Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 66767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Before I can call for Kinsey, Wren is already by my side, juggling an armful of charts as she says, “Mrs. Crabtree is just here for a pregnancy test, so I’ll handle that, and you can hold off on chatting with her until we have the results. Ms. Gibbons is having some spotting and seems pretty stressed out, so I’d suggest seeing her first, then working in Ms. Underwood, and then swinging back to Ms. Fritz, to go over the results of her biopsy last week before finishing up with Crabtree. This isn’t her first baby rodeo so she probably won’t want to chat for long and you can make up time there to get back on schedule.”
I nod. “Sounds good. The biopsy was all clear for Fritz, so that should be a fairly quick visit, as well.”
“That’s what I thought,” Wren agrees. “Assuming Ms. Underwood’s IUD retrieval isn’t complicated, and there aren’t actually any squirrels, you should be back on track by ten a.m.”
I fight the twitch at my lips. “You heard that?”
“The entire office and half the street outside heard it,” Wren says. “Poor woman. I feel for her, but hysteria rarely yields positive results in a medical setting. She’s lucky you were in a good mood this morning.”
“I’m known for my warm, even-keeled temperament,” I say, making Wren snort. Ridiculously pleased to have made her laugh, even a small, snort-laugh, I ask, “Where’s Kinsey? I thought she was going to stay on as head nurse until next week.”
“She is, but she’s not here yet. There’s a powerline down on the road leading out of her subdivision. It’s going to be another half hour or so before the power company can get it cleared. I said I’d hold down the fort until she gets here. I hope that’s okay.”
“It’s better than okay,” I say. “You’re my best head nurse in a crisis, and I’d like to have you in the room with me with Ms. Underwood. I need someone who can help her remain calm if we need to send her to the ER.”
Wren’s brows lift. “You think it could be a puncture?”
“I won’t know until I take a look, but that amount of pain doesn’t bode well.”
She nods. “As soon as she’s finished filling out her forms, I’ll take her temperature and ask about any abnormal bleeding.”
“Thank you.” I stop beside exam room one, squinting at the empty chart holder beside the door. I turn back to ask Wren for the file to find her already holding out the folder I need.
She sets it in my hand. “I’ve already updated the digital files for all this morning’s patients, too, so feel free to transition to the computer at any time. Though I know you like a good, old-fashioned folder.”
“I do,” I agree. “I also really like having you back.”
I already said it in a text last night, but I’m instantly glad I repeated myself. Wren blinks, clearly fighting a smile as her cheeks flush a faint pink. “Thanks, I’m glad to be back.”
She’s glad. I’m glad. Surely all this glad is a good sign.
I have to force the smile from my face as I knock on Ms. Gibbons’ room to announce my presence. I don’t want her to think I’m taking her spotting lightly, but I can’t help feeling hopeful.
Wren and I work so well together when it comes to managing patients and coordinating care. Maybe, with a little patience on her part and some hard work on mine, we could learn to work well together in a more…personal setting.
Sex obviously isn’t a problem—our chemistry was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced—but there’s a lot more to a good relationship than compatibility in the bedroom. Lane and I never had problems when we were in bed together, either, but she still left me for another man.
The same one she’s marrying in a few weeks.
Thinking about my ex-wife’s wedding, the one I RSVP-ed “yes” to in a moment of weakness, is enough to banish the last of my grin.
“Tell me about the spotting,” I say, as I step into the room, knowing Ms. Gibbons will want to dispense with the pleasantries and get down to business. This is her second baby, but her first time spotting, and I’m sure she’s anxious.
After a brief exam, I’m able to assure her that her baby is fine, explain that it was probably implantation bleeding she experienced, and encourage her to keep an eye on things and reach out if she experiences any further spotting in the future.
Then, I’m on my way to exam room six, and the strange noises emanating from within…
At first, it sounds like someone’s leading a yoga class. The deep, resonate moaning reminds me of the way one of the older instructors at the gym starts each practice, with long, droning chants of “Om,” that make my jawbone tickle when I try to emulate them.