better. And then I take her home, thinking everything's going to be okay, and it is for a while, and then. And then she gets sick again.'
Keeping her head down, she nodded.
Cassie mumbled something to a plastic figure. Cindy said, 'That's good, baby,' but the little girl didn't seem to hear.
I said, And then she gets sick all over again and you're let down.'
Cassie threw the figure down, picked up another, and began shaking it.
Cindy said, And then all of a sudden, she's okay-just like now.
That's what I meant-about being crazy. Sometimes I think I'm crazy.'
She shook her head and returned to Cassie's bedside. Taking a lock of the child's hair between her fingers, she let it slip away.
Peering into the playhouse, she said, 'Well, look at that-they're all eating what you made for dinner!' Her voice was so cheerful it made the roof of my mouth ache.
She stayed there, playing with Cassie's hair, pointing at the dolls, and prompting. Cassie made imitative sounds. Some of them sounded like words.
I said, 'How about we go down for a cup of coffee? Vicki can stay with Cassie.'
Cindy looked up. One hand rested on Cassie's shoulder. 'Nono, I'm sorry, Dr. Delaware, I couldn't. I never leave her,' she said.
'Never?'
She shook her head. 'Not when she's in here. I know that sounds crazy, too, but I can't. You hear too many...things.'
'What kinds of things?'
Accidents-someone getting the wrong medicine. Not that I'm actually worried-this is a great hospital. But I just need to be here.
I'm sorry.'
'It's okay. I understand.'
'I'm sure it's more for me than for her, but.. 'She bent and hugged Cassie. Cassie squirmed and continued playing. Cindy gave me a helpless look.
'I know I'm being overprotective,' she said.
'Not considering what you've been through.'
'Well. thanks for saying that.'
I pointed to the chair.
She gave a weak smile and sat down.
'It must be a real strain,' I said. 'Being here so often. It's one thing working in a hospital, but being dependent is something else.'
She looked puzzled. 'Working in a hospital?'
'You were a respiratory tech, right?' I said. 'Didn't you do it at a hospital?'
'Oh, that. That was such a long time ago. No, I never got that far didn't graduate.'
'Lost interest?'
'Kind of.' Picking up the box of cards, she tapped one knee.
