Page 63 of Love Overdose: St. Louis

“Less than fifteen minutes ago. The nurse called the rapid response team and contacted me.”

“Is he in CT?”

“They’re taking him now.”

I stepped into the hallway. “Alert the OR and anesthesia. Call his wife and get her back to the hospital.”

Dr. Patel fell into step beside me. “Do you think he’s bleeding again?”

“I’ll know when I see the scan.”

My phone remained in my hand.

The time read 5:47.

I could still make dinner if the imaging showed nothing surgical. A medication adjustment and continued monitoring could stabilize him without requiring me to remain. But the symptoms told me otherwise. The elevator doors opened. Dr. Patel and I stepped inside. I looked at Frankie’s last message before slipping the phone into my pocket. The reservation was for seven, but I already knew I wouldn’t be there.

Blood covered the right side of Mr. Dawson’s brain, compressing tissue beneath the bone flap we had replaced days earlier. The scan illuminated the conference-room screen while the intensive care team waited for my decision.

“We’re going back in,” I said. “Now.”

The room moved. Calls were made. Orders were entered. Anesthesia prepared for another operation while nurses obtained consent from Mr. Dawson’s wife. I stepped into the hallway and checked the time.

6:08.

Frankie was expecting me at six thirty. I selected her name and she answered warmly;

“Hey, you.”

Heat moved through her voice, followed by music and the faint sound of drawers opening and closing.

“Hello, beautiful.”

“Where are you?”

“At the hospital.”

The music lowered.

“Is everything okay?”

“One of my postoperative patients had a serious complication. I have to take him back into surgery.”

Silence developed between us. “I won’t make dinner,” I said.

“Oh.”

The single word was quiet, but disappointment was there.

“I’m sorry.”

“No, don’t apologize. You have to take care of your patient.”

“I can be responsible for him and still be sorry that I’m disappointing you.”

She didn’t answer immediately.

“Are you dressed?” I asked.