Towering crepe myrtle trees draped above pristine white picnic tables on a sprawling, well-manicured lawn, which provided a sense of serenity even behind the gated walls. Once the weather warmed, the colorful blooms from the trees would add additional tranquility to the area.
After wheeling her car into a parking space, Olivia grabbed her ID from the wallet and stuck it in her pocket along with the keys. The facility had strict rules about cell phones not being allowed. She locked it, along with her purse in the trunk before walking inside.
A young receptionist sat behind the desk in the main lobby. She flipped bangs from her face and offered a smile of recognition. “Dr. Maxwell.”
“Chevy. What a pleasant surprise. When did you start working here?” Olivia recognized the young lady from the gym reception desk.
“I started two weeks ago. They pay more money here and I get benefits, too. I couldn’t survive on the gym salary,” Chevy explained.
“I understand. I’m glad you found something better.”
“Yeah. Me too. The staff is friendly and I like it here.”
Olivia glanced at the check-in area. “Where do I sign in?”
“Are you coming to check on patients?” Chevy inquired.
Olivia realized Chevy didn’t have a clue about her status in regards to being on probation. “No. I’m here to visit a friend. Dr. Quinn Fluellen. We attended medical school together.”
“Oh. That’s great. I’m sure she’ll be glad you are here.” Chevy produced a sign-in sheet and a visitor badge.
Olivia signed the sheet with swiftness when she noticed Chevy didn’t bother to refer to the computer to check for any visitor restrictions. Luck fell on Olivia’s side. “I’m glad I made it before visiting hours end. I want to have enough time with her. May I go back now?”
“Sure, Dr. Maxwell. I’ll buzz you through the door and escort you to the visiting room in the psych ward since it’s not busy out here right now. I’m playing double duty to help out one of the staff members who usually walks visitors back,” Chevy responded with an eagerness to assist.
“Great.” Olivia waited for Chevy to open the door. She followed her through a maze of hallways. They stopped several times where Chevy punched in codes on keypads to the secure areas before making it to the patient's visiting room.
The furniture and decorations provided a homey environment. Plush sofas and chairs offered a comfortable setting for guests to visit their loved ones. A mural of the sun above the ocean brought about a sense of peace.
“I’ll check you in with the nurse here before bringing Dr. Fluellen out to you. We call her Dr. Quinn. Wasn’t there an old TV show by her name?” Chevy giggled.
“I used to love watching Dr. Quinn,” Olivia reminisced.
“My mom did too, which is the only reason I know about it.”
“Of course. Thanks for making me feel old,” Olivia laughed.
Chevy snickered. As she walked away, she spoke across her shoulder, “Make yourself comfortable. I’ll return with her in a moment.”
Olivia found a chair at a table to settle into. She glanced around the room to determine if she recognized any of the residents.
An older couple sat with a young man who refused to make eye contact with them. They spoke in hushed voices. Olivia kept hearing the patient repeating the word “No” to everything they said. She could sense their frustration with his inability to communicate with them.
Another patient sat on a sofa with a man next to her. She wore a yellow dress with a flower in her hair. The man leaned to whisper in her ear, which brought about a burst of overly loud giggles. She blushed and swatted him on the leg. He appeared satisfied with her reaction to whatever he said to her.
Chevy reappeared with Quinn. Olivia stood as they approached. Quinn didn’t look as she remembered. The shoulder-length, ginger red dreadlocks she wore in school had been shaved off. Salt and pepper colored fuzz covered her scalp instead of the mane of glory she used to have. Her natural freckled-face revealed what most people never caught sight of since Quinn used to apply full makeup upon awakening each morning.
An oversized pink Mumu dress matched the slippers Quinn shuffled in as if her feet were glued to the ground. She stared at the floor and mumbled until Chevy led her to Olivia. “Dr. Quinn. Look at who is here.”
Quinn stopped mumbling and raised her eyes to Olivia’s face. Her blank expression changed into one of recognition. “Olivia. What are you doing here?”
The alert nature of Quinn’s voice caught Olivia off guard. She sounded the same as she had when they were in school. “Quinn,” she squealed. “Surprise.”
Quinn reached out to Olivia and embraced her in a hug, which seemed to last a lifetime. It communicated a longing for a familiar touch and loneliness. When Quinn drew back, tears streaked her face. “Olivia. I…you…you don’t know what it means to me to have you here.”
“Oh, Quinn. I didn’t mean to make you cry.” Chevy found a tissue box and handed it to Quinn. After removing a wad of tissues, Quinn blew her nose until it honked. She grabbed a few more and dabbed her red-rimmed eyes.
“I’m going to leave to give the two of you space to catch up,” Chevy said with a smile. “The nurse is sitting at the desk in the corner if you need any assistance.”
“Thank you, Chevy.” Olivia’s eyes stayed on Quinn. She fought the urge to cry upon seeing Quinn’s tears. The once assertive, strong woman, now appeared reduced to glass-like fragility. “How are you, Quinn?”
The simple question brought about a spring of new tears. Quinn crumpled onto a sofa and picked up a pillow. She cried in silence to the point where if it weren’t for the waterworks, Olivia would’ve assumed she
