Sahara was sitting on the edge of Ona’s bed, prompting her to flinch out of habit.  Two days ago, she’d had her arm and leg cast removed, then she’d been fitted with a walking cast for her left leg.  She was still a little edgy, and Sahara noticed this when she said...

“I can sit on a chair if you’d like...”

Sahara was what most people would call a hippy.  She had soft wavy hair that she’d twined in locks.  She had a pretty oval face, and soft grey eyes.

Ona shook her head...

“No...you don’t have to move.”

“I brought some tea from home if you want some.  I dried them myself.  It’s a mixture that’s proven to stimulate the bodies natural pain relief receptors.  It’s all natural...so you don’t have to worry about side effects, or any of that kind of stuff.  Plus, it’s healthier...and who doesn’t want to be healthier.  Just don’t tell Rachel that I’m suggesting that you shouldn’t foul your body with drugs.”  She turned up her nose, then said...  “That stuff will kill ya”

Ona laughed...

“I’m fine Sahara--but thank you for offering.”

Sahara pointed to a tablet when she said...

“I just got an email from the last parent.  That brings our number to thirty.  Not a bad start.”

One night, during a brainstorming session, Ona had explained how she planned to recruit children.  The idea would require canvassing the city for miles and miles and Ona couldn’t do this.  It was then that she learned about Sahara’s charity project.  In her spare time, she teaches a group of children how to play their favorite instrument.  She’d formed the group after hearing about an apartment fire on the TV News.  She’d watched footage, showing small children, who’d become homeless.  These children had been displaced after surviving the fire and a few of them had lost their parents.  Ona’s project was about helping children, and Sahara’s group of kids fit the projects criteria perfectly.

Ona said...

“Are you sure you don’t mind turning your kids over to my project?”

“Are you kidding?”  She said.  “Honey...I just want to see these kids get the help that they need.”

Ona watched as her mind shifted gears; moving on to something equally important to her.

“Judd shot me an email.  After our first few dry runs, we discovered that our initial setup formed a bottleneck, especially if the children were interested in moving from station to station.  So...Rachel and I stayed late last night, moving partitions and Judd says that the new floor-plan is perfect.  He also said that your brother stopped by this morning...and he agrees”

She lay the tablet on her lap when she said...

“Is your family coming to take you home today?”

Ona was excited for a number of reasons.  She was being discharged today, and Noah had come home to help her get settled.

“My two brothers are coming.  My parents would have come home but I begged them not to.”

Sahara didn’t have to ask where her parents were, because she’d overheard Caleb and Rachel the other day, when the discussion of discharge had been broached.  She’d also noticed the growing tension between those two.  She didn’t now who they thought they were kidding; but Sahara knew chemistry when she saw it--and those two were made for each other.  But she wouldn’t be the one to drop that stink bomb, because she knew a thing or two about Samaritans.  She just hoped that Rachel didn’t try to pursue Caleb because she didn’t want to see her roommate get her heart broken.

“Well...”  Sahara said...  “I guess the next time we meet, it’ll be at the warehouse.”

“Yes.  The Children’s Center”  Ona smiled so wide, her cheeks hurt; but she’d been waiting for this day.  Her entire life had been about this one moment and now it was here and she was ready.

The women talked a little longer, finalizing matters.  When Dr. Norma came to say his farewell, he’d been joined by Dr. Stone, and one of the physical therapist.  Ona wanted to cry because for the past two months, these people had been like her family and this hospital had been her home.

When the doctors left, they passed Lucien as he entered the room.  Since his first visit, he’d visited Ona nearly every day.  She found herself watching the door, because he generally visited her after her noon time massage.  She wasn’t sure if it was his calming presence, the conversation or some other thing that she hadn’t rightly identified; whatever it was, she couldn’t get enough of this man--his dress, his manner--everything about him was always precise and perfect, in every detail and she enjoyed his company.

Lucien strolled into the room, with an air of self-confidence.  Before arriving at the hospital, he'd sat silently listening to the transfer report.  The Samaritan Hospital assured Dr. stone that their facility was more than capable to address Ona Zelle's medical care.  He walked into the room, assured with this knowledge.  He said...

"So...today is the day.  Do you need help packing?"

Ona looked at Sahara, then her glance landed on Lucien.

"I came here with the clothes on my back...and those items weren't worth salvaging."

He nodded, then he said...

"I'd like to walk you out...figuratively of course."

Ona smiled, then she said...

"It would be my pleasure."

The next few hours had been a blur because Ona had never spent time in a hospital and she'd never endured the discharge process.  Nevertheless, she did as she was told, and it didn't pass her notice that Lucien, Rachel and Sahara had become her steadfast consorts.  After the procedures had been completed; Rachel stood outside of her room waiting with a wheelchair.

She'd been accompanied by everyone who'd been in her room; and that included Lucien Delors.  When the elevator stopped, the women filed out, going in separate directions.

Rachel and Sahara said....

“Go home and get some rest.”

“Yeah...we’ll see you tomorrow at the Children’s Center.  And don’t worry about anything.  Judd will meet them there tonight, to make sure that the place is ready.”

Ona waved, as she watched them leave.

Lucien said...

“Those two are excited.”

“Yes...I don’t know what I would have done without their help.”

Lucien pushed the wheelchair through the lobby.  One of the doormen approached him, offering his assistance.

“May I offer my help Mr. Delors.”  he spoke with a British accent.

Lucien replied.

“No thank you Alfred.”

Then it dawned on him to ask...

“Ona...is the Samaritan Hospital sending a medical transport?”

“No.  We’ve never had a need for one.  The ferry has always served our purposes.  But to answer your question...my brothers are waiting outside with a cab.

“A cab?”  He sounded disappointed.

When they reached a wall of sliding glass doors, just beyond the entryway fountain, Lucien spotted them.  His brow furrowed when he said...

“Ona...I see three people out there.  I thought you told me that you only had two brothers.”

Now Ona was seeing what Lucien had seen and her stomach churned with annoyance; she hated surprises.  Wearing similar clothes, all three men stood at the rear of the cab in a semi-circle.  They appeared to be engrossed in a conversation, until one of them noticed her approach.

Noah, Caleb and Geff turned, and when they spotted her, they uniformly appeared displeased.  Before the glass doors slid open, Dr. Stone hurried to join them.

She handed Ona a sterling silver pill box.

“You forgot this.  These are your pain meds.  I wasn’t sure if the hospital on your barge stocked the brand or the generic...  You’ve been taking the brand named drugs during your stay.”

Ona politely nodded, even though the remark implied that the Samaritan Hospital was primitive and inferior.  There’d been a lot of that during her stay, and her thankfulness had repelled their choice of words.  However, seeing her brethren caused her to remember who she was, and now Dr. Stone’s gesture seem condescending.