Cheating at Solitaire(61)

"Oh, I don't know about that. There's a lot to cover yet. Mom swears she's over ninety."

"I thought she was eighty-six," Caroline protested.

"Yeah, and she has been for a while now."

Lance came out of Ro-Ro's room and quickly shut the door behind him. He joined Julia and Caroline, and Julia thought she had seen mangled lion tamers on the Discovery Channel who looked better.

"I don't care how many drugs she's on," he said. "Someone needs to up the dosage."

"If it makes you feel any better, she's not wearing panties," Caroline told him.

A look of revulsion crossed his face. "I can honestly say that doesn't help."

"Caroline? Caroline?" Madelyn came running out of the room, then stopped short. "There you are! She's just remembered a joke she heard a sheikh tell at an embassy party. Bring the computer quick before she forgets the punchline."

With a roll of her eyes, Caroline followed Madelyn and disappeared into Ro-Ro's room.

Coming to visit an old friend in the hospital was a major social undertaking. After all, the Georgias were all wearing hats and carrying coordinating purses when they got off the elevator. Georgia A. was wearing a royal blue suit with a high-collared white blouse—not black, the color of mourning, but a somber, respectful choice just the same. Miss Georgia had gambled with her ensemble, daring to wear pants. Georgia B. was gun-metal gray from head to toe and looked like a cement truck.

Seeing Lance and Julia, they bolted forward. "Darling, how is she?" Georgia B. wanted to know.

Before Julia could answer, Georgia A. cut in, "I was there when the ambulance came. And when I saw them wheel her out, oh, it just broke my heart. Broke my heart in two."

"I'm sure it was very upsetting," Julia said.

"Oh, in-deed," Georgia A. said, drawing the word out.

"She's going to fire that maid, you know," Miss Georgia chimed. "I know I would. She didn't even dry Rosemary's hair before they loaded her in the ambulance—very uncouth."

Someone should tell her about the panties, Lance thought.

"Well, everyone's talking about it," Georgia A. said. "The news should really run something—after all Rosemary's done."

"Maybe I should call Channel Eight?" Miss Georgia offered.

"Of course, the club should be notified," Georgia A. said.

"Let's make a list, and—"

"Ladies," Julia cut them off. "She's fine. You can go see her if you'd like."

"Thank you, dear," Georgia B. said, laying a soft hand on Julia's arm. "It's nice she has family.'"

Georgia A. and Miss Georgia nodded their agreement, then they moved slowly down the hall and disappeared.

Lance settled himself in one of the chairs with a copy of Sports Illustrated that was six months out-of-date.

"Are you good here?" Julia asked him. "Because I should probably ..."

He studied her, waiting for her to finish, and when she didn't, he just shooed her away with the magazine. "Go. Have fun," he mocked.

Julia rolled her eyes at him and headed toward Ro-Ro's room.

A doctor was in there now. Julia pushed the door against his long, white coat, prompting him to step forward and allow her to slide inside. Between Ro-Ro, the three Georgias, Caroline and her computer, Madelyn, and the doctor, the room was more than a little crowded.

"Julia, dear," Madelyn rushed to make introductions. "This is Dr. Tompkins. He's the Chief of Staff. He's just been in to check Rosemary's vital signs."

The Chief of Staff, Julia thought. So there's at least one benefit to having your name on the side of the building.