Conflicts of the Heart (34 page)

“That was Teal's idea. She didn't think it would be a good idea if you knew I was in town.”

“You’re the most despicable man I know. You have no idea what you've put us through. And as for this business with Teal, I don't even care to discuss it. It's too bizarre for me.”

“We thought you'd break down and call this thing off when I asked for Michael.”

“I knew what you were doing.” Still stunned by his sudden surrender, she sank into the chair across from him.

Lifting his head, Joel averted his gaze. “The whole idea to get a continuance was Maxim's. Then I thought I'd try to make it work. After spending some time with Michael, I knew I just couldn't do it.” He licked his lower lip. “I can't deal with him.” He rose as if he planned to leave. “Don't look at me like that. I can't help it. I'm not the first man who walked away from something like this. A tragedy either pulls you together or drives you apart. I'm the loser.”

“You are. Your son is getting better. You'll miss his growing up.” She got up and went to Michael's room.

“Come on, Michael. Daddy wants to see you.” She nodded and smiled.
“ Come on.” She beckoned him with her hand. Michael reluctantly followed her.

Joel stood in the middle of the living room.
“Hi, son.”

Michael clutched his mother's skirt, digging his fingers into her waist, looking beyond his father.

Joel knelt and reached out, fanning his long, thick fingers. “Come here.”

Not budging an inch, Michael held his ground. “Come on,” Joel coaxed.

She knelt, placing her hand under Michael's chin. “Go to your daddy. He's leaving, and we won't see him for a long, long time.”

Michael turned his gaze to his father, released his grip, and then
walked to the middle of the room to Joel's outstretched arms. Dana watched Joel embrace Michael for the last time. Two tears leaked down his cheeks. Joel never cried for anybody or anything.

“There’ll be a generous settlement, and your checks will be on time. You’ll be set financially.” He glanced around the room. “I hope you’ll find a better place to raise our son in.” He rose. With his back to Dana he said, “I’ll never do this to you again.”

“I’m sorry for you, Joel.”

He left. How sad to be so shallow he couldn’t see through to Michael's heart.
He’d never seen through to hers either.

With Michael snuggled down in bed, sound asleep, Dana crept out into the living room and poured herself some hot tea, sat on her frayed old couch and let out a sigh of relief. Joel was going to take care of everything. Their war had ended. Once Teal met with the board at Templeton, maybe Dana would be back on track with her floundering life and career.

Only the ticking of the miniature Grandfather clock hanging directly across from her broke the silence in the room. She glanced around at her shabby apartment. She yearned for that nice little place outside of town, where she could have a garden and enough room for Michael to play outside. Was her conviction to live alone with her son the right one? She thought not. Having someone like Patrick sitting by her side, talking about the day’s activities, sharing their ups and downs was what she truly wanted. She dreamed of him lying in bed with her at night, listening to his soft breathing while he slept. That sounded heavenly. Had she been too harsh on him, lacked trust in him? What if he had been trying to protect her from the outside world? Maybe he didn't know who saw them on the lake. He'd call soon, and they'd straighten out the mess.

The clock struck ten p.m., and he hadn’t called. A dull ache settled in her heart. Maybe he'd had enough of trying to live up to her expectations. After all, he had been married before to a woman who wanted everything her way or not at all. He lost touch with his child because of her, and now Dana, in many ways, had done the same
thing to him. The confusion and pain swirled around in her head. “Stop it!”

She knew Patrick had no intentions to subject himself to any more of her shenanigans. She’d blown it, and now she must take responsibility for her actions. Because of her fear of another man hurting her again, the wall built around her grew so thick no man could ever penetrate it.

At midnight, she collapsed in bed, exhausted, an unrequited feeling overtaking her. She was alone.

* * *

Following a delay, the next day Patrick sat in front of Ed Foreman's desk, apprehensive about this meeting with his boss. An unsettling rumor had sprung up this morning that worried Patrick.

Ed, stocky and Patrick’s
age, reached across his large desk and held out his hand. “Morning, Patrick. Thanks for coming in on such short notice. Sorry I couldn't meet with you yesterday afternoon, but what we're going to talk about hadn't been finalized yet.”

Something was afoot, and Patrick didn't like the feeling niggling in his stomach. “So what's up?”

“Sorenson and I have reached an agreement for a contract.”

Patrick flinched.
“The Sorenson on Templeton's board?”“The same.”

“What about mediation?”

“Screw it. We decided over drinks last night you and that Claiborne woman don’t have enough going on between you to help you get a contract.” He rose from his seat and leaned on his desk. “If you're going to screw the opponent, at least make it work for you.”

Stunned, Patrick just shook his head, rose, and leaned on the desk, inches from Ed's face. “We couldn't reach an agreement because you and Sorensen were spending too much time wining and dining each other instead of giving us more to work with than you did.”

“I’m going to overlook that smartass remark because you're going into a meeting this afternoon with those dollies and sell them this contract.”

“If I don't?”

“Kiss your New York job goodbye.”

“What about Dana Claiborne? Does she know what's coming down?”

“I’m sure after her meeting with the board this afternoon, she will.” “What’s the offer?”

Ed walked through the proposal. It represented half of what Patrick had been trying to settle for. He'd lose face if he tried to sell the nurses on that agreement. They might take it, for him, because they believed in him. They trusted him, even though Teal DeLuca had been trying to discredit everything he and the nurses had been fighting for all this time.

“Well?” Ed asked. “Are we talking or are you walking?”

“I’m thinking.”

“You’ve got until noon.” “Then what?”

“I’m going in to wrap it up myself.”

“I’ll get back to you.” He thundered out of Ed Foreman's office.

Twenty Four

Returning from lunch, Dana and Gil made their way across the parking lot toward the hospital. “Why are all the cars in the employee parking lot?”
Her tone curious.

“Don't know. They're lined up at the gate to get in.” He placed a hand on Dana's shoulder. “Teal’s making her presentation to the board today. The board is pushing for your termination.”

This did not come as a surprise to Dana. She hadn’t delivered the goods as promised.

Teal waited in Gil's outer office, early for the one o'clock meeting. Dana entered first and drew back at another one of Teal's startling new looks.

Gil held out his hand. They shook. “I'm glad you've come in to help out your friend.”

Teal smiled. “I guess I went off the deep end, but you know what fear can do to
one?”Unable to hug or even shake hands with her longtime friend, Dana stepped back. Though Teal committed to doing right by Dana, she couldn’t forgive her for all her deceit during the past few months.

“Shall we?” Dana gestured to the boardroom door, anxious to get the meeting over with.

“It's time.” Gil shot his cuffs.

The three strolled leisurely into the softly lit boardroom. They all sat around the table, waiting for what they expected to be a brief apology from a union rep who’d stepped on Dana's toes, if that was, indeed, what she did.

Dana led Teal to the head of the long, oak table, seating her where Dana usually sat next to Gil. She went to the back of the room and took a seat next to Sal Morton, her only ally.

The shifting of chairs and idle chatter came to an abrupt halt. Gil, dignified in his silver-gray threaded suit, his snow-white hair slicked back, a rosy glow on his wrinkle-free skin, cleared his throat and opened the folder in front of him.

“Ladies,” he glanced first at Dana, then at Teal seated next to him, “and gentlemen.” He scanned the entire twelve-man board. “Thank you all for coming on such short notice. Dana and I appreciate it, knowing your busy schedules.”

Dana's heart pounded in her ears. She had never before attended a meeting where she felt she was on trial. In the past, her superiors had always regarded her highly and given her glowing references. This was a travesty beyond her comprehension. The board should have had enough faith in her to accept her side of the story without Teal DeLuca coming in and humiliating herself and Dana. Of course, she’d never worked for a board that imprudent before either. The men disliked each other and could never make a decision without Gil breaking their tie votes.

Sorenson, the most powerful of the group, slammed his hand down on the table. “Let's get on with it.”

“This is Teal DeLuca.” Gil nodded for her to begin.

With grace, she rose from her seat, smoothed her bright red skirt, and unbuttoned her jacket. Her hands fell to her sides as she let out a breath.

Dana shivered. What had happened to her over the years was a mystery. Had Dana been so blind she couldn’t see the other side of Teal? Come to think of it, Dana couldn't see the other side of anyone these days. She held her breath, waiting for Teal to begin.
Outside, a quiet rain began to fall, casting a dark shadow on the dimly lit room and on Dana's heart.

“Thank you for this opportunity to come before you and speak about Local two eighty-one.”

Dana stiffened. The board members looked curious.

“I know you've been disappointed in negotiations with PNA. I’ve found enough nurses who’re willing to change unions if you’ll allow an early election.” She drew in a deep breath, placed her hands on the table in front of her, and leaned in for emphasis. “If you'll allow me to move ahead, I'll give you the dream contract you've wanted. In the future, we'll settle these negotiations quickly and painlessly--”

“Enough.” Sorenson slapped the table.

Teal switched gears to pitch her own agenda. Her goal: get 281 into Templeton. She apparently had no intentions to exonerate Dana from the lies and rumors running rampant throughout the hospital.

“Wait.” Dana rose from her seat. “This isn’t why we're here. Teal DeLuca knows full well she'll have her election in two weeks. We can’t arrange it any sooner.”

Sorenson slapped the table again. “That'll be enough.” He turned his attention back to Teal. “Young lady, we're not interested in Local two eighty-one. If you should win an election, we'll work with you as we would any union. We don't get involved in sweetheart deals.”

For a moment, Teal’s façade started to crack. She clenched her teeth. “Sir, I'm not implying a sweetheart deal.”

“Yes, you are, and it's illegal. I was informed you had some information about Dana Claiborne.” He loosened his tie, releasing pressure from his reddened neck.

“Well, I, uh…”

“Go on, Teal,” Gil said.

“If you want the truth, it goes like this. When Dana and I were at the coast for a weekend, she told me about PNA's contract expiring and about the mediating sessions coming up. She told me now was a good time to come in and pull a raid.”

“Did she use that term?” Sorenson asked.

“Yes. She didn’t say I couldn't go up on the floors. She even told me that I'd better get with it if I wanted to make any headway.”

Dana rose. “That's a lie.” This was like a bad dream. “Teal, what
are you saying? Everything is out of context. This isn't why we're here.”

“Yes, it is. My job, my life is at stake.”

Gil rested a hand on Teal's arm. “What you're saying isn’t what I heard from Dana.”

“Of course it is.” Teal, now visibly shaken, went on. “I’m here to save my home, my career, my place in this community.” Crocodile tears streamed down Teal's face. She raised the back of her hand to wipe the wet from her cheek and smeared her eyeliner and mascara.

Sorenson said, “Besides, as we speak, Patrick Mitchell is in our auditorium ratifying our contract with PNA.”

Every eye in the room locked on Sorenson. No wonder the employee parking lot is overcrowded. The nurses came in to ratify a contract. Why? She and Patrick were so close to
resolving their issues in mediation. She hadn't even had time to present her last offer. Teal sank into her chair. Dana sank into hers.

Gil shook his head at Dana.