Chapter 6 - THE NURSE WHO SAW TOO MUCH
Tess returned to nursing school.
Without the restaurant job, she struggled financially.
She picked up additional shifts at the senior care facility.
But she refused to withdraw from her program.
One evening, she was helping an elderly resident named Mrs. Evelyn Hart settle into bed.
Evelyn noticed her exhaustion.
“Child, what's wrong?”
Tess smiled.
“Nothing.”
Evelyn raised an eyebrow.
“I'm eighty-four. I've earned the right to know when someone is lying.”
Tess laughed.
Then sat beside her.
She told Evelyn about losing her job.
Not the confidential details of Julian's situation.
Just the injustice.
Evelyn listened.
Then said:
“You did the right thing.”
Tess looked down.
“It doesn't feel like it.”
Evelyn took her hand.
“Doing the right thing rarely feels convenient.”
The next morning, Tess received a letter from Hudson College.
An anonymous donor had established a scholarship for students facing unexpected financial hardship.
Tess had been selected.
She stared at the letter.
Then called the financial aid office.
“Who donated the money?”
The administrator smiled.
“The donor requested anonymity.”
Tess suspected Julian.
But she couldn't prove it.
And she wasn't sure whether she wanted to.
That evening, Julian called.
“How are you?”
She smiled faintly.
“Still standing.”
He laughed softly.
“Good.”
She hesitated.
“Did you arrange a scholarship?”
Silence.
Then he said:
“I made a contribution to the school. They chose the recipients.”
Tess closed her eyes.
“Julian—”
“You earned your place there.”
She swallowed.
“Thank you.”
For the first time, their conversations moved beyond the scandal.
They talked about books.
Music.
Family.
And the strange loneliness of New York.
Julian began looking forward to her calls.
May you like
Tess began smiling when his name appeared on her screen.
Neither was ready to admit what that meant.
