Try to Remember by Carla Cassidy

Author:Carla Cassidy [Cassidy, Carla]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781488079092
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 1994-11-23T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 8

“All you need to do is push this cart into the rooms and see if any of the patients want a magazine or a book to read,” Etta Maxwell instructed Jane on Monday morning. “Mostly your job is to cheer up whoever you can.” She cast Jane a harassed smile as somebody down the hall called for her. “When you’re finished taking the book cart around, come back to me and we’ll find something else for you to do.” The older woman smiled reassuringly and patted Jane’s arm. “Don’t worry, you’ll be fine. Most of the patients are always happy to see the magazine lady.” With a wave, Etta hurried down the hallway, her rubber-soled shoes squeaking at her brisk pace.

The “magazine lady.” Jane smiled at the official new title as she pushed the cumbersome cart down the hospital corridor. Jane Smith, the magazine lady. At least for the moment she had a definitive identity of sorts. She pushed the cart into the first room and smiled brightly at the two female patients. “Good morning,” she greeted them. “Would either of you like a magazine to read?”

“I’d like a bath…that’s what I’d like,” the older patient exclaimed peevishly. “But those doctors won’t let me do nothing…won’t even let me leave this dang-fool bed to do my private business.” She glared at Jane with faded blue eyes, as if Jane herself was personally responsible for the denial of bathroom privileges.

“I’m sure the doctors know what’s best for you,” Jane replied smoothly. “Why don’t you let me plump up those pillows behind you and find you a good magazine to read.”

“Hmm, I suppose,” the woman replied grudgingly.

As Jane rearranged the pillows, she was struck by a strange sense of déjà vu, not unlike the one that had hit her so hard when she’d bobbed atop the chair on Saturday morning. It was just a fleeting perception, leaving her bewildered as to what it meant.

It took her all morning to make the rounds of the patient rooms. Although Garett Beach Memorial Hospital was relatively small, there seemed to be a slower pace, a sort of relaxed atmosphere she hadn’t felt in a hospital before.

Had she worked in a hospital once? Had she been a nurse? No, somehow that just didn’t feel right. She was pretty sure she had no medical knowledge whatsoever.

She was still considering this observation when she shoved the magazine cart back to the storage closet where it belonged.

“So, how’s Garett Memorial’s newest and prettiest volunteer doing?”

She turned and smiled with pleasure at Frank. “Wonderful. It feels good to be doing something, even if it’s just distributing magazines to bored patients.”

“Ah, but here at Garett Memorial that’s an important job. We pride ourselves on patient morale, and work hard to make them feel pampered and important.”

“I was just thinking about that,” Jane said. “I was thinking that this seems much more friendly and slower-paced than the hospitals I’ve been in.” She smiled wistfully. “Another clue to the mystery of Jane Smith.

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