The Life She Wants by Robyn Carr

careful to ask the dragon lady for permission first.
    â€œI’m not allowed to help you to the lavatory,” she told the woman. “I’m so sorry. But I’ll get the nurse.”
    â€œI hate the nurse. I’d rather it be you.”
    â€œOh, I’d be happy to, but the housekeeping staff has been threatened with dire consequences if we break the rules, even just slightly. I’m not trained in patient care. Let me get that nurse and I’ll stay with you until she comes.”
    She started thinking about possibly training as a nurse’s aide.
    She had three very blissful weeks in her hospital job, though it was the hardest work she’d ever done. She didn’t care; she went on break with coworkers, she ate lunch with her new friends, heard about their marriages, their kids, their aging parents, their car problems and vacation plans.
    Emma began to have fantasies of a normal life. It wouldn’t be a rich life for sure, but at this point a rich life only represented disaster and danger to her. She was looking for stability, nothing more. She had her food debit card, she handed out Halloween candy with Penny, the leaves finished turning, November came in wet and cold. She got together for wine with Lyle and Ethan, who was almost starting to believe she wasn’t a bad person. She spoke to Adam on the phone a couple of times when he called to see how she was doing. She had a light dinner with Penny on TV trays, watching Madam Secretary with her, just like normal people. Penny invited her to join her with her girlfriends Susan, Marilyn and Dorothy for a potluck one evening and to her delighted surprise, these old girls liked martinis! Susan’s son was the chauffeur for Susan, Marilyn and Dorothy. “I told him I was completely capable,” Susan said. “But it’s just as well he wants to drive us. That way we can have two!”
    â€œWilliam is such a nice boy,” Penny said of Susan’s son.
    â€œThat boy is fifty-nine years old,” Susan said. “Before long I’ll be chauffeuring him!”
    At two weeks until Thanksgiving, Emma had more than one offer for the holiday feast. Lyle and Ethan were going to Ethan’s sister’s house and had graciously included her. She might’ve gone but for the fact that Penny and a couple of her widowed girlfriends who were sharing the feast also invited her—and they were to dine at Penny’s little house. She dearly wanted to join them.
    â€œBeing one of the new kids at the hospital, I’m sure I’ll have to work that day,” Emma said.
    â€œWe took that into consideration,” Penny told her. “We’ll be ready at about four—that should give you time to get home, shower, come over for some pre-turkey poo-poos and wine.”
    â€œLet me pick up the wine,” she said.
    â€œYou’re absolutely welcome to.”
    â€œAnd I’ll visit Lyle’s shop and see if he’ll give me a break on a centerpiece,” she added.
    â€œTry your best, darling, but be warned—he’s going to gouge you! I’ve been looking for a discount for years. I guess I can’t complain,” she said with a smile. “He gave me you.”
    Emma was having a life. She had friendly acquaintances at work, a paycheck large enough to cover her most immediate expenses, friends apart from the hospital, two invitations for a holiday dinner, a comfortable place to live. It didn’t even bother her that her own family hadn’t so much as called to check on her much less ask her to join them for Thanksgiving dinner. In fact, she was relieved.
    Just as she was beginning to relax, something weird happened. One of the older nurse’s aides was glowering at Emma for no apparent reason. Clarice seemed angry about something. Angry or on edge. Some others seemed to be following suit. It appeared to be an unhappy day on the ward. There was a static in the air and Emma knew