Prologue
Virginia Mason Medical Centre,Seattle
“Tate, come with me.”
Glancing up with a grilled chicken nugget stuck halfway on a fork, Shiv gaped at the head nurse who stood stiffly at the lunch room door. She always managed to catch everyone just when they finally caught a break.
“I don’t have all day, Tate.” The short woman scowled at her.She gulped down the chewed remnants in her mouth and placed the plastic fork on the Styrofoam plate. Wiping her hands she replied,
“I’ll be right out.” The head nurse nodded and turned back out to the corridor.
She turned to her co-worker who was already smiling. “I can bet you my night shifts that you got the promotion!”
Ignoring the dread churning up in her stomach, she shook her head. “Maybe. Maybe she’s gonna transfer me.” It was smart to remain neutral. Safe.
“Yeah - to that sweet office upstairs!”She paused and turned to look at her co-worker. The woman was always so annoyingly positive about everything. She didn’t even know how the girl survived this long as a trauma nurse. The amount of horrors that passed through these doors were enough to almost send her over the edge, not turn her even more into a happy-go-lucky ball of sunshine. However, that was nurse Maria Howard for you.
“Howard, I swear. Just, drop it, ok?” She tucked a loose strand of brunette behind her ear.
Snorting lightly, “Come on, you’re the youngest nurse that actually has experience dealing with difficult patients. You work hard, you’re trusted. You’re great with patients - even the doctors come to you for help. You’ve definitely got that promotion.”
Siobhan kept her eyes down washing her hands. How could she tell Maria that she was loathing getting that promotion? That she just wanted to slip into the floor or turn invisible while she worked?
Reaching out to touch her friend’s shoulder, Maria said quietly, “Shiv, I think this will be good for you. I know it hasn’t been easy since your mother...“.
She flinched. Damn it! It feels like she’d just been slapped and now she’s up on her feet before she knows it. Making eye contact with everything but Maria, she picked up the plate and throw it in the sink. It wasn’t long before Maria threw apologies left and right but it was too late - Siobhan was already out the door.
She had been keeping note of all the doors she’d passed. Walking into the elevator, she saw the head nurse and Dr. Jude waiting. They were speaking with a gentleman in a blue suit. This really was important, and a nagging voice told her they were actually either going to transfer her and the only place that had space this time of year was the paediatric ward. Just thinking of that made her cringe. The colourful ward wasn’t coinciding with her mood these days.
Or.
She bit the corner of her lip.
That damned promotion!
“Just in here, Tate”, the kind Dr. Jude stepped aside and held his clipboard close to his chest. She hesitated before opening the door and stepping inside.
“I’ll be with you in just a moment. Just sorting some stuff out with the gentleman here”.
Yea...that’s pretty clear to see. “Alright”, she muttered.
Just stepping further in the spacious office made her breathing rapid and shallow. Palms sweaty, heart beating fast and her throat - so dry. Swallowing was almost painful. She touched the chair and sat down stiffly. She placed her hands on her lap, then moved them to the chair arms then back to her lap again. What would she say to him if he offered the promotion? Or a transfer? What would he say back to her? Is he nice? Was he an insurance guy? She really hoped he wasn’t a pervert. She was losing her mind over something that was really simple.
But was it?
She’d been in Seattle for over twenty years. She’d made a name for herself outside of the woman who birthed her, Leona Tate. She refused to call her a mother. No, she was a prison warden. A bitter mentor. Everything but a mother. Seattle has become a constant reminder of the woman. This hospital, this job - slowly draining her life force. Perhaps leaving Seattle may be the best thing to do, but to do what? To go where? Siobhan blew out a breath and crossed her hands across her chest.
It was just at that moment, the door creaked open and the man in the blue suit walked in. A formal smile on his face and a thin brief case in his hand. She could tell he’d done that smile a million times. He walked around to the desk and sat.
“First of all, Nurse Tate, allow me to apologize for taking you off lunch. I know you’re a busy woman - you’ve quite the reputation.”
Siobhan cracked him a tight smile. “It’s no problem. If I’m not pulled from lunch it’s not a normal day.”
The man looked up, an easy laugh slipping from his mouth.
“Let’s get down to the matter, shall we?” It’s then that she picked up a familiar accent but couldn’t quite place it.“Let’s.” She replied.
“My name is Conrad and I work for a Dr. Ronan O’Sullivan. I am his lawyer and I’ve travelled from Ireland to personally offer you a job as a live-in care taker for his mother, Bríd O’Sullivan. It’s for six months and we’ve already spoken and organized an arrangement with your cheif of staff, Dr. Jude.”
Siobhan looked at the man. He had freckles and light blue eyes. His face was as round as his stomach. The words were just about finished registering when he adds, “I assure you, you will be paid a handsome salary biweekly. Or monthly, whichever you prefer.”
“Why me? I’m sure there are a thousand nurses in Ireland that can do this job.”
“Actually”, he leans toward the desk, “Dr. O’Sullivan was very selective on this matter. You are Irish, correct?
“Yes, I was born in County Clare. I left with my mother when I was nine.”
“Then, you should know Lady O’Sullivan. She asked for you directly. Siobhan Tate, daughter of the late Thomas and Leona Tate.”
Siobhan tilted her head, curious. “It’sShiv. And I’m all the way in Seattle. Surely, Mr. O’Sullivan could’ve saved money by hiring someone closer to home. You understand my reluctance? This is all so oddly specific and sudden.”
“I understand the reluctance. I work for Mr. O’Sullivan and I know his mother, she is a darling woman but she is on hospice and my employer would do anything to make her happy - including whisking away the one woman that his mother asked to care for her in her final days. It also doesn’t hurt that it’s in Ireland, with ready-made accomodations, think of it as a getaway.”
Something clicked in her brain.A getaway. A connection has been made and suddenly the tides have turned. She is considering it, welcoming the idea. She’s done hospice care before. And who was this old woman that knew her and her mother. Maybe she used to be friends with her parents back in Ireland? Either way, this was sudden but also the perfect offer. It’s not a promotion nor a transfer. Six months is not long, just enough time to miss the city. With that final thought, Siobhan turned to the man and accepted.
“Lovely! I assure you, this will be a great experience for you both professionally and personally.”
“Really? How do you know it would be great personally?”
Conrad looked at her with an easy smile. “Because you’re visiting home away from home. And Lady O’Sullivan really is a gem.”
