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He hated the lie, but he didn’t want to alert the staff to how afraid he was for his friends.
“But everything’s okay?” Stern asked again.
“Yes,” Roxanne said, still holding her hand to her heart. “I’m just here to check on Miss Georgia. She had a sedative today and I always check on my patients after they’ve been sedated for any reason.”
“I’m fine.” Georgia eased her bedroom door closed behind her. “I wish I were sedated now because Eloise snores like a freaking freight train. I’m going to make some tea. Anyone want a cup?”
“I’ll take one,” Sam said. “Nurse Roxanne?”
“Sure,” she said faintly. “I’d ask for something stronger, but I’m on duty.”
“Then I’ll leave you all to it,” Stern said, closing the door.
Roxanne sat at Georgia’s dinette table and rubbed her temples. “Dr. Sam, you scared the life out of me.”
“I’m sorry. You scared me, too, if it’s any consolation. Georgia, can I get anything for you?”
“Some of those cookies we were eating during the movie,” Georgia said. “I think tea with cookies is in order.”
Her shoulders relaxing a fraction, Roxanne folded her hands on the table. “What movie did you see?”
“The Lincoln Lawyer,” Sam said. “Miss Georgia liked the plot. Miss Eloise liked Matthew McConaughey.”
Roxanne smiled fondly. “At least it wasn’t Magic Mike again. I got an eyeful the night I checked on her and she was watching that movie. She was dancing to the music. I was afraid she’d snap her hip. She told me that she’d done belly dancing back in the day and that she had core muscles of steel.”
Chuckling, Sam put the cookies on a plate. He’d have eaten them straight from the box, but Miss Georgia liked things just so. “Miss Eloise is a treasure.”
“She is at that,” Roxanne agreed. “Can I get the tea for you, Miss Georgia?”
“No, thank you. I need to move so that I don’t snap my hip. I was not a belly dancer back in the day.”
Within minutes, they were enjoying tea and cookies in companionable silence, Georgia slipping Siggy a cookie when she thought Sam wasn’t looking.
Sam frowned at her. “Miss Georgia. You know cookies aren’t good for him. I’d expect that from Eloise, but not you.”
Georgia sniffed. “Now you’re just being mean.”
Sam’s lips twitched. “Roxanne, I’ve been meaning to ask how you like being a traveling nurse. One of my clients is considering it.” The young woman, experiencing PTSD after an armed break-in at her home, needed a change of venue. She was considering going on the road.
“I like it. I get to meet new people every few months. And I can refuse assignments if I want to.”
“Which assignments do you like?” he asked.
“I love the retirement and nursing homes. I love older people. I was raised by an elderly grandmother who had a lot of very spry friends, so I suppose I’m looking for someone like my grandmother every time I move on to a new place. Her best friend was a lot like Miss Eloise—quirky, but very smart and funny. Those are happy memories. Tell your client that it can be a solitary life, though. Not many partners are willing to share a nomadic life.”
Sam nodded. It was the primary concern he’d had for his client—having no support system nearby as she traveled from place to place. “I’ll tell her. Thank you.”
Georgia turned to Roxanne. “I wanted to thank you for taking such good care of Benny over the last few weeks. We’re going to miss you when you’re gone.”
Sam lifted his brows. “You’re leaving? When?” He hadn’t realized her contract was winding down.
“This is my last week. I’m taking a few days’ vacation in Monterey to see the otters and then I’m off to my next contract. Thank you, Miss Georgia. Mr. Benny was a joy to care for.” Her smile was sad. “I’m going to miss him.”
“We all will,” Georgia murmured.
Sam’s chest squeezed as he thought again about the loss they’d suffered. Frankie and Benny in the same week. It was going to take them all a while to heal. He lifted his teacup. “To Frankie and Benny. May you be at peace.”
Georgia lifted her cup as well. “May you be reunited with the loves of your lives.”
