SUTURE SELF
101
understand you’ll start physical therapy Friday morning, before you’re discharged.”
“Oh?” Renie looked surprised. “I didn’t know when
they planned to release me.”
Gently, Dr. Garnett flexed the fingers on Renie’s
right hand. “That’s what Dr. Ming told me. This is
Tuesday, you’ve only got two more full days to go.”
“What about me?” Judith asked from her place on
the pillows where she’d finally stopped quivering from
exertion.
“You’re another matter, Mrs. Flynn,” Dr. Garnett
said, his smile more genuine. “Saturday at the earliest,
Monday if we think you need some extra time.”
“Oh, dear.” Judith made a face, then tried to smile.
“Of course our house has a lot of stairs, so maybe it’s
just as well.”
The doctor patted Judith’s feet where they poked up
under the covers. “We don’t want to rush things. Besides, it’s starting to snow.”
Both Judith and Renie looked out the window. Big,
fluffy flakes were sifting past in the gathering twilight.
“You girls behave yourselves,” Dr. Garnett said, moving toward the door. “By the way, what did Mrs. Van
Boeck say when she was in your room a while ago?”
Judith grimaced. “She was rather rude.”
“She was a jerk,” Renie put in. “She threatened us.”
“Really?” Dr. Garnett’s expression was ambiguous.
“That’s terrible. Mrs. Van Boeck has no right to intimidate patients. I must speak to Dr. Van Boeck and Sister Jacqueline about her behavior. You’re certain it was
a threat?”
Judith nodded. “She also said that it was too bad that
Joan Fremont died instead of her husband, Addison
102
Mary Daheim
Kirby. Mrs. Van Boeck remarked that nobody liked
snoopy reporters, especially her, I guess.”
“Yes.” Dr. Garnett seemed to be trying not to look
pleased at the cousins’ revelations. “I believe that Mr.
Kirby has been covering city government for many
years. He has been quite critical of Blanche Van Boeck
in some of his articles.”
“Maybe,” Renie said, “that’s where I got a poor impression of her.”
“Perhaps,” Dr. Garnett said in a noncommittal tone.
“Is she dangerous?” Judith asked, feeling rather
foolish for asking such a melodramatic question.
But Dr. Garnett seemed to take Judith seriously.
“Let’s put it this way—Blanche Van Boeck is a very
determined, ambitious woman. She has little patience
with anyone who stands in her way.”
The doctor’s assessment didn’t bring any comfort to
the cousins.
