Gifts and Consequences by Daniel Coleman Page B

voices was the two nurses at the near end of the hallway.  He glanced at his watch and saw it was time for shift change. 
    Julia, a middle-aged woman who had just finished her shift, told him there was nothing new.  They continued their conversation as he stepped away and paused outside the door, gathering strength.
    “How are things at Golden Horizons?” Julia asked.
    “Oh, that’s right.  You used to work there, didn’t you?” answered Kiersten, a young RN who was new to Jonathan’s employ.
    “Yeah, it’s been about a year though.”
    “Do you remember an old guy named Sylvester?” asked Kiersten.
    “Cute old guy with dementia?  Of course.  Does he still try to escape?”
    “Yeah, he made it past the parking lot this week.  That’s the furthest I’ve ever seen him get.”
    Listening to the light conversation helped Jonathan loosen up.
    “Still trying to visit the grave?” asked Julia.
    “Yep, swears he would never try to escape again if he could just go see it.”
    Jonathan stayed at the end of the hallway, listening curiously until the ladies switched subjects, then went into Susan’s room.  Her haven.  She could leave and go anywhere she wanted with her nurse as a companion, but she never did.
    Even after years of watching the progression, Jonathan was baffled by the disunion of her youthful beauty and old-lady behavior.  He gave her a white daisy, but no kiss on the cheek.  It had been a few weeks or more. 
    Susan smiled politely, but it was obvious she didn’t recognize him.  Jonathan’s cell phone rang, startling Susan.  He saw it was Marcus, and silenced it. 
    “Do you remember me?” he asked with a gulp. 
    Susan looked at him blankly. 
    His phone rang again and he silenced it without checking it.  “I’m your husband.  Jonathan.”
    “My husband?”  Her eyes grew wide and she blushed.  “I, heh.  Oh my.  I don’t know about that.”  Her nervous speech was interspersed with laughter.
    He kept his distance, not wanting to frighten her. 
    The phone in his pocket rang again.  Marcus never persisted unless it was a matter of life and death.
    “I need to run,” he told her.  “Is there anything I can get for you before I go?”
    She smiled tensely and said, “No.  I—”  She laughed again. 
    He offered his hand.  Susan clasped it and smiled. 
    Fighting the urge to embrace her, Jonathan left the room and called Marcus.
     

 
Chapter Nineteen
     
     
    Porter Lippi stared into the depths of the Ben and Jerry’s carton and wondered where the rest of the ice cream was.  It had been full a few minutes ago.  He checked his lap to see if he had spilled it.  No such luck.
    The Pittsburgh Pirates were up to bat.  A little more than half way through the season they had no chance at the playoffs, but they were playing their in-state rivals, the Philadelphia Phillies.  In a season that was over before the All Star break, moral victories such as this counted for everything. 
    The seventh inning was just starting and the game was tied.  With every pitch, Porter stuck his fork into the empty container without thinking about it.  The fork was perfect for digging into a hard-frozen carton, but left too much at the bottom.  He decided to hold out until the seventh inning stretch.
    Two pitches later the stress of the close game was too much. 
    I'll only miss a pitch or two, he told himself.
    With only one out in the top of the seventh inning he pulled himself to his feet and ambled into the kitchen.  He grabbed a spoon and turned back toward the hallway, but paused as he passed the freezer.
    Might as well save myself the trip.
    Without pausing to consider, Porter reached into the freezer and pulled out a Cherry Garcia that was calling his name.
    Just a few bites to get me through the game .
    When he made it back to the couch, the Phillies were still up to bat and had taken a one-point lead. 
    Porter cursed.  Up to that point the game had been a rare positive