had met Arthur Tournquist those few weeks ago. She tapped lightly
on the door and went in. The familiar odour of anaesthetic lingered.
Curly lay on her side, her eyes closed. She opened them when she
felt Tyne gently touch her hand. Her eyes were red-rimmed but dry,
her ashen face a sharp contrast to the dark curls that framed it.
“How’re you feeling, Curly?” Tyne asked quietly.
For answer, Curly grabbed her roommate’s hand and held tight.
“Oh, Tyne, I’m so sorry I’ve disappointed you … you and Moe. What
will she think of me?” She closed her eyes tightly as if trying to
squeeze out the pain. Two tears rolled out and slid down her cheeks.
“Hush, it’s all right, you haven’t done any such thing.”
“But I have, Tyne, I’ve let you down. I’ve let Mom and Dad down,
I’ve let God and the church down, and I’ve let Dr. Kendall down. He
came in to see me a while ago, and I could see it in his eyes. He hardly
said a word. I think he hates me.”
Tyne gripped Curly’s hand hard. “Stop it, no one hates you. Dr.
Kendall is just being professional.”
“But why did he have to let everyone know what had happened?”
Curly’s voice was ragged, her eyes wide. “Why didn’t he destroy the
specimen? I thought he would. When I asked for him to do the surgery
I thought he’d cover up somehow.”
Tyne stared at her friend. “Carol Ann, you can’t mean what you’re
saying. You know he couldn’t do such a thing. He’s an honourable
man ….” She stopped, too shocked to say more.
Curly closed her eyes for a moment. She took a deep breath and
let it out on a sob. “I know; it was stupid of me to even think it. But
I was desperate. You know this is the end for me at the Holy Cross,
don’t you, Tyne?”
“Oh, Curly, it may not be.” Even as she spoke, Tyne thought of Sister
Mary Louise’s words spoken not more than two hours ago.
“It is, though. Sister brought me a message after Dr. Kendall left.
Mother Superior wants to see me as soon as I’m well enough to go
home.”
Tyne could not stop her own tears. “Curly, oh Curly, I’m so sorry.”
“Stupid … I was so stupid, so naive.” Carol Ann turned her head
on the pillow to stare vacantly at the opposite wall.
“Was it Bryce Baldwin?” Tyne asked gently.
When Curly slowly turned to look at her and nodded her head,
Libros Libertad 