Sweet Violet and a Time for Love Read Online Free

private counseling area, and even, on at least one occasion that I’d heard of, as a rendezvous spot for two employees who’d wanted to “get to know each other better.” As we walked toward it, I noted that the last patient room in use before it was twenty-one.
    â€œSo what exactly is going on?” I tried again as we neared the room. KeeKee gave no response as she fooled around with several papers in her hand. The curtain to bed twenty-nine was closed and a shuffling noise echoed from its walls. I noted that a sitter, a hospital staff person assigned to sit with disruptive patients, stood outside the curtain, peeking into the room. She turned around at our approach.
    â€œThanks, Tiffany.” KeeKee nodded at the sitter. “Sienna can take it from here. Just let security know not to go too far in case we need them.”
    â€œSecurity? A sitter? KeeKee, you’ve got to tell me something here.”
    â€œIf I knew what was going on, I would not have paged you.” KeeKee stopped short of the curtain, looked up from her paperwork, and gave me a smile I could not read.
    I pulled back the curtain.

Chapter 4
    â€œStep one, step two, step three and four. Shake it fast, baby, and hit the floor. Ooooh, yeah! Dum dum dum boo dum dum boo dum.”
    Worn blue slippers, a blue floral housecoat, a silver mass of hair, and a whole lot of shimmying, clapping, and dancing around. I tried to make sense of the scene in front of me but did not know where to begin.
    A woman who looked as old as Ava Diggs twirled and spun around the room. Brown as hot cocoa and covered with a smattering of dark freckles and visible dirt, she looked like she’d just stepped out of her bedroom; that is, if her bedroom was a gutter. Her bra-less, large bosom hung limply under her frayed housecoat and her ankles and knobby legs were ashy above her slippers. Her silver hair was thick and matted on the sides and she snapped her fingers with chipped and dirty fingernails. She seemed unaware of her audience, KeeKee and me, as her frail hips bounced and shook under the fluorescent lights.
    â€œShake it now! We goin’ down. Wooo!” Though probably twice my age, the woman’s moves were as sharp and skilled as if she were in a Soul Train line. The only thing missing was the music, but she bopped her head up and down as if a song played in her head.
    â€œUh, KeeKee?” I raised an eyebrow and looked over at the charge nurse.
    â€œShe was bought in by ambo from the Harbor,” KeeKee finally explained. “A group of tourists found her dancing just like this, housecoat and all, in Rash Field and made the call. We put her in one of the psych rooms but some idiot let her off the gurney and she danced her way down to this room. Nobody had the heart to restrain her or pump her with lorazepam to get her quiet and still. Besides, she wasn’t hurting anything but them moves, so I made the call to just let her stay here as long as she doesn’t get too disruptive. And now you’re here to fix it.” KeeKee let out a rare chuckle.
    â€œWhat’s her name?” I asked.
    â€œYour guess is as good as mine. She came in with what you see: that robe and those slippers. No ID. No purse. Nothing. Um, I should let you know that it appears she also does not have anything on under that robe. Once you do what you do to stabilize her, I’ll send Dr. Levi in to check her out and make sure there’s nothing medically wrong with her.”
    â€œOnce I do what I do? You’re expecting a psych eval? We don’t even know who she is. Did you call the police?”
    KeeKee shrugged. “They said there are no active Silver Alerts, no elderly people reported missing anywhere in the area, and they won’t even come look at her unless there are signs of foul play.” She turned to leave but then looked back. “They said to call adult protective services, but that’s your domain. That’s