Authors: Peggy Gaddis
Wide-eyed, Hilary answered,
“
Well, of course. And you like being a doctor. Sure, there are bad things and tough things, but there are so many wonderful, rewarding things about both professions. I can
’
t think of anything else in the world I
’
d rather be, can you?
”
Joyously, Dr. Westbrook answered,
“
Nothing!
”
and they beamed happily at each other, as they finished clearing the table.
Chapter Two
It
was
a
cold
,
gray, bleak morning when Hilary drove her sturdy dark blue coupe into the drive that led from the highway back to an impressive-looking building that crowned a low hill. She slowed the car, and her eyebrows rose a little.
A long, low building two stories high, with spreading wings at either side, with a great deal of glass-brick and many windows, the Retirement Club looked much more like some very expensive country club than a home for the aged. The drive ran straight, then curved sharply right and left to vast parking areas. There was a great deal of evergreen shrubbery, tossed and twisted by the cold, bleak winds. But inside the glass walls there were softly glowing lights, and through tall glass doors she could glimpse, as she angled her car into a parking space, a luxuriously appointed lobby that would have been a credit to a fashionable hotel.
As she crossed from the parking space, she saw a side entrance to one of the wings above which was a black-and
-
white sign that read
“
Out-Patient Clinic.
”
With a feeling of relief at discovering something that seemed familiar in all this rather dazzling luxury, she mounted the low steps and pushed open the door.
Instantly she felt quite at home, since she had done ample service in the various charity wards of the hospitals where she had trained and where she had gone on duty. There were leather couches along each side of the small room, and ranged uneasily along these were the sort of patients to whom she had been accustomed.
A very pretty dark-haired girl in a crisp white uniform, a cocky little cap topping her shining blue-black hair, looked up at Hilary with a professional impersonal smile.
“
Good morning,
”
she said politely.
“
Will you be seated, please.
”
Hilary smiled back at her.
“
I
’
m looking for Mrs. Middleton,
”
she answered.
“
Migosh—in here?
”
gasped the pretty young nurse, then recovered herself hastily and once more became professional.
“
You
’
ll find Mrs. Middleton in the main building. Just go around to the front, and the receptionist in the lobby will call her for you.
”
“
Thanks a lot,
”
said Hilary, and grinned a gay, engaging grin. Then she walked out once more to the parking area, and around to the main entrance.
She went up the wide, shallow steps and paused a moment to look at the scene spread out below and beyond the building. Even now, when the woods were bare of all else, the tall pines stood serenely green and ageless. As far as she could see beyond the building, there was no sign of a human habitation; just the trees and the sloping fields that ran down to what must be a brook or a stream of some sort. She turned and looked back the way she had come. The carefully tended lawn, green even now because of its specially chosen lawn seed, dropped steeply and then rose again to meet the highway, broken here and there by belts of trees and low shrubbery. The highway was in sight but far enough away so that the sound of traffic was muted, though there was an almost steady stream of traffic in both directions.
She turned at last and entered the lobby, where she felt her
feet sink into plush wall-to-wall carpeting of a dull mulberry red that matched the opulent hangings at the windows. Giant plants in well-polished brass containers were growing as happily as though they had been in some dense tropical jungle.
There were deeply cushioned chairs placed in
“
Conversational groupings
”
and a few beautifully framed prints on the wall. There was a desk with a switchboard behind which sat a very good-looking blonde whose well-cut powder blue plisse uniform matched the color of her eyes to perfection. She was speaking into the telephone when Hilary reached the desk, in a soft, beautifully modulated voice that was warm and kind.
“
That
’
s too bad, Mrs. Jessup,
”
she was saying gently.
“
I
’
m terribly sorry. I
’
ll have Jim attend to it right away. Do come down to the clubroom and wait. I
’
m sure you
’
ll be much more comfortable
...
Yes, of course I know how you cherish your privacy, and we do so want you to be happy, but we don
’
t want you to take cold. And you may unless Jim gets your room just right
...
Yes, Mrs. Jessup I know you are paying for what you want, and we want you to have it
...
I
’
m desperately sorry about the thermostat, but I
’
m sure Jim can get it fixed in no time at all. Please come down, Mrs. Jessup. Just to please me?
...
Thank you, you are sweet!
”
Amused, Hilary listened to the honeyed words, the gentle, coaxing tone one might have used to a naughty child,
that was in such contrast to the beautiful blonde
’
s angry eyes and outraged expression. And when, very gently, she disengaged the plug from the switchboard and looked up at Hilary, she caught Hilary
’
s smile and scowled. Then she laughed ruefully.
“
Sorry you had to witness that little performance. I hope you aren
’
t calling on one of our guests? You
’
ll think I
’
m a terrible hypocrite, but some of these old girls can be such pests—
”
She caught herself up swiftly, smoothed her lovely face into a pleasant smile and asked sweetly,
“
Whom did you wish to see?
”
“
Mrs. Middleton, please,
”
Hilary answered, and added,
“
I
’
m a nurse. I
’
ve indulged in many such performances, so please don
’
t be worried. Sick people can be very childish, I know. We just have to do the best we can with them. But thank goodness nobody regulates what we
think
sometimes!
”
“
Now, aren
’
t you nice?
”
breathed the receptionist, plugging in a line and saying briskly,
“
Good morning, Mrs. Middleton. You have a visitor
...
”
She glanced up at Hilary
questioningly. Hilary supplied her name, the receptionist spoke
it into the telephone, said,
“
Of course, Mrs. Middleton,
”
and dropped the plug.
“
Mrs. Middleton asks if you will be so kind as to wait
—
seems she is busy doing a performance of her own with the Duchess,
”
she announced to Hilary.
“
She won
’
t be long, and she seemed very anxious to see you.
”
“
Thanks.
”
Hilary smiled at her.
“
This is quite a place you have here, I don
’
t think I
’
ve ever seen one quite like it before.
”
The receptionist leaned closer.
“
Take it from me, Hilary, you
’
re not likely to,
”
she murmured in a conspiratorial whisper, and added smoothly, her eyes going beyond Hilary to the door which was being thrust open by a tall, strongly built man in his late forties.
“
Good morning, Mr. Ramsey.
”
“
Oh, hello, Beautiful. What a morning,
”
said the man. And then he saw Hilary and his manner altered and became brisk and businesslike, though his big florid face was touched by a very genial smile.
“
Good morning. Is there something I can do for you?
”
“
She
’
s waiting to see Mrs. Middleton, Mr. Ramsey,
”
said the receptionist gently.
“
Mr. Ramsey, Miss Westbrook. Miss Westbrook is an R.N., Mr. Ramsey.
”
The big man seemed very pleased at the news, and his smile widened.
“
Well, now, that
’
s splendid, splendid,
”
he enthused.
“
I hope you
’
ll join us, Miss Westbrook. I think you
’
d find the T. & C. a very interesting place to work.
”
He didn
’
t wait for her answer, but walked briskly along the lobby and thrust open a door on which his name had been lettered in gold above the word:
“
ADMINISTRATOR.
”
Hilary raised her eyebrows politely at the receptionist, who grinned companionably.
“
The top brass himself,
”
she confided.
“
You
’
d think sometimes that single-handed, armed with nothing but brute strength, he built this place, equipped it and staffed it, without a soul to help him. Come to think of it, he darned near did, at that. At least he raised the money—and believe me, that
’
s enough to entitle him to throw his weight around if he wants
—
which he does. Take a tip from me: if you come here to work, try to avoid ever asking him a question on any subject whatsoever, unless you have time to listen to a lecture complete with maps, blueprints and the artist
’
s preliminary sketches. He
’
s a self-elected authority on every subject under the
sun—
”
Once more she broke off, color poured into her lovely
face and she looked very abashed.
“
I talk too much. Maybe you
’
ve begun to suspect that?
”
she finished as she turned to answer the buzzing of the switchboard.
Hilary sat down and picked up a magazine.
Chapter Three
Hilary was so
absorbed in taking in the details of the life that ebbed and flowed around her that she was scarcely conscious of the passing of time until she heard the crisp, familiar rattle of a stiffly starched uniform and looked up to see a plump, very competent-looking woman near her mother
’
s age coming briskly toward her, her plump face beaming with a friendly smile.
“
Yes,
”
said Mrs. Middleton as she studied Hilary,
“
you
’
re Hilary. I haven
’
t seen you since you were fifteen, but I
’
d have known you anywhere. I
’
m so sorry I
’
ve kept you waiting this long—
”
“
It
’
s quite all right. I haven
’
t been a bit bored,
”
Hilary cut in sincerely.
“
This is a
...
well, a fabulous place. I
’
ve been very interested.
”
“
Good!
”
said Mrs. Middleton, her blue eyes warm and friendly beneath her smartly dressed gray hair.
“
Come along and have some lunch and we
’
ll have a talk.
”
“
Goodness, is it lunch time already?
”
asked Hilary.
“
You blessed child! It
’
s twelve o
’
clock, I
’
ve kept you waiting over an hour, and I
am
sorry,
”
Mrs. Middleton apologized as she slipped her hand through Hilary
’
s arm and guided her along the corridor to a vast room toward which most of the elderly men and women were now moving.
The dining-room was built out over the hillside, so that when one sat at one of the tables against the glass wall, it was almost like being at the prow of a ship. Below, the field sloped steeply to the green of the pines, and then beyond another hill rose up from the valley, dark with pines against which the bare-limbed trees were scarcely visible.
The table to which Mrs. Middleton guided Hilary was beside this glass wall. Mrs. Middleton sat down, facing the room, leaving the chair that faced the view to Hilary.
A waitress in daffodil-yellow and leaf-green served them.
The room now was filling up. There was the chatter of guests as they exchanged greetings and squabbled amicably with the waitresses about their choice of food.
A tall woman came over to Mrs. Middleton, smiling, and was introduced as Mrs. Blake, the dietitian.
“
My dear,
”
she bent low and murmured softly in Hilary
’
s ears.
“
You are a sight for sore eyes.
I’d
forgotten there was anybody so young in all the world.
”
Hilary glanced around the room at the white heads, the wrinkled faces bent greedily above their food, and smiled up at Mrs. Blake.
“
I
’
m trying to talk her into joining us, Bessie,
”
Mrs. Middleton confided.
“
That is, when I get the chance. Her mother is my oldest and best friend—you know her, Dr. Ellen Westbrook.
”
“
Know her? I just about worship her! My dear child, you have a great deal to live up to! Dr. Ellen is one of the saints of God!
”
said Mrs. Blake.
Hilary answered warmly,
“
She
is
pretty wonderful, isn
’
t she?
”
Mrs. Middleton said in a swift undertone,
“
Bessie, there
’
s Dr. Marsden. Bring him over here and let him feed with us. I want Hilary to meet him. I want
him
to meet Hilary!
”
Mrs. Blake nodded and moved across the room to where a tall, well-built man, whose dark hair looked slightly rumpled and whose blue eyes were scanning the room, scowled slightly as he sought an empty table.
He smiled briefly at Mrs. Blake and followed her across to the table where Hilary and Mrs. Middleton waited.
Mrs. Middleton made the introductions; Hilary smiled pleasantly; Dr. Marsden nodded and accepted the chair a waitress produced.
“
Sure
I’m
not crowding you?
”
he asked courteously, his strong, brown face touched briefly by a smile. He looked tired, harassed, and Hilary sensed that he would much have preferred to eat alone.
“
Of course not, Doctor,
”
said Mrs. Middleton smoothly.
“
I thought perhaps you
’
d rather join us than some of the others. And
I’m
hoping that I can persuade Hilary to join the staff. She
’
s Dr. Ellen Westbrook
’
s daughter and a very fine nurse.
”
Dr. Marsden accepted the food placed before him and began to eat, simply because he was hungry and not at all as though he found the food particularly appealing. He asked
Hilary questions about her training, her interests; the sort of interview she would have expected from any doctor under whose authority she hoped to work.
Mrs. Middleton listened, smiling, her eyes approving. And when, as soon as he decently could, Dr. Marsden excused himself and went away, she turned to Hilary.
“
Well? What do you think?
”
she asked.
“
About what?
”
asked Hilary.
“
About Dr. Marsden,
”
answered Mrs. Middleton.
“
Could you work under him, do you think? I admit he
’
s not always the easiest person in the world to get along with, but he
’
s a very fine doctor and dedicated to his work. He was in the Army Medical Corps for some years; I suppose that
’
s where he lost his
‘
bedside manner
’
—if he ever had one, which I am afraid I find hard to believe. He became interested in problems and diseases of the aged, and devoted himself to their research. I don
’
t know how Himself ever managed to persuade him to come here; I
’
d have thought Dr. Marsden would have preferred some place where the charity patients in his field were housed. Anyway, he
’
s here, and he
’
s doing a fine job, and the Senior Citizens adore him, even when he bullies them and scolds them.
”
“
They all seem quite happy and well cared for,
”
said Hilary.
“
He won
’
t stand for their being
‘
coddled,
’
as he calls it; claims that induces self-pity, which he insists is one of their most dangerous ailments,
”
explained Mrs. Middleton, watching Hilary anxiously.
Hilary nodded slowly.
“
Who
’
s Himself?
”
she asked.
“
Our Administrator, Mr. Ramsey.
”
“
Oh, yes, I
’
ve met him.
”
“
When?
”
“
While I was waiting for you in the lobby. The receptionist introduced me.
”
Mrs. Middleton eyed her thoughtfully.
“
And I suppose Ethel gave you a run-down on the gentleman?
”
she observed cautiously.
“
She only told me that he had just about built the place singlehanded, and that he was terribly proud of it,
”
Hilary answered even more cautiously.
“
Which is perfectly true,
”
answered Mrs. Middleton.
“
The Town and Country Retirement Club for Senior Citizens is a dream come true for Himself. He worked for twenty years to raise the capital for it, and he takes such an enormous pride
in it that—well, sometimes we get a bit fed up with him. But he
’
s really a very nice guy, and we try to understand his feeling and not get too annoyed with him. Usually, in a place like this, the doctor is top brass; but here it
’
s Himself, and don
’
t ever forget it. If he says black is white, we always agree with him. Unless, of course, it affects the welfare of a patient, in which case we
‘
gang up
’
on him. I must say he
’
s very decent about it when we do.
”
She broke off suddenly and looked anxiously at Hilary.
“
I
’
m being shockingly unprofessional, aren
’
t I?
”
she apologized.
“
But, after all, you
are
my dear Ellen
’
s daughter, and I don
’
t feel I could possibly let you step in here without having at least some faint idea of what you
’
ll be letting yourself in for. Am I scaring you?
”
Hilary laughed joyously, a gay, infectious laugh that made many heads turn toward them.
“
Goodness, I didn
’
t mean to make such a noise,
”
Hilary apologized, blushingly aware of the attention being turned her way.
“
But it was so funny, your thinking you were scaring me. Heavens. Mrs. Middleton—
”
“
Middy to you, Hilary, when we
’
re not on duty, though I suppose Dr. Marsden would go into a tizzy if he heard you address me that way,
”
said Mrs. Middleton.
“
Well, it sounds like a perfectly fabulous job, and I
’
m sure I would enjoy it,
”
said Hilary.
“
Then you
’
ll come?
”
Hilary hesitated and looked about the room, and then she looked back at Mrs. Middleton, and there was a depth of sincerity in her eyes that added emphasis to her words.
“
I
’
ll come, but I won
’
t promise to stay more than a few months,
”
she said frankly.
“
I became a nurse because I wanted to help sick, hurt, ailing people; not to live a life of luxury in a place like this.
”
Mrs. Middleton
’
s smile stopped her.
“
Look around you, my dear,
”
she said quietly.
“
Can you think of a place where you are needed more? Unless, of course, it depresses you to be around elderly people.
”
“
Of course it doesn
’
t,
”
Hilary protested swiftly.
“
You don
’
t dread the thought of growing old, Hilary?
”
Hilary
’
s beautiful eyes widened as she stared at Mrs. Middleton.
“
Dread age? Oh, for goodness sake,
”
she protested,
“
there
’
s
only one way to avoid growing old, and that
’
s to die young.
And that is a thought that has never appealed to me.
”
“
Good girl!
”
Mrs. Middleton applauded her.
“
Then you
’
ll come?
”
“
Thanks, yes, I
’
d love to!
”
Hilary answered without further ado, and Mrs. Middleton beamed at her in swift relief.