working with Renie.
“Nope,” Renie said, rolling over away from the
nurse as far as she could. “I’m bored with vital signs.
You aren’t any fun, Appleby. Why don’t they let Robbie the Robot do this stuff?”
“Please, Mrs. Jones,” Corinne said severely, “don’t
act childish.”
“But I
and a downright brat. Come on, lawsuits are a matter
of public record.”
Corinne took a deep breath. “I really don’t know.
There have been some rumors.”
Renie didn’t budge. “There were other rumors, too,
about Fremont and Somosa being drug abusers. Is that
the hospital’s defense?”
Corinne Appleby made an angry gesture, her face so
60
Mary Daheim
flushed that the freckles disappeared. “None of that’s
any of your business. If you won’t let me take your vitals, that’s fine. But I intend to enter your lack of cooperation on the chart.”
“Be my guest,” Renie shot back as the nurse headed
for the door. “I’ll file a complaint. I’ll call you a big drip.”
Corinne was almost out of the room when a deep,
angry voice could be heard from the hallway.
“Don’t tell me who I can talk to and who I can’t!”
the man shouted. “I’m sick of this runaround! Where
the hell is Dr. Garnett?”
Startled, Corinne scooted away and closed the door
behind her.
“Drat!” Judith exclaimed. “She can’t do that! Coz,
could you . . . ?”
“Aargh,” groaned Renie. “I guess.” She struggled to
get out of bed again. “Who do you suppose that is?”
“I don’t know,” Judith replied. “I could only hear,
not see, him.”
Renie opened the door just in time to see the man,
who had a dark beard, accost two young people.
“Look, I’m sorry,” he said, “but I want to help. Let’s go
somewhere else so we can talk in private.”
Trying to get a better look at the newcomers, Renie
stepped farther out into the hall. From the bed, Judith
could see only Renie’s backside and the IV stand. She
gave a little jump when her cousin stumbled into the
room, propelled by the firm hands of Sister Jacqueline.
“We simply cannot have patients interfering or getting involved with hospital routine this morning, Mrs.
Jones,” the nun said in an emphatic tone. “Please remain in your room, and we’d prefer you to keep your
door shut. Remember, it’s for your own sakes as well.
You need to rest in order to make a quick recovery.”
SUTURE SELF
61
