Author: Owner
Company: Hewlett-Packard Company

At ten till one, Karen ignored the Night Emergency Bell at the front door of Oak Manor and spoke into her cell phone. “Charlaine, I want to see Dad.”
“Now? Where—?” 
“At the front door.”
“Front—you drove over here? At this time of night?” Charlaine’s tsking failed to make Karen feel reprimanded, and she gave full vent to her irritation. 
“At this time of night. I want to see him. As in right now.”
“You’ll scare him to death.“
“He won’t even know I’m here.” Karen stamped her feet. “Some reason you’re not opening the door? I’m freezing.”
“I don’t wonder,” Charlaine mumbled like a woman with a mouthful of food. “It’ll take a few minutes for me to get to that part of the building.” 
Karen stepped out from under the overhang. It had stopped snowing, but drifts covered the sidewalks. “Meet me at the side door to Dad’s wing. It’s closer.” 
“Not necessarily. Stay there and have a little patience—” 
”Don’t lecture me on patience.” When silence greeted her outburst, Karen tapped the mouthpiece. Dropped signal or ruffled feathers? “Charlaine?” 
Shaking now with cold, Karen stepped back to the front door. She placed her hands on either side of her face and breathed against a glass side-panel. A wisp of steam warmed her nose. She peered into the softly lit entry. 
“Charlaine!” Karen shouted into the cell phone. Dammit, Oak Manor was spacious, but it wasn’t Versailles. Where the hell was the woman?
A sound like a fingernail on plastic crackled in Karen’s ear. She winced. Charlaine announced her location and then Karen saw her through the glass. When the nurse finally opened the door, she made mouth noises expressing disbelief and disapproval.
Karen jogged past her, her mind traveling ahead to Dad. She used her key at his door, opened it and shushed Barney. Tail wagging, the golden Lab put his paws on Karen’s shoulders and licked away the tears blurring her vision. 
Charlaine cleared her throat. Karen gave Barney the signal to sit and whispered, “I’ll take it from here.”
“I don’t mind going in with you.” The nurse curled her bottom lip—as if smiling hurt.
Unsaid, Karen heard, I want the pleasure of showing you he’s asleep. 
“No need. I know how busy you are.” Karen inched the fifty-something woman out the door, adding softly, as if Charlaine was a trusted confidant. “The fewer people who know I was here tonight, the fewer can let it slip to Dad. I know I can trust your discretion.”
“I’m a professional, m’dear.” Charlaine bared big yellow teeth. “Secrets have a way of becoming public.”
Karen stared and then closed the door. Let her have the last word. 
Barney stayed by her side as she tiptoed into Dad’s bedroom. Despite the night light, she had to strain to see the rise and fall of his thin chest. She resisted the desire to kiss him. 
After unplugging both phones, Karen sat next to his bed for an hour, stroking Barney’s head, and silently dared the ghosts to come out from under the bed.