Chapter 13

Laura Dell started to dial a number and realized that she didn’t know Dr. Walters cell phone number, or if he even had one. They had always spoken in person at the museum and made their plans there. She wondered if he knew how to operate a cell phone and was embarrassed by the thought.

Laura Dell dialed the hospital instead. Hospitals have room phones now, don’t they? The phone was answered on the third ring.

“Chicago University Hospital,” a woman’s voice greeted. “Is this an emergency?”

“No ma’am,” Laura Dell answered. “I was hoping you could connect me to Dr. Walters’ room.”

“I can do that for you right away.”

The phone began ringing again and wasn’t answered until the fifth ring.

“Dr. Walters,” answered a voice that was not Dr. Walters.

“Oh, I’m sorry sir,” Laura Dell said. “I think the nurse connected me to the wrong extension. I was trying to reach Dr. Herbert Walters.”

“I don’t think there is a doctor by that name here, but I can transfer you back to the nurse’s station.”

“No, he’s not a doctor there but a patient.”

“I see,” the doctor let out a short laugh. “That would be confusing. I am afraid, though, that the patients aren’t allowed to talk on the phones this late at night. They need their rest.”

“I didn’t know.”

“It’s quite alright. Why don’t you come by during visiting hours tomorrow? You know when they are?”

“Yes I do, thank you.”

“Goodbye then.”

“Goodbye.”

Laura Dell put the phone down disappointed and a little embarrassed. Still a little wired from her spontaneous journey, she walked out into the main room of her apartment and turned on the TV. Nothing was on this late at night but she wasn’t really watching anyway. She sat on the couch staring at the changing colors and thinking about Malynne Walters.

She wondered what it would be like to meet a guy who she fell in love with and married within two months. Dr. Walters’ surprise train ride was the closest she had ever gotten to that spur of the moment. She could see how much Dr. Walters loved her. Malynne hadn’t died old but the pain was still there. It was with hopes of meeting a man like Herbert Walters PhD that Laura Dell succumbed to sleep.

“And the Lord told me to wake up!” a deep voice penetrated Laura Dell’s sleep. “He said to stop my vile ways and get to work in His service!”

Laura Dell opened her eyes and saw the televangelist walking up and down the stage. She had fallen asleep on the couch and earned a crick in her neck. She stood and fell right back down. Her foot had fallen asleep and was completely numb. Stretching out her leg, she tried to work some feeling back into it. Then she saw the time. She had less the twenty minutes to get ready and get to work.

She dressed in a rush and gave up on a stubborn strand of hair that would not stay down. She almost choked on her granola bar as she fled the apartment.

Laura Dell stopped outside the door to the museum to catch her breath and look at her watch. She was ten minutes late and already sweating.

She walked into the museum and hurried to her responsibilities. Mr. Feinman was waiting for her. He stood next to Sue looking down at the floor, his hands holding the clipboard behind his back. Laura Dell’s dread built with each step toward him. She couldn’t tell whether her footsteps had slowed but it seemed to take forever before she finally came to stand beside him.

“Do you see what I see?” he asked without looking up.

Laura Dell followed his gaze and saw the black and white sign of her winged nemesis. It hadn’t been there the other day and she could swear she cleaned the rest of it.

“Yes sir,” she answered. Her voice sounded meek even to her.

“It seems that we need to have a talk,” Feinman said. Laura Dell worked to keep the grimace off her face. “My office.” And with that he turned and walked away, leaving Laura Dell to hurry to catch up.

The first thing she noticed was that there was no pen on his desk. This isn’t going to be good.

“I assume you know why we are having this talk,” he began. “But I appear to have overestimated you in some areas and for the sake of avoiding confusion I will be blunt.”

Laura Dell couldn’t help drawing in a deep breath and holding it.

“Your actions show that you have a lack of dedication to this job. I thought that giving you a few days off would let you recharge your batteries and adjust your attitude but I was wrong. First you have your friend weasel you a free morning and then you take an indefinite lunch break without a word. Finally, you arrive late this morning and looking like that.”

Laura Dell self-consciously smoothed nonexistent wrinkles out of her clothes.

“I knew I took a risk hiring someone from your background but I expected you to at least make the effort. I am beginning to wonder whether you value your position here.”

“I do sir,” Laura Dell blurted out. “I love working in this museum and I am grateful for the opportunity.”

“I want to believe you but every time I step outside this office I find bird shit. Ever since you started there had been shit all over my museum.”

The queasiness in Laura Dell’s stomach was replaced by fire. She could admit to some irresponsible behavior but being blamed for the actions of a wild animal irked her. This man had been insufferable since the day she met him.

“I’ll clean it up right away sir,” she tried to sound apologetic. “Not just the feces, but my act as well. I have been going through a little bit of a rough patch but I have it under control.” She hated to have to explain herself to this man but she was not ready to give up on this job. “If you allow me to stay on you won’t regret it.” Pleading with those cold eyes brought back the nausea. It mixed with the fire in a painful way. Sitting under that scrutiny Laura Dell like she was going to be sick, but determination held the taste of bile from building. She was not going to give him another excuse.

“We’ll see,” he said after the long silence.

“Thank you sir,” was all she could get out.

“Now get to work and no more mistakes.”

Laura Dell stood and left the office. Outside the door she took several deep breaths, slowing her heart and calming her stomach.Under control she set out to find a mop. Her exhibit was going to be the cleanest and best organized in the whole museum. Then she was going to do something about that bird.