Nurse Hilary by Peggy Gaddis

Author:Peggy Gaddis [Unknown]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

“No, darling, I don’t suppose I could,” Jill yielded. “Well, can I do any shopping for you? Is there anything you’d like to have?”

Mrs. Barton smiled up at her fondly.

“I just can’t think of a single thing, honey,” she answered with convincing sincerity. “It’s good to see you, dear, and thank you for coming.”

Jill, tears in her eyes, bent swiftly and kissed her, smiled and nodded at the interested group about her, and turned away. Hilary walked beside her. Halfway down the corridor, Mr. Hodding overtook them, diffident as a bashful boy, but obviously with something on his mind that he felt must be said.

“Mrs. Fleming, may I say something?” he asked as Jill turned toward him.

“Of course, Mr. Hodding.” There was a moment of uneasiness in Jill’s eyes.

“It’s only to assure you that your mother was quite sincere,” he told her awkwardly. “I mean she was not, as the young people say, putting on an act. She is very busy, very happy, she is perfectly adjusted, and you have no cause to worry about her in the slightest degree.”

“That’s very kind of you, Mr. Hodding,” said Jill.

“I was just afraid you might think that she was—well, that she was merely trying to reassure you,” Mr. Hodding said, smiling shyly at Hilary. “Those of us who are with her constantly know that she is very active, busy, occupied—in short, that she is very happy and contented.”

He smiled, bowed his slight, old-fashioned bow and went on down the corridor toward the lounge. Jill’s eyes followed his tall, spare back that was so erect that it seemed to deny his white hair.

“What a nice man,” said Jill, and drew her brows together in a little frown. “Hodding? That wouldn’t be old Jason Hodding, the multi-millionaire, would it?”

“It wouldn’t be anybody else,” Hilary smiled. “He is rather a darling, isn’t he?”

“He is indeed, so much so that I’d never have dreamed he had tons of money,” mused Jill thoughtfully. “You’d expect a man with all his money to be living in some very de luxe hotel, or in an apartment or on a vast estate.”

“He found it very lonely, and he seems to like it much better here,” said Hilary, smiling. “We’re very happy to have him, and happiest of all to know that he likes being here.”

Jill stood for a moment, very thoughtful, and then she drew a deep breath, squared her shoulders and tossed her furs about them.

“And to think how I dreaded coming here, for fear I’d find mother bed-ridden, grieving herself to death from homesickness,” she said aloud. “And she didn’t even ask about her beloved iris!”

Hilary laughed.

“Mr. Ramsey asked her to help select varieties to be planted in the garden, and she seemed to get quite a bang out of it.”

“I must see Mr. Ramsey and thank him for that,” said Jill firmly, and Hilary nodded as they walked down the corridor and to the door of Drew’s office, opening off the lobby, across from Dr. Marsden’s.

“I’ll see if he is free,” said Hilary, and tapped at the door.

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