Between mouthfuls, Ted said, “I mean that! You take a nurse off the floor and put her into a lovely new home with nothing to do, and you have to watch her diet! And that’s what’s going to happen. Starting today!”
“Watching my diet?” Ethel teased.
“No,” Ted said, his mouth full of doughnut. “You get put in your golden palace and you don’t stir out of it from now on!” he swallowed. “Nothing to do from now on.”
Ethel laughed helplessly as she thought of the million chores to be done at home. There were curtains to be hung, floors to be waxed, rugs to be laid.
Jean and Kit came into the dining room and waved to the party at Ethel’s table. They went through the line and selected their breakfast and then joined the cheerful little company.
“It’s simply amazing,” Jean said. “Know what I did? I went for a nap around nine last night, and I just woke up!”
“Me, too,” Ted said.
“Don’t be too optimistic,” Eileen warned. “We may have a flood of patients today.” She looked over to the door. “Oh, oh,” she said. “Here comes glamor boy.”
They all looked around and saw Dr. Benson standing hesitantly in the doorway. Slowly he made his way through the line and then he chose a table by himself. The food on his tray remained untouched as he sat and stared out of the window.
“Ted, invite him over!” Ethel cried impulsively, clutching her husband’s arm.