We chatted about my new life for a few minutes, until at last, we pulled into Kennestone Hospital’s parking lot. I snatched my cane for support. Dee Dee grabbed her gigantic bag. The multi-storied brick hospital towered above our heads as we walked to the entrance. This time around, we maneuvered through the maze of hallways much easier.

Dora sat up in bed, dressed in a pretty pink gown. I was pleasantly surprised. “Well, look at you, Dora.” She rewarded me with a big smile.

“Hi, Dora. Hi, Nana,” Dee Dee chimed in. “Where is Doctor Hotty?” Nana and Dora laughed. I didn’t think it was that funny.

“Oh, don’t worry. He’ll make his rounds soon.” She poured a drink of water for Dora and handed the plastic cup to her. “Why don’t you stay a while, Trixie? I know you’d love to see him again.” It might be true, but she garnered way too much pleasure in trying to fix me up. I rolled my eyes. Besides, she knew I’d been dating Beau.

“I saw that, Missy. Don’t you roll those eyes. I’ll catch you every time.” True to her word, she always did. Almost always.

I surveyed the bland walls and the scarred linoleum floor. Why couldn’t hospitals jazz up the décor with cheerful colors? At least the nurse’s uniforms had evolved into colorful garbs, instead of the drab white they used to wear.

The door opened wide and in walked a small, diminutive looking nurse. She reminded me of a bunny rabbit until she opened her mouth. “Out! Everybody out!” She barked the orders. “I have to check Miss Dora’s sutures and change her bandages and she doesn’t need an audience.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

No one budged, but she wasn’t giving up. “Shoo. Scoot. I won’t tell you again to leave.” Nurse Patton rounded us up like a herd of cattle and guided us toward the door.

Dora called out, “Don’t go home. Please come back in when she’s finished, we haven’t even had time to visit.”

We assured her with a chorus of affirmations we wouldn’t go. We stood outside and waited.

“Wow, what an attitude.” Dee Dee stuck out her tongue at the door and blew.

“That’s not very grown up, Dee Dee. But I can’t say she didn’t deserve that raspberry. She acted like she ate lemons for breakfast.”

In a few minutes the nurse stepped outside and addressed us curtly, “You may go in now. But do not tire out my patient. She needs her rest.” With a lift of her chin, she dismissed us lowly minions.

Nana nudged me. “Look!” She pointed toward the nurse walking away from us. A trail of toilet paper followed her down the hallway, stuck to her shoe. We doubled over in laughter. “Serves her right,” Nana said.

We hustled back into Dora’s room to relay the incident. “She’s not so bad. She just doesn’t have any people skills,” Dora said.

“Nana, Dee Dee and I are going over to Gloria Hamiltion’s to interview her for the article I’m working on. Do you want to come with us?”

“No thanks. I’ll stay with Dora. Why don’t you pick me up on your way back?”

Dora sat up a little bit straighter. “Are you talking about the Gloria Hamilton?”

“She’s on the museum board and has a son named Steven. Do you know where she lives?” I made eye contact with Dee Dee. I hoped she got the message not to mention the real reason for our visit with Gloria. I wasn’t ready to tell Nana.

“According to Doc Pennington, the museum director, she holds a lot of weight in this town,” Dee Dee said.

“Hmph, she thinks she does anyway. She walks around with her nose stuck up in the air, like she’s better than the rest of us. Well, I’m here to tell you she isn’t.” Dora struggled to rearrange her pillows. Dee Dee beat me to assist her, fluffing and readjusting them.

“Gloria married into money. We went to school together, and her family was dirt poor. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with being poor, but she wants everyone to believe her family was one of the blue bloods. But in reality, it was her husband’s relative who was one of the founders of Marietta.”

Dee Dee and I looked at each other. “Can you tell us where she lives?”

“Don’t know the address, but if you’ll get me some paper, I’ll draw you a map.”

Our hand drawn map in hand, Dee Dee and I passed the nurses’ station where Nurse Patton stood. Her stare bore into us, like we’d planted the toilet paper on her shoe. We giggled like schoolgirls.

Painted white with forest green shutters, regal was the best way to describe the historic house we approached. It was easy to picture someone like Gloria Hamilton living there. Tall columns stood like sentinels along the front porch. The second and third floors boasted French doors that opened up to expansive balconies.

Swings hung at each end, and wicker rockers dotted the rest of the front porch. A variety of colorful bushes filled the front yard. As I strolled down the rock walkway, the sweet smell of fragrant gardenias lingered in the air.

“Wow. She may have grown up poor, but she’s come a long way. This beautiful home reeks of old money. Wouldn’t you say so, Trixie?”

“It definitely says money from the outside. I’m anxious to see the inside.” We didn’t have long to wait. I reached out to ring the bell, but the door flew open before I had a chance. A woman, who I assumed was Gloria, stood in the doorway. She was tall, stout and dressed to the hilt. Gloria Hamilton resembled every bit the lady of the house.

“If you’re selling anything I don’t want any.”

“No, we’re not selling anything Ms. Hamilton. I’m Trixie Montgomery.” I handed her a business card. “I write for “Georgia by the Way” and I’m working on an article about the Marietta History Museum. I’d love to interview you. I understand you’re an authority on all things Marietta. If your time allows, that is.” I was proud of myself for remembering how to make an interviewee feel at ease. Gloria seemed to relax, but she glanced at Dee Dee skeptically.

I thought fast. “This is my assistant Dee Dee Lamont.”

Stepping back, Gloria let us inside. “I think I can afford you a few minutes. I’m on my way to a committee meeting in a short while.” She glanced at her watch. “We’ll need to hurry.” She led us through the marble foyer and into a sitting room stuffed with antiques.

“Gloria. May I use your first name?” She nodded affirmation and I offered a compliment, more genuine than the last. “Your furniture is beautiful.”

Dee Dee nodded. “I own an antiques store and recognize excellent craftsmanship.”

Gloria sat up a little straighter. “I understand your admiration. They’re family heirlooms. I’m so proud of them.” She didn’t say whose family – just family. “I’m sorry I can’t offer you refreshments, but this is Amy’s day off. What do you want to know about the museum?”

I asked a few questions about the town in general, and Gloria happily supplied information. And then I changed directions.

“Gloria, is it true your purse disappeared while you were at the museum?”

Her eyebrows arched until they resembled tiny umbrellas. “Who told you that?” I expected her to show us to the door, but she surprised me when she continued. “Yes, it was stolen and there was no one around but Penny Pennington. I won’t go as far as to say she took it, but who else could have taken it? The ghosts?”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Speaking of ghosts.” I shot Dee Dee a sideways glance, and she returned an encouraging nod. “Have you ever seen any ghosts at the museum?”

Gloria lowered herself to perch on the edge of a beautiful sage green brocade loveseat. “No. Of course I’ve never seen any ghosts.” The way she answered you’d have thought I’d questioned her sanity. “Doc made up all that ghost talk to try and boost traffic at the museum. I don’t believe one bit of it.”