Markson’s expression was impassive. ‘As you must,’ he said.
Shelby left Markson’s office feeling lighter in spirit than she had in a long time. No matter how willing she was to walk away if need be, she had to admit that she did not want to lose her job. And now, it seemed, she was being allowed a respite. Her job was safe and she had even received a glimmer of understanding from an unlikely source. She felt almost happy.
She decided to stop at the hospital and look in on her son-in-law on her way back to Manayunk. She needed to evaluate for herself whether or not she could safely bring Jeremy to see his father. If Rob was still unconscious, or too frightening in appearance, she was going to have to continue making excuses.
She drove to Dillworth Memorial, and parked in the attached, multistory garage. She went up to the seventh floor and found Rob’s room. When she walked in, she saw that the bed was empty.
For a moment her heart was seized with anxiety. She turned and rushed out to the nurse’s station.
‘Excuse me,’ she said.
The nurse looked up.
‘I’m looking for Rob Kendricks. He’s not in his room.’
The nurse glanced at a chart hanging above the desk and then turned around and put her question to another nurse who was examining vials in a cart behind her.
‘Oh, they took him down to x-ray. He’ll be back up in about . . .’ The nurse glanced at her watch. ‘Half an hour.’
‘Is he conscious?’ Shelby asked.
‘Yeah.’
‘Really?’ Shelby asked. ‘That’s great.’
‘Yeah. He’s doing much better,’ said the nurse.
‘Can I wait in his room?’ Shelby asked.
The nurse grimaced. ‘It could be longer than half an hour. We’re backed up today. You can go down to the coffee shop and get some food. Try again after lunch.’
The moment she heard the words, Shelby realized how hungry she was. ‘That’s a great idea,’ she said. ‘I’ll be back a little later.’
Shelby took the elevator back down to the first floor, and entered the cheerful, cafeteria-style coffee shop. The line was long, but moved quickly. Shelby got herself a sandwich and a cup of tea, and, after paying, exited the line into the dining area. Every table seemed to be at least half-occupied. For a moment she regretted not getting something to go. She looked around the room for a table with one occupant who might not object to sharing.
All of a sudden, to her surprise, she saw a familiar face. It was Talia’s graduate assistant from the computer lab at Franklin. Shelby walked over to the table and spoke to the young woman with shaggy brown hair who was sipping at a cup of coffee and working on a computer notebook.
‘Faith?’ she said.
Talia’s assistant looked up at her. Her face lit up slightly. ‘Oh hi, Ms . . .’
‘Shelby.’
‘Right,’ said Faith self-consciously.
Shelby gestured to the empty seat across from Faith. ‘Would you mind if I sat down here,’ she said. ‘I don’t mean to interrupt your work.’
‘No, not at all,’ said Faith, clearing her jacket off the chair. ‘Please sit down.’
‘It’s just so crowded in here,’ Shelby apologized.
‘It is. I didn’t see you come in,’ said Faith. ‘I’m trying to keep up with everything.’
Shelby nodded. ‘What brings you to the hospital?’ she asked, shaking out her paper napkin and putting it in her lap.
‘I brought my mom for her physical therapy. She had a stroke years ago and she’s still not completely well. My dad usually brings her but he’s been under the weather lately, so I have to do it. Luckily, Dr Winter is really understanding about that. I know she takes care of your mother,’ Faith said.
‘Yes, she does,’ said Shelby, forcing herself not to make excuses or explanations.
Faith shook her head. ‘It’s so hard to do everything. My husband and I bought a house. Well, more like a construction site than a house. There’s so much to do,’ she said, shaking her head. ‘And we’re doing it ourselves.’
‘Whew,’ said Shelby.
‘Plus, it’s kind of a hike to get here. So I’m just lucky to have a boss like Dr Winter. And, really, I don’t mind. My parents need my help.’
Shelby thought about her sister’s dour face, the accusation in her every word. She doubted very much if Talia was understanding. She never seemed to think about other people and their lives. When Faith mentioned her parents, it probably just gave Talia an opening to describe her own martyrdom, her brother’s and sister’s