Well. Wasn’t that interesting.
When the meeting ended, Frazer stood up, jaw clenched, and practically ran for her office.
* * *
“Need some ice for that burn?”
Looking up from her desk, Frazer gave Tia, who stood outside her office door, a dirty look. “Funny.”
Arms crossed, Tia stepped forward out of the way as someone ran past with a transport bed. She leant against the door frame.
“Oh, I thought so. If we were on Tumblr, I’d attach that photo with the burnt arm and the water.”
“You have Tumblr?”
“I’ll have you know, sweet summer child, I tumble with the best of ’em.”
Frazer chuckled, leaning back against her chair. “I don’t think thirty-five counts as a sweet summer child, Tia.”
“Pish posh.” Her hand waved in the air. “When you’re in your sixties like me, you’re definitely that. Though for you, we can forget the sweet.”
“Did you need something, evil woman?”
The playful tone dropped out of Tia’s voice and she rolled her eyes. “Alec wants the revised proposal.”
“My God, it was six hours ago. I’m drowning in rosters, and I had two deliveries. Does he think I’m magic?”
Tia glanced behind her before she spoke, bit her lip, and walked in to stand in front of Frazer’s desk. “I think he’s hoping you’ll give it up.”
Of course he was. There was never enough money to go around in health. It was maddening.
They both paused as a code blue was announced over the PA system from the corridor, Frazer’s muscles tensing automatically. She sank back into her chair when the ward announced was orthopaedics.
“Well,” Frazer resumed easily, “that’s not going to happen any day soon.”
The smile on Tia’s face looked softer than her usual teasing one. “Good. That programme’s going to do great things. My girl had a baby when she was sixteen, to a real messed-up guy. I wish something like your programme had been around then.”
“Really?” Frazer was always amazed at the things you could learn about people you saw almost every day. People walked around, bumping into each other, and never knew what was going on. “What happened?”
Sighing, Tia shrugged. “She gave him up for adoption after six weeks. Even if the result would’ve been the same, having something like this openly available would have helped her a lot.”
It took a moment for Frazer to catch her breath. Finally, she said, “Thanks, Tia.”
Tia straightened. “Don’t let the big fish get you down. And I may have sent you some links on some other government grants I heard mentioned through the office door just now.”
She sauntered for the door and Frazer suppressed a laugh.
“You know,” she called after Tia, “you’re not awesome at all.”
Without turning around, Tia held her hand up and wiggled her fingers in a wave.
Time to delve into her e-mail inbox. She opened up all the links and bookmarked them before opening one. She skimmed through the information as quickly as she could.