Chapters (38)
- one
- two
- three
- four
- five
- six
- seven
- eight
- nine
- ten
- eleven
- twelve
- thirteen
- fourteen
- fifteen
- sixteen
- seventeen
- eighteen
- nineteen
- twenty
- twenty-one
- twenty-two
- twenty-three
- twenty-four
- twenty-five
- twenty-six
- twenty-seven
- twenty-eight
- twenty-nine
- thirty
- thirty-one
- thirty-two
- thirty-three
- thirty-four
- thirty-five
- thirty-six
- thirty-seven
- epilogue
That was how it began. Ronni used her key to let Violet steal a few minutes with Chet, holding his hand, reading to him, eventually making him laugh as he got stronger. Chet never was able to leave his bed, but Violet came to him as often as Ronni worked a night shift and could help. Ronni made sure she had charge of Chet’s care and kept everyone else away. It worked perfectly until she walked in near midnight, long after Violet was to have left, and found her curled against Chet, sound asleep.
She woke Violet gently and whispered, “You can’t be here, Violet. You know this is against policy. I could lose my job. Please go home now and be careful you’re not seen on camera.” She and Violet had scoped out a route that avoided all the security cameras Ronni knew of. They used a back door that was largely ignored except by nurses sneaking out for cigarette breaks.
Violet stretched sleepily and nodded. “I’m sorry, Ronni. I won’t do it again.” She kissed Chet’s sleeping face and left without a backward glance.
Violet was true to her word for weeks. Her days were filled with the men at her Cool Kids’ Table and she looked forward to the nights she could visit Chet. They’d reminisce and laugh for an hour, then Violet would tenderly kiss him goodnight and return to her apartment. But Ronni found her and Chet asleep in each other’s arms early one morning and began to fear for her job all over again.
Ronni went to Violet’s apartment after work one day and asked to come in.
“Come sit down, honey,” Violet waved her to the living room sofa. “Would you like a Coke or something? I think I have some cookies.” She started for the kitchen and Ronni grabbed her arm gently and eased her back to sit.
“No, no thank you, Violet. I’m going to eat dinner soon.”
“I hope it’s with someone good looking.”
“Oh, yes.” Ronni thought Halle was an exceptionally good looking cat. “Anyway, I stopped by to tell you that our Director of Nursing is paying more and more attention to every detail in the medical wing, Violet, and you can’t...”
“No,” Violet interrupted. “I have to see him.”
“I understand, but you can’t spend the night anymore. I’d lose my job if anyone knew I let you in there, Violet, please understand.” She held Violet’s cool hand in hers.
“No one will ever know you let me in, Ronni. And I have to be in his arms whenever I can. It’s the only place I feel safe. It’s the only place I’ve ever felt safe.” She began to cry.