Promises in Paradise

“There’s a holiday party going on right now in the pediatric ward and I’m late.”

“Then go. Just don’t forget we’re all here for you.”

“Say hi to everybody for me.”

“Take care, sweetie. Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

Diane ended the call but just sat there. She couldn’t move just then if her life depended on it. She was a pile of tender nerves, confused emotions, convoluted but vivid memories. She felt perilously close to tears and hated that she could lose control while sitting pathetically in her car, in a hospital parking lot, just days before Christmas. Alone.

She muttered an oath and scrambled out of the car, snatching up the bag with the gifts. With her head high and any suspicion of tears swept away by the wind, Diane went to join the festivities in the children’s ward.

“Hey. You made it.”

“Hi, Ron. Sorry I’m so late but the children’s party at the hospital threw me off schedule. You probably thought I was going to stand you up.”

The burly black man, his dark face wreathed in a grin from cheek to cheek, let out a rumble of laughter.

“You could never be too late. I appreciate you could squeeze in some time for us. Come on in and sit a minute. But be careful.” Ron pointed meaningfully to a small bouquet of greenery taped just above his door.

“What is it?” Diane asked.

“Mistletoe. Only but two or three of us know what it is and what it’s for. Hasn’t been used yet.”

“Your idea, I suppose.”

“Hey, it’s a good way to teach about another Christmas tradition, right? It’s not all about the gifts and turkey.”

Diane shook her head wryly and did as she was told, maneuvering around the stacks of boxes, flyers, folders and other sundry this and that that pretty much filled Ron Jeffrey’s office. She sat on an inverted milk carton since the second chair in the office had transit files piled on it. She unwound the long scarf fashionably twisted around her neck and shrugged out of her coat. Ron squeezed his bulk around a corner of the desk and plopped into his chair. He pushed his glasses up his nose while quickly and efficiently checking e-mails on his surely about-to-die aging PC and answering his telephone. He dispensed with two calls and the messages and then pushed back in his chair to regard Diane with a warm smile.

“Thanks for coming, Diane. Hope I didn’t pull you away from anything important.”

“You didn’t. I didn’t need to spend too much time at that party. I nearly overdosed on Christmas candy and hot chocolate.”

Ron laughed again, the sound carrying out his office door and down the halls of the shelter where a valiant attempt had been made to make the place look festive and cheerful.

“Can’t offer you hot chocolate. Milk is too expensive. But the market two blocks away donated a couple of cartons of apple juice for our party. Care to have some? I can put a little fortifier in it, if you want, against the cold,” he said, winking at her.

“Not yet.” She laughed. “I’d like to first take a look at the boy and senior resident you’re concerned about.”

“Good idea. Then you have to meet Santa Claus. If you’ve been a good little girl, maybe he’s got somethin’ for you in his sack.”

That sent him off into another peel of uproarious laughter. Diane enjoyed his spirit. He was director of the community shelter for displaced families. She’d always been impressed not only by Ron’s advocacy on behalf of the homeless, but his amazing ability to get services and favors from the most unlikely places when most other people could not. She suspected that people were afraid of Ron Jeffrey because of his size and very commanding voice. She wouldn’t put it past him to exaggerate both if it got results for the shelter. Over time she’d come to know him as the gentlest of men, and a very savvy and smart one. He seemed to deliberately let his appearance belie the fact that he held a master’s degree in not-for-profit administration.

Diane glanced around the office. “Is this the only private space?”

He shook his head, pursing his lips. “No such thing as privacy in a place like this, I’m afraid.”

“Then this is fine.”

She opened the leather satchel she’d brought with her and began to remove equipment and instruments. Without a word Ron sprang up from his desk and left the office, closing the usually open door behind him.

In just a few minutes he returned, escorting an older white woman into the office, offering Diane a quick introduction to Nan. He left, with a silent jerk of his head to indicate he’d be within shouting distance if she needed his help.

The woman was mostly silent, asking no questions, offering no earlier information, sitting passively while Diane did a basic exam of her vital signs. She didn’t even seem particularly interested in what Diane was doing. Ron had informed her that the older woman recently seemed incoherent.

Diane made quiet idle talk for reassurance to the woman who, she could well imagine, probably hadn’t seen a doctor in years. Two very simple little movements requested of the woman quickly confirmed her suspicions.

“Okay, Nan, I think I’m done,” Diane said.

“Can I…now?” the woman asked.

“Give me a few more minutes.”

The woman nodded, staring blankly into space.

Diane managed to reach the door from her position behind it, and opened it to signal Ron, who stood talking with a resident near the reception desk.

“How’s it going?” Ron asked.

“I want to get her to the emergency room tonight for a more thorough exam.”

“What’s up?”

“I suspect a ministroke. There was at least one but there might have been more. I don’t think we should wait until the morning.”

“No problem. I’ll have someone drive her over right now.”

“Good.” Diane nodded briskly.

She used Ron’s desk phone to call the hospital to alert them to Nan’s arrival and to give her authorization that she be seen immediately.

“Come on, Nan. We’re going to take you for a little ride. Would you like that?” Ron asked.

Her eyes briefly lit up and she nodded.

“Before you go,” Diane said, retrieving something else from her bag. It was a small, flat, wrapped gift she held out to the woman. “Merry Christmas.”

“Ooooh. Like. Thank…you.”

She hugged the gift to her chest, smiling for the first time.

Ron turned her by the shoulders to guide her from the office.

“That was really cool of you to have something for Nan. She has no family, far as we know.”

“It’s just a little thing. I had an extra gift after taking care of some of my staff. Where’s the boy?”