Chapter 33
Chapter Thirty-Three
Maude stood just inside the hospital’s main entrance, tugging lightly at the hem of her new volunteer vest. It was sunshine yellow and about two inches shorter than she would have liked. The front desk receptionist, Donna, had assured her that she looked adorable and that patients would love her.
She hoped so. This whole volunteering gig had seemed like such a great idea until she was actually standing in the hospital, feeling a little overwhelmed and very much like she did not belong here. What did she know about helping other people? Especially sick people.
The lobby buzzed with morning energy. Visitors were checking in at the kiosk, nurses ferried charts from place to place, a doctor in scrubs balanced a coffee in one hand while texting with the other. The scent was a mix of antiseptic and brewed coffee, familiar but not unpleasant.
“Maude!” a voice called.
She turned to see Tess, the volunteer coordinator, waving her over. Tess was brisk but kind. She wore sensible shoes and exuded the type of confidence Maude admired.
“You ready for your first day?”
“I’m ready to try,” Maude said, offering a hopeful smile.
Tess laughed, patting her arm. “That’s all we ask. I appreciate you coming in to train today, even though Monday is going to be your usual day.”
Maude shrugged. “Tuesday’s not much different than Monday. And when you work from home, you can make your own schedule.”
They walked together down a wide hallway as Tess explained the rules again. Confidentiality, courtesy, and the importance of comfortable shoes.
Fortunately, Maude had worn Keds.
Tess pointed out various departments.
“You’ll start in Lobby Support,” Tess said. “It’s easy. You greet visitors, help them find their way, maybe push a wheelchair now and then. Smile a lot. That’s like ninety percent of the job.”
“I can definitely smile,” Maude said. “And I’m fairly good with wheelchairs. I pushed my grandmother around the grocery store for years.”
“Perfect qualification,” Tess said.
They looped back around and, at the volunteer desk, Maude was introduced to a petite older woman named Rose, whose silver hair had a slight lavender tint. She wore her own yellow vest with some flair that included a big rhinestone flamingo pin.
Rose sized Maude up with a friendly but perceptive eye. “Newbie, huh?”
Maude put her hands up in a don’t shoot gesture. “Guilty.”
“Don’t worry,” Rose said with an impish grin. “Most people are nicer than they look, and the ones who aren’t? Well, bless their hearts.”
Maude laughed, instantly liking her.
They spent the next hour going through the basics—which buttons summoned transport, which elevators were faster, which hallways were temporary dead ends because of renovations, how the colored directional lines on the floors corresponded to various departments.
Maude soaked it all in, grateful her years of web design had kept her ability to learn new systems sharp.
Just after eleven, Rose nodded toward a man slowly rolling his wife in a wheelchair.
“Your first customer,” Rose whispered dramatically. “Go be marvelous.”
Maude gave Rose a quick nod, then approached with a gentle smile. “Good morning. Need help finding a department?”
The couple looked relieved. “Yes,” the husband said. “Cardiology?”
Ollie’s department. Maude scanned the wall directory. “Of course. I’ll walk you there.”
As she did, she matching their pace, offering conversation, keeping everything simple and easy. By the time she delivered them to the correct check-in desk, the wife touched her arm lightly.
“Thank you, dear. I feel like this place gets bigger every time we’re in it.”
Maude’s heart warmed. “You’re very welcome.”
She walked back toward the lobby, and Rose gave her a thumbs-up. Tess passed by and mouthed, Great job.
Maude smiled as a realization struck her. She liked this. More than she’d expected. And it was definitely something she could do.
And as she slipped back behind the volunteer desk, her phone buzzed lightly in her pocket.
A text from Ollie. Thinking about you this morning. Bet you’re charming everyone already. When’s your break? Meet me at the cafeteria for lunch?
She had to ask. Rose said she could go at one. Maude texted Ollie back and told him when she could meet him, firming up the date.
By the time one rolled around, Maude was more than ready for a break. Her feet weren’t exactly hurting, but they were definitely considering a formal complaint. When she stepped into the cafeteria, the aroma of today’s stir-fry special making her stomach rumble, she spotted Ollie immediately.
He sat at a small corner table, dark hair slightly disheveled, the long sleeves of the tee under his scrub top pushed back, stethoscope draped casually around his neck. He looked like a walking advertisement for “hot doctor,” and Maude felt a familiar flutter in her chest.
Was that a good sign or a bad one? Ollie was a cardiologist. He should know.
He stood as soon as he saw her. “There’s my favorite volunteer.”
His smile kicked her heartbeat up a notch. Man, she had it bad. “Favorite? How many do you know?”
He shrugged one shoulder. “Actually, just you and Rose. Admittedly, she’s a very close second.”
Maude nodded. “I can see that.”
They got their food, both of them opting for the stir-fry, and returned to the table. Maude set her tray down and slid into the chair across from him.
Ollie looked her over like he was checking her well-being. “How’s your first day going? Have they overworked you? Underappreciated you? Tried to recruit you into the surgical rotation?”
Maude laughed. “Well, Rose tried to convince me she’s in charge of the entire hospital, so I think I’m already part of some underground volunteer hierarchy.”
“Ah, yes,” Ollie said with mock solemnity. “Rose. She rules with an iron fist and a handbag full of Werther’s Originals.”
Maude dug into her pocket and extracted the gold-wrapped hard candy Rose had given her earlier. She held it up. “Actual facts.”
Ollie laughed, then went more serious and leaned forward slightly. “But really, are you doing okay?”
Maude sipped her Coke as she collected her thoughts. “Actually, I am. I like it. More than I thought I would. Helping people, even in small ways, is really nice. It feels good. Useful.”
“I’m glad,” he said, sincerity softening his voice. “I knew you’d be a natural at this.”
For a moment, her whole being warmed up as she bathed in his praise. Then she remembered her other news.
“Speaking of being needed,” Maude said, choosing her words carefully. “I got a call from Robbie Sunday.”
Ollie’s fork paused halfway to his mouth. He raised a brow. “Your brother? What’s he up to?”
Maude nodded. “I’m not sure. He’s…going through some stuff. Feeling lost, I think. He asked if he could come stay with me for a while. Check out the local area, maybe get a bit of a fresh start.”
Ollie didn’t react with hesitation or worry, just a quiet nod of understanding. “How do you feel about that?”
Maude let out a long breath. “I love him. Of course I’ll help him. But Robbie and I don’t always see eye-to-eye. We can butt heads. And we have in the past. But he’s my brother. I can’t say no.”
“So what worries you the most?”
“That he’ll upend my life. Things feel like they’re falling into place here. I don’t want anything to mess that up. Having said that, I’ve already converted my loft into a little guest space. The mattress arrived this morning.”
Ollie’s expression eased into something surprisingly protective. “It’s not my place to tell you what to do, but you should probably set some boundaries. Even though he’s your family. Maybe especially because he’s your family.”
She looked down at her plate as a small smile tugged at her lips. “I told him not to interfere with us. At all. And I meant it.”
When she glanced up, Ollie was nodding.
“Good,” he said quietly. “Because I like where you and I are going. And I like your brother, but I’m not letting him get in the way of us. That said, if I can help him in some way, just let me know.”
Maude’s heart skipped a beat. Ollie was the best. She cleared her throat, smiling. “Now that we’ve handled that small emotional hurricane, how’s your day going?”
Ollie chuckled, nudging her foot gently under the table. “Better now.”
He pushed aside his empty plate. “There’s something I should probably update you on,” he said, resting his forearms on the table. “I heard from my attorney this morning.”
Maude went still. “Anything good?”
“Well,” he said with a humorless little laugh. “He’s still stunned Emily bought her boyfriend a condo.”
Maude felt angry on Ollie’s behalf. “I still can’t believe she did that. With your money.”
Ollie shrugged, but the hurt was visible in his eyes.
“Technically, it was our money. Community property, as she keeps reminding everyone. But my attorney thinks the paper trail is strong enough that it’ll count heavily against her.
Especially if we can prove she diverted marital assets to support the guy. ”
Maude reached across the table, her hand brushing his wrist. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” He gave her a quick smile. “You’ve been more help with this mess than you know.” He took a breath. “There’s more,” he said. “My attorney thinks I’ve got a real shot at getting Milo back.”
Maude brightened. She knew he missed his dog. “Ollie, that’s wonderful!”
“I don’t want to get my hopes up too high,” he cautioned, though a smile pulled at one corner of his mouth.
“But my attorney says with the boyfriend, the secret condo, and the way she moved money around, it’s enough to reopen the civil side of things.
And we’ve maintained that Milo was always my dog. ”
“I have no doubt he adores you,” Maude said. “Who wouldn’t?”
Ollie was full-on grinning now. “That’s what I’m hoping the judge will see, too.”
“I guess your kids know everything then.”
His smile faltered. He toyed with his napkin for a moment.
“Nolan and Harper are… They’re taking everything better than I thought, but it’s still tough on them.
Harper’s angry. Not yelling angry, but she’s sort of closed down.
She doesn’t want to spend time with Emily after finding out about the affair, so she’s refusing to visit. ”
“And Nolan?” Maude asked softly.
“He’s confused. He wants things to go back to how they were, but he also knows too much to pretend it’s all fine. They’re trying, though. Both of them.”
Maude’s chest ached for Ollie. She could see how hard this was for him. “They’ll come around. I know this is difficult, but you’re not the bad guy in this. Emily is. And your kids are going to be all right. They’ve got you for a dad, after all.”
He looked at her then, really looked, and something in his expression changed. “Having you to talk to helps more than you realize.”
Maude’s heart squeezed. “I am always here for you. Always.”
He reached for her hand, lacing their fingers together on the tabletop. “I’m so glad you’re back in my life.”
The cafeteria noise faded. Maude nodded. “That makes two of us.”