Jessica’s gaze darts to me, holding mine for a long moment.
Then she turns around, gets in the car, and without a backward glance, drives away, while I stand here, watching long after she’s gone.
CHAPTER NINE
JESSICA
“Do you need any help with that, Mrs. Quinn?” I ask gently as the woman tries to sort through her discharge papers and prescriptions with shaking, frail fingers.
Mrs. and Mr. Quinn are an older couple from the church. They don’t have any kids, and she came in with pain in her chest, a fever, and a cough, which turned out to be a nasty case of pneumonia.
The older woman’s shoulders sag, and she gives me an appreciative nod as she rasps out, “Th-thank you.”
“Don’t even mention it.” I quickly organize the paperwork and then put the folder into her bag before handing it to her. “Is somebody coming to pick you up?”
They’re probably in their early eighties, and although Mr. Quinn doesn’t seem like he’s sick, I’m sure they could use help.
“Oh, no, my dear,” Mr. Quinn reassures me with a kind smile. “We’ll be fine. Don’t you worry about us.”
I bite the inside of my cheek as I watch him reach for the handles of the wheelchair, determined to push his wife out of the ER.
“You know what? Why don’t you go and bring around your car, and I’ll help Mrs. Quinn out? She shouldn’t be out in the cold for too long.”
Mr. Quinn looks at me. “Are you certain? I’m pretty sure you have more important things to do.”
I pat him gently on the hand. “I don’t mind helping.”
“If you say so. I’ll be around in a jiff.”
A soft chuckle escapes me as the man leans down and kisses his wife on top of the head before hurrying out of the building.
“Th-thank y-you for doing th-that,” Mrs. Quinn says softly “His b-back…”
She shakes her head slowly, and I can see her eyes squeeze shut in pain.
“It’s my pleasure.”
I chat a little bit with her, although I’m the one who’s mostly talking, her coughs accompanying me every now and again, trying to give her husband time to bring the car around before I take her outside. Which was a good call, because just as we get through the automatic doors, he comes to a stop. I open the passenger door and gently place my hand under Mrs. Quinn’s arm so I can help her to her feet and transfer her into the car.
“You’re a godsend, Jessica,” Mrs. Quinn says with a grateful smile. “Thank you so much.”
“Nonsense. Y’all have a good day. Mrs. Quinn, please take it easy, okay? And come back if you need anything.”
Closing the door, I watch them drive away. Only then do I return to the ER to find Eva sitting behind the counter. She raises her brow at me when she sees me.
“Do you always have to be so… extra?”
I grind my teeth in annoyance at her insensitive comment. “I’m not being extra; I’m doing my job.”
She huffs. “I didn’t realize going through people’s things and putting them in their car was in our job description.”
Seriously, this woman. She was transferred here a few weeks before I was hired, and to say she drives me nuts would be an understatement. She’s so cold and snarky.
“Kindness never hurt anyone.”
“Maybe.” She lifts her hand and eyes her nails. “But it also doesn’t pay you more.”
I bite my tongue, stopping the words that want to come out. There is no sense in saying anything because she doesn’t care one bit. I’m not sure why she’s even doing this job when she obviously doesn’t like it.
