“How on earth did you know?”
“Just a guess. It was you, Kristen, Chucky …”
“I need the file when you get a chance,” she said, trying to stop another painful trip into the past this morning before it got too far. But Doris was in her own land of memories.
“I remember all the kids back then. We were all so young and new at this place. We didn’t have a lot of successes, but how we tried.”
“Well, fortunately, things have changed, and we save a lot of kids here now,” Shelly interjected. “But as long as we are on the subject of Chucky, what else do you know about him?”
Doris broke eye contact. “He was a patient here…”
“I know that, Doris. Did you know his brother was Nick
Harris?”
“Well, you know …” Doris attempted to beat around the bush,
but what she made up for in charm, she lacked in finesse.
“Doris?”
“Okay, yes. Of course I did. I told you Mrs. Harris was in our breast cancer support group. She had stage IV. And the woman did everything right. Mammograms every year. It just must have been her time. But from what I was told, she has a great son—sons I should say.”
“Oh, one more thing.” Knowing her well, she could tell Doris knew what was coming next. “You don’t know why Nick Harris was in the doctors’ parking lot this morning, do you?”
“Our doctors’ lot?” “Yes, here. Outside.”
“Maybe he just wanted to talk to you?” “Hmm, that’s exactly what he said.”
“Well, I think the man must have had something important to say if he went to all that trouble.”
“You’d think, huh?” Shelly shook her head in amazement as she walked away. Doris was so bad at hiding the truth. She turned down the long hall, now filling with light from the returning morning sun.
*****