Chapter 4 - The Price of Autumn
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Adeline sat at the small kitchen table, staring at the letter until the ink seemed to blur together.
Payment or proof of guaranteed funds must be rendered prior to the end of autumn, or the surgical slot will be reassigned.
Autumn was ending in less than six weeks. If Nell missed this window, the nerve damage in her spine would become permanent, trapping her in that wheelchair for the rest of her life.
Adeline took a deep breath, picked up her phone, and dialed the private nursing registry coordinator at St. Bridget.
"Hello, Mrs. Gable? It's Adeline Whitaker," she said quietly. "Is that private home-care assignment in Long Island still available?"
On the other end of the line, the coordinator paused. "Adeline? Are you sure? It's a high-stress position. The family is... very wealthy, but extremely private. Three nurses have already walked off the job this month."
"What are the terms?" Adeline asked, ignoring the warning tone.
"Night shifts, seven days a week," Mrs. Gable explained. "Caring for an elderly patriarch with late-stage heart failure. Because of the strict non-disclosure agreement and the isolation, the family is paying four times the standard private rate."
Adeline’s heart skipped a beat. Four times the rate meant she could cover the deposit for Nell's surgery and secure a loan for the remainder.
"I'll take it," Adeline said without hesitation. "When do I start?"
"Tomorrow night at eight," Mrs. Gable replied. "A driver will pick you up. Adeline... just do your medical work and keep your head down. Don't ask questions about what the family does for a living."
When Adeline hung up the phone, Nell looked at her nervously from across the room.
"Who are these people, Addie?" Nell asked softly. "Why are they paying so much?"
Adeline walked over to her sister, kneeling beside the wheelchair and placing a reassuring hand on her knee.
"They're just people with a lot of money and a sick grandfather," Adeline promised. "And they are going to help us get you back on your feet."
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She reached into her coat pocket and pulled out her small, leather-bound notebook. She opened it to a blank page and wrote down her daily goal in neat, dark strokes:
Long Island Assignment — Night 1. Keep moving. Nell will walk again.
