Cease-Fire

Cease-Fire 

Amelia’s schedule was full before Terri arranged for this lunch date. She glanced at her watch, again. The president and owner of a new Social Work company was apparently a very important connection. “I’m sure the two of you will bond, Emmy, it will be a new beginning for ODC, and we need a resurgence.  Besides with the two of you joining forces Denver would have only one real choice for senior care.” Terri had nearly begged Amelia to agree to the lunch date, now they were forty minutes late. 

Pacing through the small waiting area, Amelia glanced at her watch. She had four supervisory visits to complete and a new case opening. “That’s it, I won’t waste another minute. I’m not surprised Terri is late she flutters through life without any concept of responsibility to anyone but herself.” Amelia muttered, “How important could this woman be if she doesn’t keep scheduled meetings?” 

As she wound through the patio tables, a gentle breeze tickled the hair on her neck a whisper of intuition acknowledged her day would be better spent working than lunching with the elite. Just as she stepped off the curb toward her car, Terri rushed forward clasping her arm.  “Amelia you weren’t leaving.” She scolded.   

“I did tell you I had a very busy schedule today, and you are an hour late.” Amelia defended. Seeing Anne standing behind Terri, Amelia nearly cursed herself out loud. Why was this one character-flaw such a yoke around her neck. Silently she decided to find a way to remember names. The faces of everyone Amelia had ever met and the occasions were permanently logged into her strategic data brain, but damn, life would be more pleasant if she could remember names as astutely as the faces they belonged to. Degrading herself and immediately knowing this lunch was definitely a waste of time. From the look of enlightenment on Anne Jackson’s face the sentiment was solidified. 

“Oh,” Terri turned toward the newest prospect as ODC’s savior. “Anne, this is Amelia, the wonder-woman of home care that I have been telling you about.”   

Amelia extended her hand to the diminutive royal heiress, Anne Jackson. Surprised, when the gesture of cease-fire was returned. “Nice to see you,” Amelia nodded while maintaining a firm grip on Anne’s hand. “Look, if you two need to catch up and regroup we can reschedule my attendance for another time.” Amelia offered the polite way for Anne, as well as herself, to avoid the inevitable soon to be awkward situation, certain it would take more than a lunch date to convert the fleeting cease-fire to a peace treaty. 

The two women, similar in stature were opposites in ethics and loyalties. But again, Anne flummoxed Amelia stating, “I was held up in court this morning, I just couldn’t get away a moment sooner. My day, like yours will be delayed and we will both be working yet another late night, but I really think we should get to know each other better, before we discuss any referral partnerships, don’t you?” 

Wondering what Anne was really up to, Amelia reluctantly agreed to stay for lunch. 

Four years ago, The Towers Corporation had hired Amelia for a clean-up job, including all of the five elite high-rise Senior living apartments. Their services included independent housing and assisted living through skilled long-term care in elegant apartments with upper-class restaurants, movie theaters, and entertainment. They had warned the job would not be easy, the many nurse managers prior, were soft hearted, not able to understand the legal and regulatory risks involved with service creep. They had offered a substantial salary and benefit package to compensate for long hours, and difficult sometimes hostile conversations. 

While Anne and Terri debated over the menu items, Amelia did a mental check list of the times eviction negotiations had broken down between Anne and Amelia representing The Tower Corporation and their mutual clients or families.   The first client was the naked crazy cat-lady. The Towers Corporation had initiated eviction when CCL (crazy cat-lady) refused to come back into her fourth-floor apartment from the balcony. She had increasing episodes of delusional and resistive behavior. This particular time that behavior included standing on the balcony rail, screeching at the residents below. Tower’s staff were notified of the commotion and immediately understood the many regulations in which she was non-compliant. First and foremost was endangerment to self or others. Another regulation she would be shredding was not disturbing the peaceful living and wellbeing of other residents in the community. Hanging off the balcony, screeching obscenities with not a stitch of clothing would definitely break most every rule the state had created. The family was stunned that her behavior was outside the limits of staff control, Anne vehemently supported their position. CCL had been admitted to a psyche hospital that day, but her family was certain she would be allowed to re-occupy her apartment. They were wrong.   

The second encounter with Anne was due to a new resident, who had moved-in and that very first evening, Amelia had received a frantic call from one of the second shift C.N.A (certified nursing assistant), “You’re going to fire me.” She sobbed.   

“Why do you think that?” Amelia inquired. 

“Because I had to call an ambulance and the police,” the distraught woman replied.  

“Ok, take a breath and tell me what happened.” Amelia soothed. 

“Jennifer, had given Mrs. Lawrence her bedtime medication and was coming down the hall when the new resident, I can’t remember her name, came out of her apartment started following Jennifer. I could see her but I couldn’t call out loud enough for Jennifer to hear me. Jenn didn‘t even know the woman was following her. Suddenly she lifted the hammer and hit Jennifer in the back of the head. I think she may have killed her. Oh, the police are here.” Maryann announced. 

“I am already in my car, do not give any more information to the police until I get there.” The next call Amelia made was to the co-owner and corporate attorney of The Towers Corporation. 

Once more Anne Jackson defended her clients position accusing Amelia of intentionally slandering her client's character, because she had been arrested for assault and taken to jail, then later to a psychiatric unit. 

Knitting her brows, Amelia couldn’t remember the other two client issues, but she did remember the hours of grueling negotiations all while Miss Anne Jackson confronted her from across a huge mahogany conference table. The table choice like all things The Towers Corporation chose to do had an intimidating feel. It was designed to do so. Amelia was amazed when she learned the office chairs, and conference room chairs were specially made to become uncomfortable after five minutes of sitting in them. This prevented employees from wasting corporate money by lolly-gagging.    

Anne Jackson, a licensed social worker, was as bulldogged at defending her clients wishes and needs as The Towers Corporation attorneys were at refusing them. Amelia defended the position strictly because she had many people depending on her actions. Other residents, over a thousand at last count, not including their family members and almost as many staff members, not to mention the corporation's reputation. All of these people depended on Amelia to make the right ethical and safe decision. Those standoffs were for the greater good. She knew it four years ago. Amelia had not changed her mind over time. 

After each plate was placed in front of the trio, Anne smoothed her napkin across her lap. “So, the hatchet lady no longer works for The Towers Corporation, I can’t wait to hear the tale behind that career change!” 

Gasping and choking on her ice tea, Terri whispered, “What do you mean hatchet lady?” 

“Everyone knows or should know Amelia’s reputation as the hatchet lady. I’m dumbfounded that you didn’t know.” Anne responded non-pulsed. 

Amelia, smiled, the cease-fire was over, there would be no peace treaty. “I really must, get to my next appointment. Terri we’ll catch up tomorrow morning in my office at seven-thirty.” Amelia examined the jagged edged steak knife, carefully laid it across the plate in front of her, stood and left.