“Let’s make a deal here, okay? You need help and I want to help. Now the television is paid for. You can either accept it and enjoy it or you can leave it off and stare at a blank screen all day.”
The noise from the television interrupted their conversation. “…and if you think for one minute that I believe that some stranger broke into your apartment and stole everything that belonged to your roommate here and left all of your stuff behind then you’re a complete idiot. I wasn’t born yesterday, Mister Richards. Judgment for the plaintiff in the amount of six hundred fifty three dollars and twelve cents. Case dismissed.” Veronica looked over to see Rose watching with complete interest.
“It’s like being in court,” the young woman said, her attention never leaving the set.
“It’s a good show.”
“Is it on every week?”
“Every day, Rose. You can watch it every day at noon.” She smiled and whispered conspiratorially. “I’m too busy to watch it when it airs but I tape it and catch up on the weekends.”
“Thank you,” the young woman said sincerely, her green eyes smiling at Veronica. “It will make it easier to pass the time here.”
“It’s the least I could do.” She leaned her arms on the railing of the bed. “So are you going to tell me who I can contact besides your job to tell them that you’re here? Surely someone will miss you.”
The small smile that had been on Rose’s face disappeared. “There’s no one to contact.”
“No one? Not even a friend?”
Rose gave a sad smile. “I haven’t lived in Albany that long,” she said, not wanting to reveal the truth, that she deliberately avoided making friends because friends liked to stop by and visit and she was too embarrassed at her meager living conditions. She shifted and a shooting pain burned up her left leg, making her cry out. “Oh god that hurts,” she hissed. Veronica immediately reached over and pressed the call button repeatedly.
“What is it?” Mary asked as she entered the room.
“She’s in pain. Can’t you give her anything?”
“She’s receiving an appropriate amount through her IV but if she needs more I can give her a shot.” She looked at Rose, who was trying hard not to cry. “Miss Grayson?”
“Yes she is. Can’t you see she’s suffering?” Veronica answered testily.
“Miss Grayson?” The nurse repeated. Rose reluctantly nodded, the pain too much to bear any longer. To her surprise, a larger hand enfolded her own. Another twinge of pain shot through her and she gripped Veronica’s hand tightly. The nurse left and returned a minute later with a needle. She unceremoniously pulled the sheet and hospital gown back to expose Rose’s right hip and stuck the needle in. “This will sting for a minute.” The young woman gripped Veronica’s hand even tighter as the medication was injected. “There, all done.” The nurse looked up at the dark haired woman. “She’ll probably fall asleep in a few minutes.”
“Fine, I won’t be much longer.” The nurse nodded and left, not bothering to pull the sheet back into place. Veronica used her free hand to reach over and cover Rose’s hip with the stark white linen. “Do you want me to stay for a while until you fall asleep?”
“No, that’s…” She was unable to stifle a yawn. “…that’s all right…I’m fine…” The powerful drug acted quickly, causing her head to loll to the side and her eyes to take on a glassy look. “Are you sure you’re not an angel?” She asked sleepily as her eyelids sagged. “You look like an angel…you…” Another yawn, “…act like…” Her eyes closed and the hand that had been holding Veronica’s fell limply to the side.
She waited several minutes until she was certain that Rose was asleep before standing up and tucking the blanket around the injured woman. “Sleep well, Rose,” she whispered.
Veronica opened the door and dragged the litter box, scratching post, and bag of toys inside.
“Tabitha, come on you little fuzzball, I’ve got toys for you.” She sat down on the floor and pulled out the various items. The orange and white kitten came buncing over to see what the tall human was up to. She sat back and watched as the packages were opened and fake mice, bagged catnip, and various toys were tossed into a pile. “There you go,” she said, fully expecting the feline to dive into the pile and play. Tabitha did what any cat would do, walked past the pile of cat toys and started batting at the empty wrappers. “Hey, the toys are over here.” She grabbed the little ball with the bell hidden inside and shook it to get the cat’s attention. “See? Toys here, garbage there.” Tabitha looked at it, looked at the wrappers, and went back to playing with the clear plastic.
“Fine, be that way, see if I care,” the dejected woman said, stuffing the wrappers into the plastic bag. “I got you a litter box too, think you’ll use that?”
“Mrrow?”
“That’s what I thought.” She stood up, tucked the bag of litter under one arm, the cat box under the other, and headed to the kitchen. “Seventy five bucks on toys and the stupid thing wants to play with the packages they came in.” She set the bag and box on the table. A note held to the refrigerator with a magnet told her Maria had left for the day along with instructions on how long to microwave the dinner she had prepared.
Exhaustion begged her to stop and rest but there were just too many things that had to be done. She quickly set up the litter box and put it in the mud room, leaving the door ajar so Tabitha could come and go freely. That task done, Veronica strode out to the living room, picking up the cordless phone and dialing the familiar number on the way.
“Cartwright Insurance, how can I help you?” The crisp feminine voice on the other end of the phone asked.
“Susan Cartwright, please.”
“She’s busy right now, may I ask who’s calling?”
“Veronica Cartwright. Interrupt her, this is important.”
“One moment.” She heard a click followed by the most boring hold music she had ever heard. Flopping down on her soft brown leather couch and kicking her shoes off, she tucking her feet beneath her. Tabitha bounded out of the kitchen and climbed up next to her.
“Mrrow?”
“What do you want?” she asked, reaching out with her free hand to scratch the cat behind the ears. “Let’s get something straight right from the start, okay? I bought a scratching post for you. The ten thousand dollar couch is off limits to your claws, got it?”
“Mrrow.” The orange and white feline laid her upper body across Veronica’s thigh and began purring.
“Ronnie, how are you?”
“Fine Sis, listen, I need you to add an employee to the insurance rolls.”
“Usually Human Resources sends over their paperwork once they’ve reached the appropriate service mark.” Veronica heard the clacking of the keyboard. “What’s their social?”
“She’s not in the computer yet, Susan. I need you to add her and push the paperwork through.”
“She has to be in the system. All employees are added once they’ve filled out their I-9’s and W4’s.”