“Staying here will hurt more. I’ll miss my mom too much, and my sister, even though she hates me. I’ll miss all the conveniences, the access to information. I never finished high school, Stu. Everything I know I’ve learned through the internet. You take that and social media away from me, and I’m just a dumb chick. I mean, dumber than I already am.”
“You’re not dumb, Goldie,” he assured.
“I’m too much a fish outta water here. The water may be polluted back in New York. But at least I know how to swim in it.”
“You sure?” he asked. “This is a one-way trip.”
Goldie thought for a moment with moist eyes, but then nodded.
“Yeah. I’m sure. But I’m grateful, Stu. I’m truly, truly grateful and honored to have been given the choice. I’m amazed how generous the Lord’s been with me.”
“On His behalf, you’re very welcome.”
“I, uh, Ididwrite my article. I put it in a package with some photo negatives and addressed it to my publisher. Dean is mailing it for me.”
“Very good. I’m glad you’re leaving with that buttoned up.”
“Right… so, uh, what should I do now?”
He looked toward the restaurant as if he had X-ray vision and could see through the walls. “Eli’s still in the restaurant. Hurry through the lobby and go up to your room. Then just hop in bed and go to sleep.”
“Eh, it’s kinda early.”
“Oh, you’ll go to sleep. I promise.”
“Well, can’t I, like, say goodbye to people?”
“You did what you came to do, Goldie. You won’t be forgotten. People will carry your actions in their hearts whether you say goodbye or not. Considering the false hope you just gave to Eli, I think it’s best if you just go upstairs and sleep.”
“But, what about me packing, and checking out, and, and?—”
“Are you going to stay?” he asked pointedly.
“Well—no—but?—”
“Then the rest will take care of itself,” he smiled with finality.
She paused, then remembered she was talking to a celestial being, no doubt capable of handling all remaining details.
“Yeah. Okay… thank you, Stu. For everything.”
She turned and exited the office.
Coming out of the back hallway to behind the counter, she smiled at Dean, who was waiting on a customer, and said hi to Josie in the lobby, who was dressed in her elf costume and emptying a can ashtray next to the phone booth. Pausing and taking time to look around the decorated lobby of the Sparkledove Arms one last time, Goldie smiled affectionately, then slowly turned and went up the stairs that led to room number 9.
Thirty-Two
BACK IN NEW YORK
When Goldie’s green eyes slowly flickered open in a private room at St. Vincent’s Catholic Medical Center on West 12th near Greenwich Village in New York City, the first thing she noticed was that her entire body seemed to hurt. Then, she saw all the flowers and plants that had been sent. A half-dozen offerings were sitting around her beige room. Next, she noticed a cast on her right arm. Finally, she realized she was alone. In fact, she was awake and by herself for a good five minutes before she saw the nurse’s call button on the side of her bed and decided to use it.
Within a minute of pressing the button, a man with a nice smile and green surgical scrubs came into her room.
“Welcome back,” he greeted. “I’m Doctor Mark Zawicki, and you’re at St. Vincent’s on West 12th. Can you tell me your name?”
“Goldie—Karen Maraschino.”
“Good. How’re you feeling?”
