Catherine didn’t bother to speak as she gazed outside the window. ‘Oh, I see,’ Cynthia began. ‘You’re sorry you lost your precious Alex. Wel..., that’s what happens to sluts like you, Catherine. I hope Damon was a good fuck, at least,’ she mocked her. ‘Leave me alone,’ she replied with a calmness she was beyond feeling. ‘I’ve only come to give you your brooch back. I wouldn’t want you to call me a thief,’ she smiled wickedly. Catherine turned around slowly. She picked up her purse and walked. But as frightening as the dark was, she was even more scared of the light. She refused to open her eyes and see her father’s disappointed gaze. She had tried so hard all her life to keep him happy and off of Buddy’s back. He was probably trying to figure out how this little ‘episode’ was going to affect his plans for her. She doubted her mother was there at all. She was probably grieving for the child she had actually loved. Her uncle might be around. She knew how much that he had wished that. She started shivering uncontrollably from being cold while under the anesthetic and her horrible emotional loss.The recovery room nurse noticed Karen stirring and tried to give her an encouraging smile. She checked her vitals and found her a blanket to warm her up. “Doctor Cooper will be here shortly to talk to you. I understand you were a nurse here at Memorial?”“Yes, a nurse for about twenty-five years. Now, I’m the Chief Instructor at the Nursing School at the Community College,” she. "Then it's settled. Talbots is having a sale and I bet you're a Talbots'woman. Then we can hit the Malls and really have some fun. After that,we could go to this little Victorian tea room I know about and relax."she said."That would be most wonderful. I really do enjoy tea.", said Eliseexcitedly."My car is right over there. It's the cute little Miata. Where did youpark?" she asked."I didn't park, I walked. I live close by and it was such a nice day."Elise replied."Then we are taking my car.