“That was generous.”
“We take care of our own, which sometimes means funding the future. We’ve sent kids to school for medical, dental, we’ve funded agricultural studies to have someone who knew what they were talking about to help our farmers. It all pays off.”
“Wouldn’t it be nice if it was like that everywhere?”
“It could be. Easy enough.” Orene lifted her chin. “You know, I’d promised to give you that number of the guy looking for help with seniors around here. I let you leave without doing that. I’m so sorry.”
“Not a problem. I’ve been busy.”
“Let me write it down now before I forget again.” She got up and scribbled a name and number on the back of an index card. “If it’s not a fit don’t feel bad. It’s a start, though.” She handed the card to Natalie. “The company offers not only nursing, but errands and driving seniors to appointments, well, pretty much whatever they need.”
“That sounds like it could be perfect for me. I could meet people and learn my way around town simultaneously. Plus, I’d have time to keep up my card business. I do some artwork on the side and really enjoy that.”
“That sounds so interesting. So you’re an artist too?”
“Well, I never went to school for it, but I guess so. People seem to love the original drawings I’ve done. I turned them into prints and sell them in packs of note cards online. It’s actually starting to build into a nice little income, but I’ll need more.”
Orene pointed her finger straight up. “This might just work out then, and give you some extra spending money while you’re toodling around making new friends.”
“I could volunteer to help occasionally.”
“No, they pay a wage for it. Paid help works out better than volunteers.”
Natalie could see how that could be the case. Volunteers were hard to get and harder to depend on sometimes. “Okay, well, a little paycheck will be a bonus then. I’ll give him a call this afternoon.”
“Actually, let me call Jesse right now while you’re sitting here. Maybe I’ll catch him at his desk, and a reference from me goes pretty far in this little town.” Orene picked up her house phone and tapped in a number. “Hey, Jesse. It’s Orene. How are you doing today?”
Natalie listened even though it seemed a little like eavesdropping, but a nervous excitement kept her leaning in.
“That’s great,” Orene said. “Look, do you still need a nurse or a driver for your special one?”
Natalie watched Orene listen, nodding with understanding.
“Yes. I thought as much,” Orene said. “Uh-huh.” She shook her head. “Yes, you may have heard about the new gal in town. The one staying up at the cabin?”
She nodded and looked at Natalie. “Yes, she’s Jeremy Maynard’s widow. Really sweet gal. Yep, that’s her. She has some time on her hands and doesn’t really know many people yet. No family at all.”
Orene nodded and shook her head.
“Yes. I know.” Orene smiled at Natalie. “It’d do her good to get to know people around here and learn her way around while she’s at it. She’s a geriatric nurse. Overqualified maybe, but I think it might be a good fit. She’d love to talk to you about the position.
“I know.” Orene pressed the phone to her ear, switching her grip. “Mm-hmm. That’s what I said. Yes, I think you’re right.”
Natalie wished she could make out the conversation on the other end.
“Great. Tomorrow morning at ten. Yes, I’ll have Natalie meet you to pick up the car and a FriendsGiving shirt. I’ll tell her.”
Orene hung up and clapped her hands. “Easy as pie.”
“That simple?” Natalie could barely believe it.
“Well, I told you they were shorthanded. The company is called FriendsGiving.”
“Isn’t that when friends get together for Thanksgiving?”
“Well, I’ve never heard of that. Isn’t that what Thanksgiving is, anyway? Seems odd to have to create something else with the same purpose. I don’t know, but it is most surely the name of this company that helps keep things moving in our county.”
“Wonderful. I’m delighted. I thought it would take at least a week to get started.”
