Free The Healing Quilt by Lauraine Snelling Page A

equipment? Or… The alternative did not bear thinking about. Was the need for new diagnostic equipment dismissed because it was only used for women? She could feel his curious gaze drilling a hole between her shoulder blades, but she refused to turn and acknowledge the feeling.
    Once settled at a table in the library, she called up the available resources on the computer and began searching for articles that had not been accessible from her home computer on current and cutting-edge breast cancer research. She also sought information on the latest diagnostic equipment.
    By the time she had to stop for the luncheon meeting, she had added considerably to her fund of knowledge.
    One thing was for certain: the new mammogram units did not come cheap. Another: she needed far more time than she'd spent so far on the research.
    Elaine sat staring at the circles and curves forming and reforming on the computer screen, seeing them but not seeing them. What is the best way to handle this? Whom do I talk to first?
    When she clicked on her digital recorder, she laid out a plan that formed as she spoke. Look out, “Call me Winston” and all you board members. She kissed the little recorder and tucked it into her left jacket pocket to record other ideas as fast as they came.
    She stopped by the ladies room to freshen up, then joined the others filing into the boardroom where the hospital kitchen staff had set up a buffet like no hospital patient ever saw.
    “Where have you been? I tried to call you.” George Giovanni appeared at her side, brushing back hair gone more gray than black and worn straight back to cover a balding spot centered on the crown of his head.
    “Good morning to you too, dear.” Elaine smiled in spite of his dis-gruntlement. “What was so important that it couldn't wait until now?”
    “I wanted you to bring some folders I left on my desk.”
    “Sorry, I was already here. Do you need them before the meeting?”
    “I sent Phyllis over for them.” Phyllis Nesbit was his secretary of twenty years and had been his gopher longer than that.
    “Please, folks, lets get our food and take our places so we can begin.” Winston banged a gavel on the long cherry wood table, another of his new acquisitions in the remodeling frenzy.
    Elaine looked around for George to see him beckoning her to take a place in front of him in the line.
    “Hey, no cutting in,” teased one of the other members.
    “I'll leave some of the shrimp for you,” Elaine shot back and they all laughed, seeing the number of large pink prawns already shelled and waiting for them in a cut-glass bowl of ice centered with red cocktail sauce.
    By the time they were all served and seated, the noise level had risen to deafening proportions. Winston had to use the gavel again to gain their attention.
    When the din setded he cleared his throat and began with a greeting, thanking them all for coming out on such a nice day.
    The minutes were read, and old business dispensed with, sending a recommendation for hiring a new landscaper back to committee. The budget was never mentioned, and Elaine suspected the postponement could be blamed on a shortfall. She listened as the process was repeated with another item and waited for her turn as head of the auxiliary to make a report. Today it seemed that much of the business had been conducted beforehand and the meeting was just a formality.
    “Mrs. Giovanni, would you like to share with us what the ladies have decided?”
    She steeled her jaw against the condescending way he said “ladies” and rose. “The women of the auxiliary have agreed to a sprucing up of the gift store, but instead of tapping hospital finances, we will do the painting and refurbishing ourselves, using our labor and proceeds from our various charities.”
    A smattering of applause greeted her announcement.
    She smiled and nodded her thanks, then continued. “The two new neonatal isolets have been ordered and will be delivered within the month.