“Part of my job, kiddo. Part of my job.”
In a quiet, sober voice, Lynette said, “It’s more than your job, Dina. You care about me, more than my mother does.”
“Not more, Lynette. You have only one mother, the woman who gave you birth. No one can love you more than she does. We have to help her learn how to show you that.”
Using a vehicle that she had signed out at the hospital garage, Dina drove with Lynette a few miles from the hospital to Liberty Stables.
She turned off the main road onto a winding one-lane road lined with maple and oak trees. The quiet coolness of the rural scene seemed to have a calming effect on her patient, although Dina knew the girl was nervous with anticipation.
She drove into a cobblestoned space in front of a large stable.
Lynette drew in a deep breath as she stepped out of the car.
“Dina, the lovely smell of horses! It’s wonderful!”
“It sure is.”
At that moment a stunningly attractive woman wearing riding pants and a denim shirt came toward them. Her long, blonde hair was tied back with a black silk ribbon. Her eyes were bright blue, and with outstretched arms she welcomed her guests.
“Welcome to Liberty Stables. So glad you’re here. Come, let me show you around.”
As they entered the stable, the horses nickered and moved restlessly in their confined stalls, as if aware of strangers.
“It’s okay, gang, these are only friends.”
She turned to face Lynette, whose eager, happy, smiling face showed her delight in this brand new experience.
Eleanor Burgess gave Dina a knowing wink, pleased with Lynette’s reaction.
“You’ve heard the old English expression, ‘There’s nowt so good for the inside of a man than the outside of a horse’?” she asked them.
“I agree,” Dina said. “It seems to me that these animals accept you as you are. Their rhythmic, rocking gait causes our brain receptors to react positively. We feel calmer, happier.”
“I’ve seen it happen often with quite a few patients,” Eleanor agreed. “Well, here we are.” She picked up a small bucket just inside the stable. “Here, grab a handful,” she said to Lynette and Dina.
Each grabbed a handful of carrot chunks.
“Follow me.”
She stopped at the first stall. A beautiful chestnut-colored mare, her coat shining with a healthy gloss, lowered her head to nibble at the carrots in her owner’s hand.
“This is ‘Queenie,’ formally known as Queen Anne of Seven Gables. She used to race, but now she’s retired.” She looked at Lynette. “Go on, offer her some carrots, then pat her nose gently,” she instructed.
“She won’t mind?”
“Not at all, Lynette. She’ll recognize you from now on as a friend.”
“Oh, my God. Her coat is so soft! Hello, Queenie,” Lynette said as the gentle animal responded with a gentle nod of her head.
“Follow me,” Eleanor instructed her guests as they met the other five horses housed in the stable.
As soon as the introductory tour was completed, the owner invited Dina and Lynette into her home.
“I’d like to have a brief chat with both of you, if you don’t mind, so we can set some goals and decide how we can best reach them.”
“That would be fine. Of course I can’t reveal Lynette’s personal history, only that she is a patient with some teen problems. And, I might add, I am very happy to say she is currently working on her issues with some success.”
“And you are her primary caregiver?”
“I am.”
Eleanor Burgess turned to Lynette. “You are feeling better, I take it.”
A happy smile reaffirmed Lynette’s quick response. “Yes, ma’am, I feel much better.”
She led them into a bright, sunny kitchen. The smell of freshly brewed coffee welcomed them.
Eleanor pointed to a door beside the refrigerator on the opposite wall. “There is a small bathroom right there where you can wash your hands.”
“Go ahead, Lynette,” Dina said.
“Dina, would you like a muffin with your coffee?”
“Oh, my, yes. Thank you.”
“What about Lynette?”
“Just ask her.”
CHAPTER NINE
“Lynette, I’m so proud of you! You never hesitated, ate that blueberry muffin, drank coffee, all without batting an eye. You go, girl!”
“I was hungry, I guess, and I felt so relaxed after being with those beautiful animals. Imagine, them eating out of my hand. Awesome!”
“Lynette, I think you are ready for a weekend at home.”
“You do?”
“Yes, I do. Perhaps one more role-playing session will do the trick.”
* * *
Six weeks later Lynette was discharged from Waverly Estates. She had gained fifteen pounds, was healthy and happy to be returning home. She was eager to get back to school, having received her weekly school assignments from her teachers during her hospital stay. Her parents were due to arrive at noon. Dina decided to go over the discharge plan she had devised for her patient.
She pointed out to Lynette that her life was hers to live.
“You do not have to satisfy anyone except yourself,” she told her. “I expect you to follow the guidelines we’ve established for a healthier relationship with your mother.”
She was pleased to see the healthy confidence that sparkled in her former patient’s eyes.
“You’re going to do just fine, Lynette. Remember to maintain a healthy diet, keep up with your work at the stables…”
“Oh, I plan to do that! Queenie is my best friend, you know.”
“I know that she is good for you, loves you a lot, and you are certainly good for her.”
The plan was to meet the parents at the gazebo, and by the time Dina and Lynette arrived, Mr. and Mrs. James were seated there.
Both bounded to their feet, broad smiles on their faces, arms outstretched to welcome their only child.
Her mother reached her daughter first.
“Oh, honey, it’s so good to see you! You look wonderful. Doesn’t she, Manse?”
“Hello, Dad.”
Lynette’s father took her in his arms, kissed her cheek. “She looks like a million dollars!” he responded.
Then turning to Dina, his arm still around Lynette, he said, “Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Thank you, thank you.”
Dina smiled. “It has been my pleasure and my privilege to get to know and work with your daughter. I have her papers here for you to sign, and then you can be on your way.”
Dorcas James stepped forward to join her family.
“Miss Raines, I have something I must say to you. I want to apologize for my uncalled for behavior toward you. I gave my daughter birth, but you gave her life, and I can never repay you. I was a selfish, mean-spirited, blind woman and I am so happy that you thought enough of our child not to back down from a stupid woman.”
Dina saw the tears in the woman’s eyes. She knew it took some courage for this woman to admit her own imperfections.
* * *
Charlie Freeman’s folks owned a summer house on the island of Martha’s Vineyard. The quarterback phoned Drew with an invitation to visit for a weekend.
“June is a good month,” he told Drew, “but you can come anytime. My folks always like to have my friends, so what about coming the weekend before the Fourth,” he advised.
“Sounds good to me,” Drew said as he thought about his dull life. He had not been able to track down Dina, and he had been filling his days by coaching football at a local high school, going to the gym three times a week, and riding Big Max, a gelding at Liberty Stables.
Charlie met him at the dock in Oak Bluffs where The Islander arrived. Drew spotted Charlie among the crowd waiting to meet their guests.
Both men grasped each other in bear hugs, Drew noting how fit and tanned Charlie looked.
“Man, you’re almos
t as dark as I am!” he joked as they compared the skin on their bare arms.
“The sun will do that. Anyway, you know we are brothers under the skin. How are you, anyway? Anything goin’ on?”
“Oh, you know, same old same old.”
“Yeah, I know. We’ll find some excitement here on the island.”
“Can believe that, man! Saw plenty of ‘hot mamas’ on the boat coming over.”
“They are here, man,” Charlie said. “Not to worry.”
He pointed out a rather worn-looking sports roadster. “This bug is old, but with the price of gas here on the island, it’s a cheap way to get around.”
“Sure beats walkin’.”
“Can say that again. First time down here on the Vineyard?”
“No, Charlie, my folks have friends here. I might check in with them while I’m here.”
“No problem. Where do they live?”
“Oak Bluffs, near Bayside Road, I think.”
“Believe I know where that is. The island is so small, not hard to locate places.”
“Here we are. Hop in, Drew. Just throw your bag in the trunk.”
“Will do.” He tossed his overnight bag into the trunk that Charlie had opened for him.
Closing the trunk lid, he joined his teammate in the front seat and buckled his seatbelt.
Driving slowly through the thick traffic leaving the dock, Charlie gave Drew a wide grin.
“Glad you could make it, Drew, old pal. Think we can toss a few balls around while you’re here?”
“Good idea,” Drew agreed. “A chance to limber up these old bones.”
“Oh, man, you look in good shape. Been working out?”
“Right. Everything from horseback riding, running, going to the gym, yoga. You know the drill.”
“Well, you look to be in fine shape to me, and we’ll get in some swimming, too. The water’s been great.”
“Listen, Drew, my folks are having some of their friends over tonight. A barbecue. But we don’t have to stick around for that.”
“Charlie, I’m dying to have some seafood! Lobster, the works! Do you know…”
“Of course, sure do,” Charlie interrupted. “We can go over to Menemsha, a fishing harbor where the lobster you eat tonight was in the ocean last night!”
“Lead me to it!” Drew insisted. “Been desperately in need of a seafood platter.”
* * *
“Fantastic job you accomplished with Lynette James, Miss Raines. I knew you could do it, no doubt in my mind! And the work you’ve done teaching other nurses and staff members…we’re offering something extremely therapeutic to our adolescent patients. I’m planning to submit an article to The Journal of Hospital and Community Psychiatry.” He paused, placing both hands flat on his desk.
“What can I do for you?”
Dina pushed herself back into her chair. Her palms were moist and she felt flushed. Would Dr. Ralston grant her what she wanted?
Before she asked him, she cleared her throat, hoping her nerves would not betray her.
Finances had been nail-biting tight for Dina, but with her parents’ insurance, as well as her grandmother’s, she’d been able to pay off her student loan for her master’s degree.
She explained to Dr. Ralston her hope to take a leave of absence to finish her Ph.D. work.
Dr. Ralston listened attentively, then said, “That will be no problem, Miss Raines. You may have all the time you need, and your job at this facility will be yours when you return.”
“Thank you, Doctor. Can’t tell you how much I appreciate everything you’ve done for me.”
“It has been my pleasure. Have you decided on a proposal?”
His sincerity was evident to Dina, and she told him, “My proposal seeks an answer to whether nurses can be teachers to their patients. I’ve already sent out over three hundred questionnaires to nurses, and I’ve received responses from about half so far.”
“That’s a good number. And what school are you…”
“I’m negotiating with a university in Connecticut.”
“Great. You know that whatever you need in the way of professional references will be readily available to you.”
“Thank you. That’s wonderful.”
* * *
A few days later, Nora Callan and Dina were sitting at a small table in a secluded corner of the cafeteria. Each had a fresh cup of coffee and a muffin.
Nora eyed her blueberry muffin, sighed, then scraped the crystals of sugar from the top. She took a large bite.
“Know I shouldn’t be indulging myself like this, but what the heck! What’s the point of living if you can’t have something you want?”
“I agree with you, Nora. Life is too short and unpredictable. You never know what’s coming down the pike, so you may as well do what you want.”
“Got that right.” She took a sip of her coffee. “So, tell me about your plans. Hear you’re taking a leave of absence from Waverly. You know you’ll be missed.”
Dina recognized the warmth in Nora’s voice and knew her friend had her best interests at heart.
“Nora, I don’t know why I feel the need to earn a Ph.D. I’m not sure if it’s because I lost my folks, need to live up to my grandmother’s expectations, or what. It’s going to be very expensive and I’m still figuring that out. But I won’t be satisfied until I try.”
“I understand, Dina. You know I wish you the best. Will you keep in touch? And if you ever need anything, please let me know.”
Touched by the older woman’s concern, Dina nodded. “Of course, Nora. Thanks so much.”
“So, when do you leave?”
“I’ve sublet my condo for a year. I hope I can complete my doctorate in that time. I expect to be packing up, leaving my condo in two weeks.”
Nora finished her muffin and wiped her mouth with a paper napkin. Suddenly she slapped her hand on the table.
“Dina!”
“What?”
“Are you doing anything this weekend?”
Eyebrows raised, Dina said, “Not really, only packing. Why?”
“I’m going to Martha’s Vineyard this weekend, and my kids don’t want me to go alone. Come with me. Go home, pack for the weekend, and I’ll pick you up Friday at nine. I have a reservation for the ferry, so we’ll have the car to use while we’re there.”
“Are you sure, Nora?”
“More than sure! And you’d better not say no. You’ll be doing me a favor, my friend.”
Dina, completely surprised by Nora’s invitation, looked across the table at the middle-aged white woman who had been her co-worker.
She saw warm sincerity in Nora’s face as she waited for her response.
“Nora,” she said, “you know, I’ve never been to the island. Gram had friends with summer cottages there, but we never visited them.”
“Well, my dear, now you’ll be able to do so. There are quite a number of well-to-do African-Americans there every summer.”
She chuckled. “You might even meet President Obama. I met Bill Clinton when he and his family vacationed there.”
“Wow! Wouldn’t that be something!”
“You just never know. And sometimes there are a lot of show business people…movie stars, TV personalities, anyone.”
“It’s really nice of you…”
“Nice! You’re doing me a favor! Now my kids won’t be fussin’ at me. So it’s settled. Nine, Friday morning, I’ll pick you up.”
* * *
The ferry was crowded with eager travelers anxious to get to their holiday destination.
Nora suggested to Dina that they find seats on the upper deck. It was a beautiful summer day, the sky a cerulean blue, gulls soaring overhead, swooping down to snatch slices and bits of bread held aloft by excited children as well as adults.
Dina felt herself relaxing as the ferry headed out of the harbor. She turned to Nora seated beside her, her floppy hat shielding her face from the bright sun.
�
�Thanks, Nora.”
“Thanks for what?”
“For giving me this time…a time to catch my breath. I didn’t know that I was so wound up.”
“My pleasure, happy to do it. Everyone needs a break now and then.”
With a deep sigh, Dina rested her head against the back of her seat, closing her eyes.
She thought back to the work assignment with Lynette that she and Nora had shared, and the night of the autograph signing, the handsome football player she had met. She still had his card in her wallet. She had never bothered to call him, so why had she kept his card?
CHAPTER TEN
That Friday night Hayes’ Bar and Grill down by Menemsha’s harbor was filled to capacity. Many patrons, newcomers and regulars, had been issued numbers and they waited for their numbers to be called over the loudspeaker. As they sat outside on benches, the lucky ones at tables, they chatted, reveling in the atmosphere. Camaraderie, warmth, and welcome wishes floated about in the early evening hour.
Nora, knowing how popular the eatery was, had insisted that they get there early.
“We should be there at, say, no later than four-thirty if we want to get a table,” she told Dina.
“That busy?”
“God, yes, and you don’t have to change. You look just fine in your Bermuda shorts and cotton blouse. Casual wear is de rigueur down here on the island.”
Dina was delighted when they entered the restaurant.
Wide pine boards provided the floor. Faded fishnets hung as curtains for the windows. Resting on each windowsill were seashells of all sizes and types. Wooden beams stretched across the ceiling of the large room.
Tables covered with red checkered cloths were in the center and booths lined the right and left walls. The kitchen, open to the patrons, was at the back, and the bar was just off to the right of the front door.
Dina noticed a display of Cape Cod pamphlets advertising some of the venues and activities available, and she picked up a few as she followed Nora inside.
“Please follow me,” a young woman said.
She led them to a table about halfway down the room.
“Will this be okay?” she asked, looking at Nora.
“Perfect,” Nora told her as she and Dina took seats on either side of the table and took the menus she handed them.
A First Class Act Page 4
