Sheridan's Fate

by Gun Brooke

  Chapter Eleven

  “You’ve got to be kidding!” Sheridan huffed and glowered at the woman standing next to her. Sweat poured down Sheridan’s face as she used all her strength to not plummet to the floor between the bars. “Did you say swing?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Lydia—or was it Gladys?—beamed. “Just swing forward. Use your arms. They look quite sturdy.” She patted Sheridan’s left biceps encouragingly. “There. Hop to it.”

  Sheridan swallowed a growl. This woman was the best person Erica could scare up on such short notice, or so her assistant claimed. She had arrived from yet another agency, claiming to be eager to work for the esteemed Sheridan Ward and that this was a God-sent opportunity, since she was able to start the very same afternoon.

  God-sent, Sheridan huffed to herself. I wish. “I don’t have any strength left to remain standing, let alone swing.”

  “Ah, but it is through pain that we learn, Ms. Ward.”

  That’s it! “I find your presence here painful enough,” Sheridan said, her voice low and menacing, which seemed to have zero effect on the new physical therapist.

  “You won’t succeed with a negative attitude.” The woman smiled cheerfully. “When life sends us hurdles, we learn how to jump, and—”

  “You’re fired.”

  “What?” The first look of uncertainty flickered over Lydia, or Gladys’s, face.

  “You—are—fired.”

  “But I’ve only been here a couple of hours.”

  Sheridan managed to drop relatively gracefully into the wheelchair. She unbuckled her leg braces before she returned her attention to the stunned woman who still stood next to her. Lydia-Gladys seemed utterly confused by the turn of events and stood with her hands hanging by her sides.

  Suddenly remorseful at her tone of voice, Sheridan relented. “You will get three months’ pay. That way you can find another job and be paid double for a while.”

  “But I’ve already told everyone I know that I’d be working with a high-profile patient.”

  Sheridan wanted to groan out loud and throw something. At least she didn’t indulge in name-dropping. I hope. “Well, that’s too bad,” she said between clenched teeth. “I don’t see how we can work together. We have very different ideas about what my training should be.”

  “Everything I do is by the book.”

  “What book? A history of the Spanish Inquisition?” Sheridan snapped. “Listen, Lydia—”

  “It’s Gloria.”

  Damn, close, but not quite. “Gloria.” Sheridan conscientiously adjusted her tone of voice not to agitate Gloria anymore. “Follow your own advice.”

  “What?” Looking desolate, Gloria pressed her hands together in a gesture that reminded Sheridan of the von Trapp family singing “So Long, Farewell.” How appropriate.

  “See this as just another hurdle to jump.” Sheridan was prepared to duck at the sight of Gloria’s reaction to her own advice.

  Now the woman looked like she was ready to throw something.

  *

  Lark glanced around the attic. Her mother had turned the bare space into a cozy den with plaid curtains for the small windows, warm colors on pillows and bedspreads. Converting what had been a storage area into an additional guest room was a brilliant idea on Doris’s part. Lark’s sisters and their families would use the guest room frequently.

  “You got everything you need, honey?” Doris poked her head up just above the banister.

  “Yes, Mom. I’m fine.”

  “I know everyone has asked you this a million times, but are you sure?”

  “Yes. I’m sure.”

  “Your father said he thought you looked…desolate.” Doris ascended one more step and folded her arms as she leaned on the railing.

  “Desolate?” Lark cringed. “That’s taking things a little far. Of course I’m not happy that I lost my job. And I’m mad at myself for letting Roy talk me into taking the job in the first place. I’d promised myself not to work in a private home anymore. Well, at least not for a long time. It’s a lonely job, really.”

  “I can understand that.”

  “I missed not having workmates and…well, backup.”

  “Understandable too.”

  “And now, when I really had begun to care about my patient… Mom, this has never happened to me before. I mean, I’ve had issues with my patients’ family members interfering and stuff, but like this? Never.”

  “Maybe you’ll see it differently in a day or two.”

  Lark doubted it. She missed Sheridan on a whole different level, and not to be around her, not hear that smooth, husky voice, was painful. “Yeah, I hope so,” Lark said for her mother’s benefit. “Things change.”

  “They do. I’m not sure you believe that right now, but you will, honey.”

  “Okay.”

  “Get some sleep. I heard you and Fiona giggle after the movie you took her to.”

  “She seems better.”

  “She does. After you came today, she seemed to turn over a new leaf. That’s one good thing about having you here.”

  Lark knew her mother was right. No matter why she was back again so quickly, the difference it made to Fiona was undeniable. “Yes. And I’m glad to be here, no matter what.”

  “Good. Sleep tight, child. See you tomorrow.” Doris smiled, the familiar broad smile that had always comforted Lark while she was growing up, and walked back downstairs.

  Only when Fiona was injured had Doris stopped smiling for quite some time. And only when they knew Fiona would live had she relaxed and ever so cautiously regained her easy-going warmth. Lark had long struggled with the notion that the assault on Fiona had forever changed all of them.

  Arthur’s introduction into the traumatized family had been yet another turning point. Arthur possessed a soothing calm that could inspire a person to excel. It hadn’t taken Lark long to find out that she wanted to impress him, to make him as proud of her as her mother was. Arthur had never once given her reason to doubt his love for his new family.

  At first, Lark’s youngest sister had tested Arthur, compared him to the fragmented memories she had of their biological father who died when she was five years old. Arthur had probably banged his head against the wall when it came to the younger Mitchell sister. Over the years, however, he’d won her over, and today she openly stated that Arthur was her daddy and nobody should ever try to argue this fact.

  Lark sighed. Being the mediator in the family sometimes took a toll on her, and now, when the conflict was her own, and not something she could help someone else with, she was at a loss. “It’s what I do,” Lark murmured. “I care, I help, and I solve. What else is my purpose?”

  She glanced toward the half-open window. The special scent of Boerne, fresh, sometimes a bit dusty, and always so much cleaner than the big city, made her feel safe, at home. Once Lark had started junior high, Houston had been a nightmare. It had never been home the way Boerne was.

  After Lark plugged her air card into a slot on her laptop’s left side, she flipped it open, booted it, and connected to the Internet. Lark logged into her e-mail, and when she found nothing of interest, she opened her chat software. Her heart stopped for a moment when she saw Sheridan on line. Time to confess a sin. Lark was rehearsing the words when the chat program suddenly pinged, making her jump.

  Sheri_star: Well it’s official.

  Lark frowned, uncertain what to expect. She began to type.

  Grey_bird: What are you talking about?

  Sheri_star: I’m a prize fool.

  Grey_bird: How’s that?

  Sheri_star: I fired someone today.

  What the…That was very honest of Sheridan, to admit it up front to Grey_bird.

  Sheri_star: And to make matters even worse, I did a repeat performance this evening.

  Grey_bird: Wait a minute here. You fired people? What does your boss say?

  Sheri_star: That’s just it. I am the boss. Sorry that I didn’t tell you.

 
Grey_bird: Wow.

  Sheri_star: Yeah. The buck stops here, as they say. With me.

  Grey_bird: That makes me feel a bit dumb.

  Sheri_star: Don’t. I didn’t mean to lie. I don’t know what I was thinking.

  Grey_bird: Were you lowering yourself to my level?

  Sheri_star: No, no! I don’t see you as inferior. I don’t. Do you believe me, Bird?

  The way Sheridan used part of Lark’s nickname felt almost like a term of endearment, which was of course crazy. Lark berated herself. They were casual chat buddies and nothing else.

  Grey_bird: I suppose. This is the nature of online chats, after all.

  Sheri_star: I don’t like deliberate lies or have any patience for people who use smokescreens to cover their true agenda.

  Lark inhaled sharply and scratched her scalp as it prickled with shame. How can I criticize her for being dishonest when I’m the one who started this? Disgusted, Lark was prepared to tell Sheridan the truth, but Sheridan was already typing.

  Sheri_star: Hey, let’s change the topic. How’s your boss doing? Any progress?

  Grey_bird: Not really. I’ve been having problems and have to stay with my parents for a while.

  Sheri_star: Ouch. Sounds painful.

  Grey_bird: Actually, my parents are the least of my problems. They’re no problem at all.

  Sheri_star: Then what’s up?

  Grey_bird: It’s work related, but I can’t break confidentiality.

  Sheridan clearly hesitated before answering.

  Sheri_star: I see. What do you do for a living?

  Grey_bird: I work closely with my clients, which I enjoy, normally.

  Sheri_star: But not at the moment?

  Grey_bird: Let’s just say that it’s wearing a bit thin. Hey, how did this switch to being about me?

  Sheri_star: You are so much more interesting. A bit of a mystery, actually. I still don’t know who set us up chatting with each other.

  Stunned and speechless, literally, Lark stared at Sheridan’s last message. It was as if she was talking to another woman, and yet she could hear Sheridan’s voice as clear as if she’d been sitting next to her on the bed. Lark gasped. On the bed…

  Grey_bird: She wanted to be anonymous in case we didn’t hit it off. Apparently you’re quite intimidating? *smile*

  Sheri_star: Anonymous, huh? And as for intimidating, yeah, I’ve heard that before.

  Grey_bird: I’ll figure things out. Now tell me, why did you fire these people? What did they do?

  Sheri_star: Nothing. That’s just it.

  Grey_bird: Surely they must have misbehaved somehow, or not pulled their weight?

  Sheri_star: Nope. There was a difference of opinion today, but that in itself wasn’t grounds for firing anyone.

  Grey_bird: Then what?

  Sheri_star: Compatibility problems combined with my temper, I think.

  Grey_bird: Ouch. Bad combo?

  Sheri_star: You bet.

  Grey_bird: I’ve got a bit of a temper too, even if I try not to show it most of the time.

  Sheri_star: Anything else you’re hiding? You’re not a bearded guy, are you?

  This question made Lark laugh and feel better for some reason. She was, after all, pulling more wool over Sheridan’s eyes than vice versa.

  Grey_bird: LOL! No, I’m all woman.

  There was a brief pause and Lark wondered if Sheridan had lost her Internet connection.

  Sheri_star: Good to hear. I have no problem with men, usually, but I like women better.

  Grey_bird: Like as in *really* like?

  Sheri_star: Yup.

  Oh, God. She actually is gay. And so out of my league, and out of reach, for that matter. Lark pressed her fingertips to her temples for a moment before she began to type again.

  Grey_bird: Me too.

  Sheri_star: You out to your family and friends?

  Grey_bird: Yes. To the ones that matter. You?

  Sheri_star: No. My job prevents it. I used to go to another town where I have an apartment and…*socialize.*

  Grey_bird: Sounds like you got lucky once in a while.

  Sheri_star: I made some friends. But you know this, right? From our mutual friend?

  Grey_bird: Some, but not very much.

  Sheri_star: So you go out a lot?

  Grey_bird: Not really. I don’t have time either. But I’ve had a couple of girlfriends. Been a while though.

  Sheri_star: So nobody right now?

  Heat seeped up from Lark’s neck to her cheeks.

  Grey_bird: No. You?

  Another pause.

  Sheri_star: No. Sometimes I think my ship has left for good.

  Grey_bird: How so?

  Sheri_star: I’ve been ill. Still not well.

  There! Lark sat up so fast her back ached. Sheridan’s unexpected trust nearly numbed her fingers, and she had to erase several times to manage the next two words.

  Grey_bird: What happened?

  Sheri_star: Let’s just say, life threw a wrench, or a complete tool set, into the works. I’m still recuperating.

  Grey_bird: Slow progress?

  Sheri_star: Yes.

  Grey_bird: What do the pros say?

  This time the break was so long that Lark was certain that Sheridan had pulled the cord to the computer.

  *

  Sheridan pulled herself up farther on the pillows. Her fingertips were cold, and she struggled to type as she chatted with Grey_bird.

  Sheri_star: That’s just it. My neurologist is really pessimistic, and…the caregivers do what they can to help, but it’s not enough.

  Grey_bird: You have help at home?

  Sheri_star: A fully staffed house, actually.

  Grey_bird: A group home?

  Sheridan laughed huskily, feeling her cheeks warm with embarrassment.

  Sheri_star: No, not like that. I’m pretty privileged. I employ ten, twelve people around the house.

  Grey_bird: Wow. Sounds like you have every chance of working this out, from a financial point of view.

  Sheri_star: Yeah, you’d think so. I’m afraid I’m not easy to get along with. I’m demanding.

  Grey_bird: Autocratic? *helpful suggestion*

  Sheridan laughed, and some of the tension left her shoulders, which she had pulled up tight by her neck without realizing it.

  Sheri_star: Yeah. Tyrannical, pesky, and self-absorbed. Just look at this chat. Mostly about me. What about you?

  Grey_bird: I lead a common, everyday kinda life. Nothing exciting.

  Somehow Sheridan guessed this wasn’t entirely true.

  Sheri_star: Hey. I spilled my guts. Share.

  Grey_bird: Trust me. Nothing much to share.

  Sheri_star: Indulge me.

  The chat program indicated that Grey_bird was typing, and Sheridan prepared herself to remain patient as she waited for her chat friend to finish.

  Grey_bird: My former boss, well, the one I had before my current one…I just couldn’t work there. I tried, I really did, but talk about miscommunication. I feel like I compromised over and over, but it wasn’t enough. I dunno. I might have been too set in my ways, since my method has always worked before. I could have listened more, paid more attention. Now I feel like I not only failed big-time, but also that I left my boss high and dry, ya know. It kinda hurts.

  Sheridan read Grey_bird’s comments and something in her loosened up, while something else knotted tighter and made her ache. She stroked her sweaty palms against the blankets, but she felt suddenly cold as well. It had never quite occurred to her, no matter how progressive and sensitive she would like to believe she was, just how much being fired devastated a person.

  Sheri_star: How are you coping? Is your current employer paying you enough?

  Grey_bird: Yes. I’m well provided for. No complaints there. The pay is great.

  Sheri_star: I can tell that isn’t enough.

  Grey_bird: You sound surprised. And concerned?

  Sheri_star:I can’t help
it. I feel I know you. Weird, huh?

  Grey_bird: Not really. I feel the same way. You seem like a friend.

  Sheridan’s palms tingled as she typed the question that had burned in the back of her head ever since she started chatting with Grey_bird.

  Sheri_star: Is that all?

  Grey_bird: What do you mean?

  Sheri_star: You know what I mean.

  Grey_bird: I guess so.

  Sheri_star: What?

  Grey_bird: I guess that I think there’s more. Something in what you say and how you say it.

  Sheri_star: Oh.