Chapter 14: The Speaker List

'Maureen Tolbert never wanted to be a nurse,' Curtis told the hospital board and its guests.

'You're using the school to punish me in front of all of you.'

The board chair's introduction was still in Curtis's hand.

Curtis accepted the introduction and took the printed speaker list.

He crossed out my name in front of me.

'I'll introduce the next campaign,' he said. 'Maureen won't be speaking tonight.'

My fingers tightened around the back of a chair.

My voice broke before I could answer.

The people nearest us heard it, and Curtis did too.

He turned toward the guests with his pleasant expression still in place.

'Her nursing-school story is something she invented to embarrass me,' he said. 'I'm sorry you've been drawn into a private disagreement.'

He wanted them to think I had brought a marriage fight to the hospital.

Bev stepped away from the employees gathered near the side wall.

She carried the folder with the sale papers and letters.

I took the nursing-school letter before Curtis could reach it.

'I have the school's copy,' I said. 'This is the letter he answered.'

Curtis held out his hand.

I kept the paper.

The board members stood close enough to read when I turned the signed reply toward them.

The sentence beneath Curtis's signature said, 'I have chosen my marriage and do not wish the school to contact me again.'

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