Chaos at Crescent City Medical Center by Judith Townsend Rocchiccioli Read Free Book Online

screwed up, unprepared, I guess.  His aides don't know a damn thing about his plans for the Governor’s conference.  From what I picked up, the administration's going soft, sort of backing down on most important issues.  This i s a huge change in strategy. I need George’s support to get m y legislation through.   You know if anything is coming down politically in Louisiana?"
    "Nope.  Not really.  Hardly keep up with local politics here.  CCMCs politics are all I can handle.  I'll check around and let you know.  Anything else, Adam?"
    "Nope.  We on for tomorrow?"
    "You bet.  See you at five."
    "Love you, Alex.  Nighty-night.
    "Love you too, Granddad .  Go to bed you impossible, irascible, crotchety old fool and don’t call me back!"
    Alex felt her heart swell with love for her grandfather as she hung up the phone.  A teddy-bear in a lions coat she thought.  Others would describe him as a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
    ***
    Mrs. Grace Raccine, the wife of the Governor of Louisiana, was resting comfortably in her VIP suite at CCMC when Kathy Smithson, the evening charge nurse, came in on rounds.  Mrs. Raccine looked up from her book.  "Hello, Dear, isn't it about time for you to go home?"  She smiled gently at Kathy.
    "I just wanted to see if there was anything else you needed before I left.  Did you get your sleeping pill?"
    "The nurse offered it to me, but I didn't take it.  To tell you the truth, Kathy, I think that's what's been causing these horrible nightmares I've been having the past few nights.  I could've gone home earlier if I'd had been resting better. Sleep always makes a difference i n how you feel."
    Kathy nodded in agreement. "You're still going home in pretty good time. It takes a long time to recover from abdominal surgery, and then, considering you had that terrible infection, you've done very well.  I'll miss you when you leave."  Kathy smiled.
    Mrs. Raccine smiled back, touched Kathy's hand, and said, "I'll miss you too, dear .  You and all the other nurses have been good to me.  And, Dr. Bonnet's excellent.  You know, Dr. Bonnet’s father and my husband were childhood friends.  I've known Robert since he was a tyke growing up on St. Charles.  He and my late son were school chums, the best of friends."  Mrs. Raccine paused for a moment, reminiscing and she continued.  "You know, I've never been to CCMC before.  Our family usually goes to Jefferson."  Mrs. Raccine lay back against the covers, tired and weak.  "I don't think I've ever had better nursing care, but I’m tired.  I'm really tired.  I know Dr. Bonnet said it would take time, but I need to feel better before they start the radiation."
    Kathy smiled again at Mrs. Raccine and said, "You will.  You'll start feeling better sooner than you think.  Chemo is tough on you and makes you feel really tired.  But, your blood work is looking better tonight.  Get a good night's sleep to get a head start before you go home."
    "Thanks, Kathy.  I'll try.  Have a good evening, at least what's left of it.  See you tomorrow." 
    Mrs. Raccine was exhausted by the short conversation and laid back against her pillows.  She was worried about her health, of course, but she was more worried about her husband.  Something was up with George. He was not quite right these days.   He'd been acting strange ly for several months. She’d noticed secretive phone calls, cancelled meetings with trusted advisors, men hanging around the Governor’s Mansion in Baton Rouge she didn’t know as well as a lot of late night meetings in New Orleans.  He was spending less and less time in Baton Rouge and more time here.  Grace continued to consider things.  George seemed to be pushing Andre Renou, his chief aide, aside and that was unusual.  Those two had been joined at the hip for years and George never made decisions without getting Andre 's take on the issue. She couldn't pin-point anything specific, but she knew something was bothering