“It’s always hard at first, at least for some people.” Hazel stood and smoothed her skirt. “I suppose I should go introduce myself.”
“She’s a sweetheart.” Beth looked at her watch and groaned.
“You didn’t keep me long enough.”
Hazel laughed. “I didn’t want poor old Mr. Skelly to miss his bath.”
Audie removed the last load from the dryer, her bed sheets. She had spent the entire evening cleaning house, concentrating first on the dishes that were piled high in the sink. Once she and Buster smelled better, she had been compelled to get rid of the rot in the kitchen, along with the colony of ants that had taken up residence.
Her Grammaw would have been mortified at the state of the house, but Audie rationalized that she hadn’t spent much time at home since the stroke. Still, if the health department had dropped by this afternoon, the property would have been condemned. And if her Grammaw had actually been released to come home, she probably would have had another stroke at seeing the condition of her kitchen.
Audie was exhausted, she realized, as she tucked the sheets into the corners of her bed. Maybe tonight she would sleep for a change. It was ridiculous that she had come home totally shitfaced last night and still hadn’t been able to get a good night’s sleep.
That’s why she had gone to the nursing home so early—and why Beth had picked up so easily on the fact that she had been out partying.
The more she thought about her morning at the nursing home, the more embarrassed she became. She wanted to appear tough and demanding when it came to her Grammaw’s care, and instead, she came off looking like an irresponsible fool. She didn’t want those people at the nursing home—especially Beth Hester—to say things like, “Audie Pippin must not be too concerned about her Grammaw, or she wouldn’t have been out partying all night.” But that’s probably what they did.
She would have to erase that impression, starting tomorrow.
Beth slid between her cool sheets, still giddy from today’s news. She was bursting to tell somebody—Ginger, Kelly, anybody—but Hazel had sworn her to secrecy. She could live with that for now.
The fall semester started next week, and she had one last class to take for her RN degree, a three-hour course in geriatric care management. For someone with her background, it should be a breeze.
Beth was more worried about her nursing board exams, which she had already scheduled for October. She had never done very well on standardized tests, but she needed the state certification to step into Francine’s job. Lots of people failed the exam on the first try, and Beth’s stomach knotted with anxiety every time she imagined that day she would open the envelope with her scores.
While her age and experience served her well when it came to course work, the younger students always seemed more relaxed at test time. Beth envied not only their laid-back approach, but also the fact that most of them were full-time students. It had to be easier that way, but she hadn’t had an opportunity like theirs.
From high school, she had gone straight to Sumter Vo-Tech to get certified as a nursing assistant. Then she went to work at the nursing home, taking more classes at night at Sumter College to earn her LPN. All the while, she served as a surrogate mother to her younger sister Kelly.
Beth tried not to think back on those years too often. She loved her sister dearly and was glad to have spared her what would have been a dreadful life at home with their stepmother. But she couldn’t help having regrets about all the things she had missed out on, like going to college with her peers, enjoying the nightlife with friends and dating. Kelly hadn’t been too keen about having a lesbian sister, so Beth had even put that part of her life on hold until Kelly moved in with her boyfriend six years ago when she turned eighteen.
No wonder Beth had made such a miserable choice when it came to Shelby. She had virtually nothing to compare the feelings to. At least now she knew better. No more closet cases. No more control freaks. No more monster egos. Beth wanted to feel real love for a change.
And she wanted someone who could make a promise and keep it. Someone responsible. She wasn’t going to find a woman like that cruising the lesbian bars with Ginger and Mallory, that’s for sure. Bars were full of people like… well, like Audie Pippin.
Chapter 4
Audie balanced perilously on the arm of the recliner, stretching to tape the wire to the wall at the highest possible point.
“Okay, that should do it.”
She hopped down and turned on the small TV, flipping channels as she worked the rabbit ears. Two channels were relatively clear, and that was an improvement. But her Grammaw’s favorite channel remained snowy, no matter how the antennae were positioned.
“Dang! I think that’s as good as it’s going to get, Grammaw.”
“That’s too bad.” Since she entered the nursing home ten days ago, Violet had missed her favorite programs. “At least I have my books.”
“No, we should get you hooked up to cable. I know they can do that because there’s a man down the hall that has his TV on the country music channel all day.”
“That’s too much fuss.”
“No, it isn’t. Just because you have something to read doesn’t mean you can’t watch your shows too. Beth said we should try to make living here as much like being at home as we can.”
“I can make do with it like this. No sense in spending money on cable.”
“Why not? Besides, I can disconnect the cable at home if you’re worried about how much it costs.”
“You don’t want to do that.”
“It doesn’t matter to me. I hardly ever watch TV anyway, and if there’s something I really want to see, I can go over to Dennis’s.”
Audie crumpled into the recliner. “Do you sit in this chair much?”
Her grandmother frowned. “It’s hard as a rock.”
“No kidding. Beth said we could order another one if we wanted, an electric one that changes positions like the bed.”
“I wonder how much they cost.”
“Quit worrying about the money! What good does it do to have it if you can’t use it to be more comfortable?” If there was one subject in the whole world Audie hated, it was finances. Not that she ever had to worry about it much. Living at home rent-free meant she had lots of spending money from her paycheck, so she was rarely pinched for cash. She had a car payment and insurance, and she managed to put about a hundred dollars a week into her savings account. But most of her cash went to fast food restaurants, the Gallery, or whoever the guy was that supplied Dennis with pot.
Her Grammaw threw up her hand in surrender. “Okay, I guess we can ask Beth to order one.”
“Beth must be on vacation. I haven’t seen her in a while.”
“She’s here today. I guess she’s busy.”
Audie was surprised to hear that. She had been here almost an hour and hadn’t seen anyone at all but her Grammaw. “Maybe I’ll go see if I can find her. Then we can order it today.”
After a quick tour of the nurses’ station, the day room, and the sunroom, Audie found the object of her search in another patient’s room. Beth gave her a bright smile and wave, which she automatically returned.
“Hi,” Beth said, stepping out into the hall.
“Hi. I thought maybe you were on vacation or something.”
“Vacation? I wish.” She looped her stethoscope around her neck. “No, just my usual days off, spent cooped up at home by myself getting ready for my nursing boards.”
“You’re off four days in a row?” Not that she was counting or anything.
“It’s our usual rotation. I work ten days straight, then the next four I’m off. That way, we all get to have two free weekends a month.”
Audie nodded her understanding. “That sounds like a good schedule.”
“It’s not bad once you get used to it. I’ve been doing it for fourteen years.”
“That’s a long time to work in one place. I’ve been at the animal shelter for six years.”
“What do you do there?”
“I’m a vet tech. I take care of the animals that come in sick or injured, unless it’s something serious.”
“Then I guess you have to take them to the vet.”
“Yeah.” Or put them down. “I like it. My boss wants me to take a promotion, though, doing some work out in the community, like talk to schools and clubs.”
“I bet that would be fun.”
“I have mixed feelings about it. For one thing, I’d have to dress up for work every day. I don’t think I could stand that.”
“We all have our crosses to bear. At least you wouldn’t be stuck in one place all the time.”
“True.” Audie was glad for the chance to talk as they walked slowly down the hall. “So what’s this about nursing boards? Do you have to take them every year?”
“Oh, no,” Beth answered with a chuckle. “Just once, if you’re lucky enough to pass on the first try.”
“I don’t understand. Why do you have to take an exam if you’re already a nurse?”
“I’m a licensed practical nurse, not a registered nurse. They’re different. I’m getting a bachelor’s degree in nursing and I have to pass the state boards to get certified as an RN. I finish up the program at Sumter College in December, so I have to take my boards this fall.”
“Well, good luck.”
“Thanks. I’m pretty nervous about it.”
“I’m sure you’ll do great.” They were nearing her grandmother’s room. “I was looking for you because Grammaw wants to order one of those recliners you told us about, the one that adjusts.”
Beth entered the room. “I don’t know, Audie. If I give in and let her get a recliner, she’ll probably want a motorcycle next.”
Violet laughed, clearly delighted by the teasing.
“Actually, what she wants next is cable TV,” Audie said.
“We can work that out, but I’ve got a better idea. Why don’t we put you down to move into one of the rooms that’s being renovated? They already have cable hookups.” She pulled a blood pressure cuff from her large pocket and wrapped it around Violet’s good arm.
“When are they going to be ready?”
“In a week or two, I think. Maybe your chair will be here by then.”
“Does that sound all right, Grammaw?”
“It’s fine with me. Will I have a window like this one?”
“Sure. We’ll even put you on the back side like you are here.”
Beth turned to Audie. “I heard you and Buster put on a show for everybody on Sunday.”
“Oh, yeah! He was in rare form. Everybody clapped and cheered when he caught the Frisbee. He ate it up.”
Everyone went silent as Beth pumped up the cuff and pressed her stethoscope to the inside of Violet’s elbow. Finally, she said, “I bet it was fun. I wish I had been here.”
“I can bring him again next Sunday if you’re working then.”
“You should. I’d love to see it.” She folded the cuff and put it back in her pocket, turning back to Violet. “Did you get a sponge bath today?”
“No.”
“Let’s do that then.”
When Beth went into the bathroom for her supplies, Audie grabbed the short stack of library books that her Grammaw had already finished.
“You’re not leaving, are you?” Beth asked, checking her watch as she returned. “I thought you didn’t have to be at work for another hour.”
Audie shrugged. “I have to go by the library before I go in. Do I need to do anything about the chair, or can you order it?”
“Can you jot down your credit card number? If I call it in, they’ll ship it out right away.”
Audie gave her Grammaw a questioning look then turned back to Beth. “I don’t have a credit card. I always pay cash for everything.”
“Hmm… we’ll have to figure out something else then. Maybe we can charge it to the county for now and then take it directly from Miss Violet’s patient fund.” She helped Violet sit up and remove her gown.
“Or I could write a check,” Audie offered, sidling to the doorway.
“That’ll take longer. Let me look into my idea first. I’ll let you know tomorrow, okay?”
“Sure.” Audie was practically standing in the hall. “I’ll see you then. Love you, Grammaw.”
Beth soaped a cloth and began to wash the old woman’s torso.
“Was it my imagination or did your granddaughter just tear out of here like her pants were on fire?”
“I think she’s a little shy about seeing me without my clothes on. She did that at the hospital too.”
“Oh, I see.”
“It was even worse when I had to get her to help me with her Grampaw.”
Beth was growing accustomed to the cadence of Miss Violet’s speech and now found her easier to understand than she had at first. “I guess I can relate to that. I’d feel kind of funny if I had to give my father a bath.”
“Does your father live here in Sumter?”
“He lives in Nashville. But I don’t see him all that much anymore. He and my mother got divorced back when I was a kid, and afte
r he got married again, we started drifting apart.”
“Where does your mother live?”
Beth continued her gentle strokes, now rinsing the soapy film from Miss Violet’s fragile skin. “She died in a boating accident about five years ago somewhere near Australia. But I hadn’t seen her since I was seventeen.”
“Are you all by yourself?”
“No, I have a younger sister who lives in Knoxville with her husband, and a very handsome nephew who’s almost a year old. I’ll bring in some pictures tomorrow if you want to see.”
“I do.”
“He’s a cutie-pie. And his Aunt Beth spoils him rotten every time she sees him, but I figure that’s what we’re here for, right?”
“I thought that’s what grandparents were supposed to do,” Miss Violet said with a chuckle.
“Did you spoil Audie when she was little?”
“I don’t think we did, but we wanted to. She didn’t get a lot of attention from her mama. It was hard for her to get used to having people hug her and tell her what a pretty girl she was.”
“What happened to her mother?”
“Nobody rightly knows. She left home when she was sixteen with some man who was nearly forty. We didn’t see her again till she showed up with Audie. Little girl was two years old and didn’t even know how to chew her food.”
“My goodness.” Beth had no idea of Audie’s precarious start, and felt a swell of compassion for her. She and Kelly also had tough times, but at least their physical needs had been met.
“Marla stayed with us for a week or two, then one morning she just up and left without saying goodbye. Left Audie with us. We didn’t hear from her again until Audie was about ten. She called us from Las Vegas, wanting money. Lewis hung up on her.”
Beth shook her head in disbelief. “I can’t understand how a mother can just leave her child. Audie sure was lucky to have you and your husband.”
“We worried so about raising her, on account of the way her mama turned out.”
“I’d say you don’t have to worry anymore. Audie turned out pretty well if you ask me. She seems like a really good person.”