“No, I don’t, Isaac,” said Kirsten. “So maybe from now on you’ll keep your opinions to yourself, all right? Here.” She handed him her apron. “I think you can handle breakfast by yourself. I’ll go and check on Henry.” And then she was off, making a beeline for the old man.
“Isaac!” Scarlett hissed. “Why did you have to go and say that!”
“But you told me to make friendly conversation!”
“Conversation, not accusing her of having an affair with a resident, you fool!”
Isaac’s mouth opened and closed a few times like a fish on dry land, then his shoulders slumped, and he said, “Oh, gosh darn it. I’ve done it again, haven’t I? Now that she finally talked to me, I put my foot in it, didn’t I?”
“You can say that again. Don’t you ever think before you speak?”
“Normally I do, but when Kirsten is around my mind sort of stops working.”
Scarlett thought quick.“Okay, we can fix this,” she said. “We can come back from this, no problem. Next time you meet, you apologize. You hear me? You apologize and you keep apologizing until you’re blue in the face.”
“Apologize until I’m blue in the face,” said Isaac, nodding. “Gotcha. I’ll apologize and apologize… What am I apologizing for, exactly?”
“For accusing her of having an affair with Henry, of course!”
“Is Kirsten having an affair with Henry? But he’s too old for her!” He looked genuinely upset, so Scarlett refrained from smacking him on the back of the head, even though the urge was powerful. Very powerful.
Oh, why did she ever have to take on this lost cause? And poor Kirsten, having to contend with one colleague who was a sex pest, another who was an idiot, and a boss who simply didn’t care!
19
In accordance with our mission brief, after breakfast Dooley and I were back at work, keeping an eye on Henry. The man was in his room, having a conversation with Desmond, of all people.
“So you keep telling everyone how rich you are,” the burly bully was saying. “But how rich is rich, Henry? I mean, are we talking millions or billions or what?”
“Who told you I’m rich?” asked Henry suspiciously.
“Everyone! You can’t blab about how much money you’ve got squirreled away for a rainy day and not expect people to talk, Henry, old pal,” said Desmond, clapping the old man on the back in an overly familiar gesture. “And hey, I’ve got news for you. That rainy day? It’s already here. So if you’re saving up for later, well, later has arrived, buddy!” He laughed at his own little joke, but Henry wasn’t partaking in the merriment. Instead he eyed the other man with a touch of froideur.
Desmond, even though he lacked basic human traits like sensitivity, empathy and kindness, nevertheless must have noticed that his conversational skills had failed to click, for he now said,“Just kidding, old buddy! Just having some fun!”
“I’m not rich,” said Henry. “And whoever told you I am, is pulling your leg.”
“Okay, all right. So you’re not rich. Though if you were—I mean, hypothetically speaking for a moment—how rich is rich, huh? How many zeros is what I’m trying to get at.”
“My financial situation is of no concern to you, Desmond. Now did you bring me my candy or didn’t you?”
“Sure thing,” said Desmond, and took out a couple of bars of chocolate from his pocket and handed them to the old man. “But don’t tell Brian, you hear? He won’t like it that I’m helping you break your diet like this. So hide them under your mattress, or wherever you hide your valuables,but don’t leave them lying around in plain sight.” He grinned. “So is that where you keep your gold? Under your mattress? Huh?”
“Very funny,” said Henry, accepting the bars of chocolate and handing the nurse twenty bucks. “Keep the change,” he said.
Clearly Desmond had expected more from a millionaire—perhaps even a billionaire—for he gave the money a sour look, then tucked the bill into his pocket.
“So a little birdie tells me you’ve been spending a lot of time with Kirsten,” he said, changing the topic of conversation. “So what is she like? Great gal, right?”
“Kirsten is all right,” said Henry guardedly.
“Oh, she’s better than all right, old buddy. Kirsten is hot!”
Henry drew himself up to his full height, which was still considerable in spite of his age.“I won’t have you talk about Kirsten like that!” he thundered.
“All right, all right!” said Desmond, holding up his hands in a peaceable gesture. “No need to shout. I’m just saying the girl is fine. Nice body, great conversation—and those eyes. Mamma mia, those eyes! The way she looks at you—whoo-wee!”
“I think you better leave now, Desmond,” said Henry, who looked tired all of a sudden.
“So does she have a boyfriend?” asked the nursing assistant, not taking the hint.
“I don’t see how Kirsten’s personal life is of any concern to you,” said Henry stiffly. “Now please leave.”
“Or are you the boyfriend? Huh? Buddy?” He gave Henry a dirty grin. “The way you talk about her makes me feel that the two of you are more than just friends.”
“Just go,” said Henry.