The Wild Orchid

Moving Day: Part 1

Chapter Eleven: Moving Day

After Zorell left Shanee's hospital room, she met Dara in the nurses' lounge. It sounded much more important than it really was. It was simply a small room that had a few chairs, a small sofa with a long low legged table that held a pile of magazines and old books.

When she walked in, she saw Dara sitting on the sofa reading a romance novel. She could tell it was that kind of book by the cover. There was a woman in a long flowing white gown running through a field. All those dime store romances novels had pictures like that on it. "I'm ready to go," Zorell said just Dara looked up.

"So is Sophia," she said and took her bookmark and marking her place before closing her book. Zorell looked confused to who she was talking to. "She's the dance hall girl in love with the rich duke... in my book."

"Oh," she said and gave a small laugh. "I didn't realize that you were talking a fictional character. I like reading too."

Dara stood up and picked up her bag and purse. Zorell had changed back into her day dress and borrowed a small carry-on to put her uniform in. She planned to wash it that night, so she would have it fresh and clean for work the next day.

"So what kind of books do you like?" Dara asked her as they walked down the hall.

"Murder mysteries," she said, and Dara gave a giggle.

"Herby likes those, too," she said as she led her to the elevator. Her stomach dropped at the thought of entering that suffocating little box. Dara looked back at her, and she had grown lightheaded at that point. "Are you alright?"

"Sure," she said, trying to cover the fact that she had an irrational fear when it came to elevators. If she was going to get over this fear, she needed to face it, and riding on this death trap was the only way to do it. That and she didn't want to embarrass herself in front of her new friend and colleague by giving into her silly phobia.

She was glad the ride didn't last very long. She didn't think she could handle standing there in that little box too long without freaking out. Dara led her to the parking garage and to a dark blue sports car. It was a new model that didn't require a crack to start up. Her father still had one of the old Ford models, and he only kept driving that one because he was too cheap to spend the money of a new automobile.

"This is a nice car," Zorell said, examining the sleek look of the car. "I had no idea this hospital pays its nurses so well."

Dara burst out laughing. "My fiancé bought me this car as an engagement present. He didn't want me walking to work by myself. He says a car is much safer."

"I don't know about that," she said as Dara opened the door for her. "It depends on who's driving."

"Men can be reckless," Dara said as she got into the car.

"I wasn't talking about men," she said laughing as Dara got in the car and closed the door. "I was talking about me."

Dara laughed too as she started up the car. Zorell thought she had found a friend in Dara, and even though she was getting married in a few days she would still remain working at the hospital. She hated to think that she would be losing a new friend soon after meeting her.

"So, what is this place like?" she asked as they drove down the street. Dara had the top down and the afternoon air blew through her hair. She had taken it down out of the bun she had it in since her work day was over. There was such thing as serious hair and fun hair, and now was the time for fun.

"It can be a madhouse, because a lot of other girls live there, some that even work at the hospital. Ava and Sonya live there and two girls that work in the children's ward. There's twelve borders in all that reside there, and meals are included if you're not late. No men beyond the first floor and a midnight curfew."

"A curfew?" she asked, and Dara gave her a grin.

"It's not really enforced as long as Miss Kastor doesn't catch you with a man in your room," she said as she turned the corner. "She doesn't care what you do outside the building. That's your business, but just don't bring it home. We even have a prostitute living there. Her name is Theresa. She calls it escorting, but we all know what she really does. She never talks about her business, and besides Marion, our innocent virgin, we all know what she does."

"It sounds like the place isn't boring," she said, and Dara laughed at that.

"I would have to agree with you there," Dara said as she approached what looked like a three-story building.

It looked like a mansion-sized structure with a wrap-around porch on two levels. She suspected that it had been recently whitewashed and had fresh potted plants hanging from the porch ceilings. There was also a long-haired ginger striped car sitting on a small plateau licking his paws.

"What a pretty cat," Zorell said and held out her hand so the cat could smell her. The cat almost immediately caressed her fingers while purring. She always loved animals, and it would be nice to have one around.

"That's Cornelius," Dara said and made a face, while Zorell gave him a scratch behind the ears. "He's Miss Kastor's cat, and a sneaky little devil."

"Being a cat," Zorell said, still admiring the beautiful animal, "they're all like that."

"I guess, but he's an infamous fish stealer, so on seafood night, guard your shrimp," Dara said as Zorell gave her a small laugh.

"I'll keep that in mind," Zorell said as Dara used her key to open the door. She just hoped the place was as nice inside as it was on the outside.

Dara led your up the front door and fished through her purse to find her keys. Zorell carried her purse but left her bag with her uniform in it inside the car. This was it. She just might have found a permanent place to live.

I got the first scene of chapter eleven finally done. In the next scene, Zorell is going to meet the eccentric Miss Pearl Kaster. Will she get the room that is soon to be vacated by Dara? Be here next time to find out.

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