Ledbetter Street -- A Novel of Second Chances by Susan P. Baker

Author:Susan P. Baker
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Refugio Press
Published: 2016-11-27T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 25

Jane liked the hospital social worker. The woman sat on the foot of her bed with her clipboard and took down Jane’s medical history. She’d gotten a little pushy about Jane’s family and gave up when Jane wouldn’t tell her anything. The name Jane Doe fit her. She certainly wasn’t the same Jane she’d been when she’d been married to her husband and borne him a child. Ever since he’d died and left her with nothing, she was a different Jane. Yes, she liked Doe. A female deer out in the wild on her own.

She smoothed the sheet and coverlet across her flat chest and pushed her hair back. Time for her favorite soap. Since coming to the hospital, she’d been able to catch up with what happened since she’d sold her television. Not much. Soaps were like life. Time seemed realer. No, more real. That’s right.

The door opened and a tall doctor with one eye a bit off-kilter came into the room. “How are you doing today, Mrs. Doe?”

“Miss Doe.” Jane folded her hands on her lap. “No missus.” He reminded her of her son before—well, before he’d left this world.

“Whatever you say, Miss Doe.”

“I don’t think I really have a bad heart.”

“Oh you don’t?”

“No. Did I tell you how much like my son you are?”

“Where is he?”

“Oh, he’s no longer with us.”

“He’s deceased, you mean?”

“Flu. Years ago.”

“Was he your only child?”

“I don’t know why the Good Lord never gave us another one.” She twiddled her thumbs. As soon as he left, she could turn on the TV.

“How are you feeling today?”

“Fine. But I don’t want to leave.”

He wrote something in her chart. “Two things. I want to monitor you for a few days since I gave you that heart medication. Secondly, you’re going to have to leave eventually. Social Services will see what they can do for you, though.”

She’d miss looking at him. She might be old, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t appreciate a good-looking man—especially one who looked like an older version of her son. “You’re such a good man.”

He put down the chart. “Let me check your heart.”

Jane didn’t mind someone with his looks sticking that cold stethoscope inside her hospital nightie. She started to say something, but he put a finger to his lips.

“Lean forward so I can listen through your back.”

The doctor smelled like soap, some kind of man’s soap.

“Everything sounds good. Your heart attack was very mild. The fall gave you a slight concussion and, of course, you’re malnourished, but other than that—”

“So, you’re really kicking me out, Doc?”

“It won’t be long, Miss Doe.” He took her hand. “Are you sure there’s no one we can call to come get you? If you were my mother, I’d want to know where you were.”

Knock. Knock. Eva Best poked her head inside. “Should I come back another time?”

“Come on in,” Jane said.

“Are you her daughter, ma’am?” The doctor hooked the chart on the foot of the bed.

“Oh, no. Just . . . a friend.

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