Page 20 of The Launch

“Oh,” Jo says, shaking her head slowly. “I don’t know, Frankie…are you sure you’re up for that?”

Frankie laughs throatily as she exhales again and then stands up. She walks to the sliding glass door and stares out at the backyard, with its placid turquoise pool, bright yellow patio furniture, and rich green grass. Two mid-sized palm trees dot the grounds. Frankie’s back is to Jo as she looks out at the scene. “I’m up for it,” she says, turning just her head to look at Jo. “I’m free, and you need someone to watch the kids. What’s the biggie, Jo? This is what friends do for each other.”

Jo nods, letting the idea warm inside of her. Itwouldbe nice knowing that the kids weren’t left to fend for themselves, but she doesn’t want to impose on Frankie in any way. Still, itisFrankie’s suggestion…

She thinks it over for a moment and then smiles at her friend. “Okay,” Jo says, “I would appreciate that so much, Frankie. And I promise they’ll be on their best behavior.”

Frankie laughs. “I have nieces and nephews, Jo. There’s no question in my mind that they’ll get into mischief and fight overthe last cookie, but I’m prepared to play referee. No need to make any promises you can’t keep.” She winks.

Jo’s first shift at Stardust General is three days later, and after much preparation, she’s got the kids cleaned up and fully briefed on what she expects of them while she’s gone.

“Now,” Jo says, standing before her children in the living room. The kids are lined up like soldiers awaiting Frankie’s arrival. “Frankie’s word is the law while I’m gone. No television. No arguing. No tricking her into extra snacks.” Jimmy makes a face at this. “No hiding from Frankie when she calls for you.” Kate looks away guiltily. “And Jimmy and Nancy—I want you both to be nice to Kate.” It’s Nancy’s turn to roll her eyes. “I’ll be back by five o’clock, and we’ll have dinner together when Daddy gets home at six. Understood?”

The children nod. Jo kisses each of them in turn.

“Good luck, Mommy,” Kate says sweetly, running towards the hallway and her Barbie dolls, which are undoubtedly set up on her bedroom floor.

Jo lets Frankie in as soon as she knocks, and Frankie sweeps in, dropping her purse on the new couch. “Ooooh,” Frankie says. “It just got delivered?” Jo nods, watching Frankie’s face to see if she likes it. Frankie runs a hand along the long, low orange velvet couch. Jo has also chosen a polished wood coffee table and two chairs that are upholstered with the same velvet as the couch. The whole set-up is slightly outside of Jo’s comfort zone, but she’s caught herself pausing to admire the furniture more than once. It’s growing on her—slowly.

“Looks great, Jo.” Frankie glances around with open admiration. “You’re really making this place your own.”

Jo beams. “Thank you. And thank you again for watching the kids. I’ll be back by five,” she says, consulting the narrow gold watch on her left wrist. “I need to get over there for orientation.”

“Go, go.” Frankie sweeps her away with both hands. “We’ve got this covered, don’t we Nance?”

Nancy is standing near the record player, wide-eyed and clutching a library book to her chest. She nods as she watches Frankie with awe.

Jo is nervous as she backs down the driveway in her station wagon, looking both ways to make sure that no neighborhood kids are playing behind her car. She glides through her neighborhood, observing the people who are out walking, planting flowers, or watching their children ride bikes up and down the sidewalks.

As much as she resisted it at first, Jo has started to realize how comfortable it is to be living in a community where people know each other, rather than on a piece of property where you need to put on a coat and lace up your shoes just to walk to the end of the long driveway to check the mail. Now that she’s here, she appreciates the convenience of having friends and their kids within walking distance, and the fact that she can run out to the store on a whim for butter or bread rather than having to save up her errands for a day when she’s prepared to make a trip “into town.” Even the relentless sunshine is bothering her less than it did when they first got to Florida.

At Stardust General Jo walks through the main entrance and right up to the front desk. She’s wearing a knee-length skirt and a light cardigan sweater with a pair of flat, comfortable shoes.

“Good afternoon,” she says, smiling at the receptionist. “Josephine Booker, here to volunteer.”

The woman points her in the direction of the elevators, and on the third floor Jo is greeted by a cheerful, plump woman who appears to be close to seventy.

“Mrs. Booker?” she says, smiling. “I’m Nurse Edwina, and I’m here to get you oriented.” She looks Jo up and down.“You look good. The sweater will come in handy—it gets chilly sometimes.”

In short order, Nurse Edwina walks Jo around the third floor, showing her the nurses’ lounge, the supply closet where the wheeled trolley is stored, and she shows her how to load up the cart with books, magazines, snacks, and beverages. They work the first few rooms together, and Jo takes mental notes as she watches the way Edwina announces herself at the door to each room, walks in, greets the patient or patients, and just generally brightens things up as she goes.

“You think you can handle this now?” Nurse Edwina asks, pushing the trolley to Jo. “I think you can. You’ll be a natural, Mrs. Booker.” She smiles at her encouragingly, pats Jo’s hand, and waddles back to the nurses’ station.

At the first room, Jo wipes her sweaty palms on the front of her skirt and braces herself before knocking. She puts a smile on her face so that it seeps into her voice. “Good afternoon,” she says cheerily, pushing the door open slightly. “My name is Jo, how are you?”

An older man is in the bed, the sheet pulled over him as he turns to look at Jo with curiosity. “I’m old, I’m in pain, and my wife and mother are already waiting for me on the other side.” His crusty attitude softens as Jo steps into the room with her cart full of goodies. “But when a lovely lady appears before me, I mind being stuck here just a little bit less.”

Jo can’t help herself; she laughs. “Well, I’m glad my mere existence can brighten your day,” she says. “I wish my husband and kids got this excited every time I walked into the room.”

“They’re damned fools if they don’t,” he roars, motioning to Jo with an arthritic hand. “Come in, come in. Jo, was it? Short for Josephine, I presume.”

“Yes,” Jo says. “It is. And you are?”

“Douglas Dandridge,” the old man says. He’s got to be close to ninety if he’s a day. “But you can call me Doug, Dougie, Dandy, Mr. D—call me what you want, young lady, just don’t call me late for dinner.”

Jo laughs politely. Mr. Dandridge reminds her a bit of her own grandfather. “People call you Mr. D?”

“My students always did. I taught high school math for forty-six years. Retired down here with my wife, but she died within a year. I’ve spent the last twenty years trying not to acquire a second wife.”

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