“Ah. Would you like us to keep the two darlings all night?”
“I’ll probably be late in any case. So that’d be best for them.”
“I’ll be here tomorrow morning when you pick them up.”
Anabelle sighed when she disconnected. Her mother was a doll. She was a pediatrician and selfless, especially where Anabelle and the girls were concerned.
Her phone buzzed again. This time, she was called in for an immediate consult. Pushing back the notion of Mr. Ricardi’s effect on her, she hurried to the elevator.
* * *
Oliver’s brothers arrived in twenty minutes. He stood. Matt, the oldest, crossed to him and hugged him.
The second in order, Adam, asked, “How is she?”
“Mom’s still alive. The doctor said she’ll need to have either stents put in, or open-heart surgery. She’s coming out to talk to all us after she gets the results of the MRI.”
Tommy, the next oldest and the sensitive one, asked, “Are you okay buddy? You look a little pale.”
“I’m not all right. I’m worried.” The latter came out hoarse.
Pete checked his watch. “How long?”
“How long what?”
“Will she keep us waiting?”
Oliver frowned. “She’s not keeping us waiting. They have to run the MRI and then get the results. It’s going to be a while.”
Matt said, “Okay, let’s settle in.”
And so they waited. Three of them were on the phones. Matt walked around the waiting area for a while then joined them.After an excruciating hour, Dr. Baxter came out. Petey, a ladies’ man, said under his breath, “Man, is she a hottie.”
Oliver snapped, “Don’t be a jerk.”
The brothers stood when she reached them. “Hello to all of you. I’m Dr. Baxter, an interventional cardiologist. I have the results of the MRI.” She raised her chin a bit and her silver necklace glinted off the harsh lights of the waiting area. “Let me first say this is good news.”
Adam rolled his eyes. “How can that be?”
“It’s the better alternative. Your mother doesn’t need open-heart surgery. Her arteries are 95% blocked but they can be remedied by placing stents in both of them.”
“Will she be all right after that?” Matt asked.
“She will be. Most patients feel better than they’ve felt for a long time.”
Oliver blew out a heavy breath. “Oh, wow. When will you do the procedure?”
“Wait a sec.” Adam again. “What’s an interventional cardiologist?”
“I use catheter-based techniques to diagnose and treat heart and vascular conditions without major surgery. In other words, I’ll inflate the artery with a balloon and use it to guide me in inserting a stent.” She explained what a stent was.
Pete frowned. “Shouldn’t she have a real cardiologist?”
The doc gave him a searing look. “Iama real cardiologist. I went to med school, had residency in my field and did a fellowship at Johns Hopkins. I’ve done hundreds of these in the years since.”
Petey didn’t apologize.
Oliver moved closer to her. “I’m sorry for my brother’s insulting innuendo.”
