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He calls from behind me, but I can hear him quickly following as I head to the fridge.
“I need a damn drink, and I do not care that it’s—” I look at the clock on the microwave “—eleven thirty-two in the morning.”
Luke just laughs, doing nothing to stop me from grabbing the last beer in the fridge. I’m a bit surprised by that. I thought he had a bunch, but I’m too worked up to care.
“Okay.” I crack it open and take a swig. “I’ll let you drive me. God, this is ridiculous.”
Coming up around me and swooping me into another hold, Luke lays his forehead against the top of my skull.
“If keeping you safe is ridiculous, I’m glad I have a reputation around this town for being the wild one of us Shaws.”
“The wild one?” I raise my brows. “Sure, now you tell me.”
He laughs again. Apparently, I have an escort to take me to work now. Lucky me.
* * *
Two weeks later…
I’m still not used to getting dropped off at work.
Luke has been nothing but kind and compassionate and gives me as much independence as he can in every other situation, but I am so over this.
“Dr. Stewart.” My attending, Dr. Carter, comes up to me where I’m sitting in the lunch room. “Are you ready for today’s procedure?”
As I finish up a note in a folder, I set the pen down and face her with a confident nod.
“Of course. I’ve been looking forward to seeing this type of valve replacement up close.”
Dr. Carter lifts a brow at me, smiling gently. “Your niece, right? Doesn’t she need a similar operation?”
Nodding while doing my absolute best to not let concerns for her flood my nerves, I plaster on a professional grin.
“Yes. She’s having the procedure soon, actually. This will give me an idea of what she’s going through.”
Linda nods, but she narrows her eyes, folding her arms across her chest. “Sure, sure. Just remember, every patient is different, especially your young niece and this older gentleman who’s lived a hard life. His prognosis is very different from hers.”
Concern bleeds through my veins, and I nod—slowly and very hesitantly.
I know that our patient, Mr. Jenkins, doesn’t have a good outlook regardless of our success today.
His heart complications are serious and have been left untreated, or at least not treated properly, for a while.
“I understand, Dr. Carter. We’re not superheroes. We just do our best.”
It’s a familiar line we repeat a lot to each other and the other doctors.
And what’s more, it’s essential.
You can’t get up in your head about a case and how it turns out. If you let yourself fall apart after one unfortunate outcome, you won’t be able to help anyone else.
“That’s right. Okay.” Linda claps her hands together. “Finish up your break, and I’ll see you down there in a few.”
“Sure thing, boss.” I smile at her, and Dr. Carter leaves me to finish up my breakfast.
Similar to every other day, it’s a banana and a bit of toast with peanut butter. My appetite has been off lately, and I just pray it settles okay this time around.
Either I’m ravenous, or I can’t even look at food. Ugh, I’m probably getting my period.
