Suzanna sipped the last of the coffee and checked the
kitchen to make sure she’d missed nothing. She pulled on her jacket and grasped
her shoulder bag and left. On her way to the SUV, she left the keys with the
super.
A half hour later, after a frustrating crawl through heavy
traffic, she reached the nursing home. She spotted the ambulance and hurried
inside. Jon lay on the stretcher near the nurse’ station. His suitcase sat on
the foot of the gurney. Though he didn’t smile, she saw a hint of eagerness
along with worry in his green eyes.
“All set?” she asked.
He nodded. “I wouldn’t let them take me until you arrived.
You were late.”
“Traffic was horrible.” She ruffled his dark hair. The
next time we see each other will be at Eastlake Rehabilitation
Center
“I won’t let anyone touch me until you’re there.”
She tapped his nose with her finger. “You’ll be fine. I
should arrive first but if not, just do what Cate tells you.” She turned away.
His dependency was normal but she hoped the degree would soon lessen.
“All right.”
She walked to the SUV and loaded the transport chair and
the walker into the back. Moments later, she followed the ambulance from the
parking lot.
She understood his reluctance to ride in any vehicle.
Following the accident, he’d been taken to the nearest hospital and had been
seen by a parade of doctors and had emergency surgery for internal bleeding all
before she’d been located and had arrived. The moment his condition had
stabilized, she’d arranged for his transfer to City where she worked. There,
she’d chosen the doctors to oversee his care.
Once Suzanna left the city, she hit the gas, hoping to be
at the Rehab Center
She sucked in a breath. Recently, there’d been so many
changes in his life. The responsibility for his younger siblings no longer tied
him t the needs of others. She hoped this would be the last move until he came
home and he could become a boy again.
Two months ago, she’d been ready to leave City Hospital
Her plans to relocate had been put on hold. How fortunate
she’d been that her friends had stepped in to save the place for her. She had
handled the funerals, and the legal problems. And that had been difficult.
For several days after the accident, she had feared Jon
wouldn’t survive. Both legs fractured, one arm, broken ribs, internal injuries
and a few burns. He had lived. She had called Eric Bradshaw to give up her
dream job. She had to remain close to her brother until he healed. Then Cate had
called and suggested Jon be transferred to the facility she ran. Suzanna had
been grateful for the friendship formed in college with the Grantley Gang.
Though the closeness had faded over the years, the bonds remained.
The miles sped by. The scenery had changed from city to
suburbs to country. She noted the mileage on the speedometer and saw ten miles
would have her in Eastlake
At the outskirts of town, she slowed to match the speed
limit. She neared the place that had been her home for four years. Though she’d
returned to the city to work, she had fallen in love with Eastlake Grantley College
Of the seven members of the Gang, only she and Megan
Carter were single. She’d missed all the weddings and while sorry, she was also
relieved. She believed her unmarried state would last forever. She’d only met
one man she’d considered marrying. Caleb Winstone and he’d offered her a much
lesser position.
The past is past.
Forget him.
As she drove through town, she saw places she remembered
as well as some new shops. The Hot Doggery where she’d worked and devoured
chili dogs made her want to stop. As she passed Frank’s Place, she remembered
cinnamon rolls and juicy burgers.
She drove up the hill and saw the red brick building of
the hospital with the town field beyond. She pulled into the visitor’s lot and
crossed to the Rehab
Center
“Wow, am I really alone?”
Cate nodded. “Most of our room are private, except for the
pediatric rooms.” Cate wrapped a blood pressure cuff around his arm. “Since the
children here at present are under ten, I thought this would be better.”
“Thanks.”
Suzanna looked around the room. Jon’s bed, a dresser,
along with two easy chairs furnished the room. A television hung on the wall
across from the bed. A window let in light. What a nice set-up, she thought.
Cate finished the exam and turned to Suzanna. “Rick will
be in later to do an exam and decide on a treatment plan. The Physical and
Occupational Therapists will be in to do the assessments. He’ll see the dietitian
and the social therapist. Cate squeezed Jon’s hand. “We’ll have you out of here
by Christmas.”
“Walking?” he asked.
“You’ll still need the wheelchair and steps may come
later.”
Suzanna pulled a disc from her briefcase. “Here are all
his records. What now?”
“Why don’t you head over and check in. I told Eric
Bradshaw you were arriving today. Have everything you need?”
Suzanna patted the cordovan briefcase. “When we did the
online interview, he gave me a list. Then he emailed it to me.”
Cate laughed. “He loves lists and gadgets. You must call
him Eric. Remember, he’s Jenessa’s husband.”
“I will.” She turned to her brother. “I’ll be back as soon
as I finish at the hospital.”
"Don’t hurry.” He yawned. “I need a nap. I didn’t
sleep much last night. I’m glad we’re here. I like this place.”
“Good.” Suzanna kissed his forehead.
Forty-five minutes alter, she returned. All was set for
her to begin on Monday. She entered Jon’s room to find Cate and two strangers
at the bedside.
Cate turned. “Suzanna, Mike is Physical Therapy and Grace
is Occupational Therapist. They’re part of Jon’s team.”
Suzanna noticed tears in her brother’s eyes. “Are you all
right?”
“He’s a brave young man,” Grace said.
Mike shook Jon’s hand. “I know we worked you hard but you
did very well. I wish one of the other PTs had a lifeguard certificate Working
in the pool would benefit you.” He turned to Cate. “We need one.”
“I’ve advertised far and wide. You could always go for
yours. There’s a program at Eastlake
Community Center
Suzanna smiled. “That’s good news.” She had feared Jon
might become dependant on pain medication. She looked into the cup and aw a
capsule and two familiar pulls. She patted Jon’s arm. “Take them and get some
sleep. I’ll head to the house and unload the SUV. See you later.” She walked
from the room with Cate.
Cate paused. “Dr. Joe or his new partner will be in to
check on your brother. One of them will be here around three.”
“I’ll be here.”
“The gang will arrive at your house around five. We’re
bringing dinner from the Hot Doggery. Then we’ll give you a hand settling in.
Don’t do any unpacking until we arrive.”
“Sounds good.” Suzanna hurried to her car. She would be
here when Dr. Joe arrived. She remembered him from her Grantley days. He’d been
the newest addition to the staff and had enjoyed teaching the student nurses,
She glanced at her watch. She had time to waste until Dr.
Joe arrived. At four thirty, she had to be at the house to meet the friends
with a U-Haul. Instead of going home, she drove to the mall and grabbed a
chef’s salad at one of the restaurants. Then she found the computer store and
bought a laptop for Jon. The tech loaded programs including a word processing
program and some games.
She finished at two thirty and drove to Rehab using her
key card for the staff lot. She hurried to the entrance, crossed the foyer and
used the stairs. When she reached her brother’s room, he was awake. “You okay?”
“Slept for an hour. Food’s pretty good. Better than at the
other place. Do hope this new doctor doesn’t want me to perform.
“You can always refuse.” She heard a rap on the door.
“Come in. She turned and nearly slid from the chair. He can’t be here. How had this happened? Why hadn’t she heard?
“What are you doing here?” A thread of anger made her voice shrill.
A smile froze on his face. “I’m checking on my new patient.
Do you have a problem with that?”
She shook her head. Though seeing him and knowing this
would be a daily event, she couldn’t question his medical skills. “I was
expecting Dr. Joe.”
“I’m his new partner. Do you have Jon’s records?”
“I gave Cate a disc. They should be in his record here.”
He opened a tablet and spent a few minutes scanning the
screen. “They’re here. After my assessment, I’ll read them.”
Suzanna ruffled Jon’s dark curls. “Dr. Winstone is a good
doctor. I worked with him at City. Listen to him.”
A puzzled expression appeared on Jon’s face. He looked
from her to Caleb. “Okay.”
“I’ll be back with your second dinner.” She brushed past
Caleb. Her legs felt rubbery and tears blurred her vision. Now she knew where
he’d gone. Her new position had become a challenge she wasn’t sure she could
master.
MY PLACES
http://wwweclecticwriter.blogspot.com
BUY MARK
http://bookswelove.net/authors/walters-janet-lane-romance-fantasy-suspense-medical/
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