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Chapter 29
Elizabeth was standing in what was going to be the hospital's new art center. The former tenant in the space had been a boutique so they had one big room out front, a large storage closet to house merchandise in the back that she was checking out at the moment, and three changing rooms along the back wall of the main room. The space was good, but would need to be re-worked a bit.
"Elizabeth?" Renaldo called out to his charge. He was making the introductions today. When the petite artist came back out front he started. "This is Nadine."
"Hi!" Liz walked over and shook the hand of the very pretty blonde woman. "It's nice to meet you. I've seen you at the hospital." Liz knew a lot of the pediatric staff, but not everyone.
"I've seen you too." Nadine said smiling back. "I'm excited to be working with you."
"Me too." Elizabeth said standing next to Nadine. "So what do you see, for the space?"
"I have no clue. I've never actually worked in an art therapy center. My certification came on the strength of my masters in nursing. I am interested in a more long term relationship with my patients." Nadine explained. She hoped Elizabeth didn't think she was a bad fit. "I've taken art classes pretty much all my life, and I'd like to use that in my work."
"Sounds good." Elizabeth smiled hoping to put the nurse at ease. "I'm sure you'll do great. Alan spoke very highly of you during my interview."
Nadine relaxed a bit. "So what do you see?"
"You want to be careful asking me for an opinion." Elizabeth poked fun at herself. "I can go on for hours. How about if I tell you what I think, and if you hate something give a holler. Be honest." Elizabeth wanted this to be a space the entire staff felt comfortable in. So an opinion other than her own would be helpful.
"I have no problem speaking up. I work with doctors all day, you need to sometimes be forceful when talking to them. They tend to like their own opinions more than anyone else's." Nadine assured her new co-worker, and hopefully friend. "Ask Renaldo if you don't believe me." She snickered.
"You will have to share stories." Elizabeth said with a mischievous glint in her eyes. The guys didn't date wilting flowers. "So I think we should leave the main room a big open space. Low tables in the middle for group classes." Not all sessions would be individual. "Shelving on the far wall." That would also be a kid friendly height. "Over here we can do a clay station." It wasn't just painting, and clay could be messy so it should have its own space.
"The middle tables would be crafts?" Nadine guessed.
"Yeah." Elizabeth had lots of ideas of things the kids could make and take home. "In the back there is a storage area." She led Nadine across the room. "I was thinking painting in this room. We would need more shelving to store supplies."
"We could get a dozen easels in here no problem, but at the same time we can still use the space for individual sessions. Two at a time if necessary." Nadine could see how it would work.
"That's along the lines of what I envisioned. The changing rooms I have ideas for as well." Elizabeth took Nadine out to the main room again. "These two." Elizabeth pointed to the first two. "Could both be converted into bathrooms with kid friendly fixtures. There is another bathroom off the storage area that could be for the staff. The parents can use the bathroom off the lobby."
"The third fitting room could be storage." Nadine suggested. Each room was a good size. With some hanging shelves they could get a lot supplies in there.
"We are so going to get along, because that's what I was thinking too." Elizabeth smiled.
"What about the space across the front of the room? Where the display windows were?" Nadine remembered mannequins had been in the spot to showcase the boutiques inventory.
"Well, I was thinking we could put in some large chairs, a few tables too, and a coffee station. We need somewhere for the parents and caretakers to sit. I was also thinking of putting in a partitioning wall with a doorway for access. That way no one can see into the center. We don't want the kids on display." A ground level center didn't come with built in privacy.
"That would perfect." Nadine could see it. "We should pull up the carpet and see what's underneath." Art projects pretty much insured the carpet would be impossible to keep clean. "If its wood can we get concrete poured?"
"What were you thinking?" Elizabeth encouraged Nadine to speak up.
"Well we can get smooth concrete and then splatter paint on it. Just random globs and splotches." Nadine suggested.
"That way the kids aren't worried about making a mess." Elizabeth nodded her head. "In the paint room too."
"Up front, the adult space, should be earth tones. A calm space where mom, dad, or whoever brings the patients can take a moment and decompress. Maybe some magazines." Nadine could picture it in her mind.
"I saw an article where a coffee shop had a book swap program. They had books and you were welcome to take them with you for free, and if you had books that you were done with you could come and leave them on the shelves. A lot of our caretakers will have tight funds, so what if we did that?" Elizabeth suggested.
"The library always has a bin of books they are selling pretty cheap. I think the most I've ever seen them charge is three dollars. We could buy some books there to stock the shelves. They often have a lot of best sellers in the bin. I'd be willing to donate some funds to that." Nadine was excited about this venture. "You think you can sweet talk Jason into donating coffee?"
"Coffee, hot chocolate, and tea." Elizabeth said laughing. Even if he didn't, which wasn't going to happen, she had money left over in her college fund to cover that. "I'll donate to the book fund as well. Maybe this weekend we could go to the library and see what they have."
"I'm off Saturday morning." Nadine was looking forward to the regular hours the art center would give her. She loved being a nurse, but would be lying if she said it wouldn't be nice to have weekends off for a change.
"As long as Renaldo says its fine I can meet you there." Elizabeth looked at the blonde woman. "Is it odd that I have to check my schedule with your boyfriend?"
"A little." Nadine said smiling. "But he is in charge of keeping you safe." She worried about her boyfriend having such a dangerous job, but he said Elizabeth followed the rules which made things safer. "Back to the center. This might sound odd but I think we should have white walls. I was thinking we could have the kids hang their artwork, and when they make new pieces they can go up and the older ones can go home."
"That's brilliant." Elizabeth said nodding. "We will need shelving for the clay and craft projects. Some we can hang from the ceiling."
"That would be perfect. Are you going to put the check in desk where the cashier station is?" Nadine wondered. The boutique had left that area up.
"Makes sense. I've never hired a receptionist before." Elizabeth looked at Nadine.
"Me either." The blonde smiled wide. "Since you're the senior therapist and the one with the degree I think you should handle that."
"Suddenly that Art Center Supervisor certification seems like a bad idea." Elizabeth said shaking her head. She and Nadine were going to get along really well. "Let's go tell Renaldo we are ready for the crew to come in."
"The ladies still in there?" Jason asked Renaldo.
"Yeah, they are finishing up the walk through with the head of the crew." Renaldo reported.
"How did they get along?" Jason wanted to know. He didn't expect any issues, his girl was friendly and so was Nadine.
"Fine, they are talking about a shopping trip to the library this weekend." Renaldo passed along.
"Shopping at the library?" Jason asked confused.
"I'll let your girl explain it." Renaldo said grinning. "You here for lunch?"
"Uh-huh." Jason replied. "I'm having the glass replaced in a few days." It would be bullet proof.
"I'll suggest awnings to Nadine over lunch." Renaldo told Jason. Direct sunlight could weaken bullet proof glass.
"I'll do the same. If we both do it the ladies will get the importance." Jason told the guard. This was the only thing he would offer an opinion on. He had no intention of trying to run his girl's center.
"They are also talking about getting a receptionist." Renaldo passed along. Whoever got hired would need to be screened.
Jason nodded as he mentally corrected himself. The glass and the receptionist were the only areas he would stick his nose into. No way was just anyone working around Elizabeth. "Thanks."
"Jason." Elizabeth smiled at her boyfriend as she and Nadine walked out of the center.
"Hey." He smiled at his girl. "Nadine." Jason greeted the other woman.
"Hi Jason." Nadine replied. It took her a while to get comfortable around Renaldo's friends and co-workers. It was only in the last month that she started socializing more with them. Her ever changing work schedule didn't help in that area either. She was looking forward to really getting to know the other ladies.
"You guys are welcome to join us for lunch." Elizabeth offered. They were going to be eating in the penthouse.
"Thanks, but Renaldo promised me lunch at Eli's." Nadine grinned. She loved their ribs.
"Have a good time." Jason said before they walked to the elevator. "Sorry we can't go out."
"Don't worry about it." Elizabeth didn't want him feeling guilty. "I like staying in for lunch. I get to have you all to myself." She said in a sultry whisper.
"That is one of the merits of eating in." Jason grinned before kissing her. He was thinking about how they could work off lunch when the elevator doors opened.
"Gram!" Elizabeth flew off the elevator and into her grandmother's arms. "You weren't supposed to be home for another two weeks."
"I missed you." Audrey said holding her granddaughter tight. She had seen the news reports of Sonny's death and was worried about Elizabeth. So she wrapped up her visit early and came home. "Hello Jason."
"Mrs. Hardy." Jason said trying not to fidget. Elizabeth's grandmother made him nervous. She was one of the only people he could say that about.
"We were about to have lunch, would you like to stay?" Elizabeth offered.
"I'd love to." Audrey smiled at her granddaughter. Elizabeth was happier than she had been in a long time.
"I'll go back to the office then, and let you catch up." Jason said going for a quick escape.
"Nonsense." Audrey said giving him a look that said she knew what he was doing. "I'd like for you to stay." She needed to get a few things straight with Jason Morgan.
"Come inside." Elizabeth said ushering her grandmother into the penthouse.
Audrey looked around at the sparse furnishings. "Nice pool table."
Jason actually blushed.
"We are redecorating." Elizabeth explained trying not to laugh. "We can eat on the terrace." Which was fully furnished.
"It's a beautiful day for that." Audrey agreed. "But first let me get a look at that ring. Lila said it's stunning." The older woman held out her hand. When Elizabeth placed her hand on top Audrey gave the ring a good looking over. "Lila was right. Very well done Jason."
"Uh, thank you." He said not sure if he should add anything else.
"Jason why don't you take my Gram to the terrace, and I'll get lunch started." Elizabeth suggested.
"I can make lunch." Jason offered seeing another chance for escape.
"I know how you both like your sandwiches so I'll do it." Elizabeth said before heading to the kitchen.
"Right this way." Jason said leading the way to the outdoor space.
"Jason, this is lovely." Audrey said smiling. "It's a lot quieter than I expected." You couldn't hear any street noise. There was more furniture out here than in the entire downstairs of the penthouse. Jason had two separate seating areas for lounging. One area had a couch and two armchairs in a dark tan. The other area was a couch and two ottomans that could double as chairs, this set was a light espresso in color. There was also a dining set to enjoy eating al fresco. No accents or greenery were present, but it was still a very tranquil space. "You spend a lot of time out here?"
"As much as I can." Jason admitted. Which meant he came out year round since he didn't feel temperatures like everyone else. In the winter he wore sweaters to protect his skin from the cold.
"I would as well. So what are your intentions for my granddaughter?" Audrey came right out and asked. "That ring is lovely, but what exactly does it mean?"
Jason looked like a deer caught in headlights. "I'd like to build a life with her." He finally said.
Audrey looked at the young man in front of her. He was not what she would have chosen for her granddaughter. What he did was dangerous, and that danger didn't respect a closed door. At some point it could follow him home one day and leave Elizabeth injured or worse. Still the choice of who her granddaughter gave her heart to wasn't Audrey's to make. Jason was good to Elizabeth, and for her as well. He wasn't perfect, and no relationship was either. But he made Elizabeth smile and that was enough. "You have my blessing."
"Really?" Jason asked surprised.
"Really." Audrey said laughing. "Why does that shock you?"
"I didn't think you liked me." Jason said being honest.
"I don't know you well, yet. Over the years that will change." Audrey smiled wide. "Once you stop being afraid of me and running out of the room every time I walk in we'll get along great. We both love Elizabeth. But Jason, if you hurt her you will regret it. I have over thirty years of medical experience at my disposal, I know all the spots that hurt the most."
"Yes ma'am." Jason said totally believing that threat.
"Okay, here is some iced tea. Unsweetened for you Gram." Elizabeth put the glasses down and looked at the two people she loved the most in the world. "I'll make lunch now."
"Take your time sweetheart. Jason and I can plan how to celebrate your graduation while you are gone." Audrey was so proud of her granddaughter.
"I don't need anything big." Elizabeth said before going back inside.
"What did you have planned?" Audrey wanted to know.
"Dinner at the Grille." Jason shared. "The week before graduation I'm taking her to the island to relax because the day after graduation Elizabeth starts work. You are welcome to come to the island as well." He remembered to offer.
"I'm starting my new job at the hospital in two weeks." Audrey would be training the student nurses. "So thank you, but no." Even if she wasn't she would have found a reason to not go to the island. They should enjoy that time alone. "She will love that."
"Another time then." Jason would let Audrey go visit whenever she wanted. "Would you like to ride to the ceremony with us?" He offered.
"I would thank you." Audrey said taking a seat and trying not to laugh that a mob boss was scared of her. "Tell me a bit about the island." She would try to get him to relax some before lunch. If he stayed this tense he'd get heartburn for sure.
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