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31
Katie sprinted after him,heart pounding.What would the doctor say about Momma?
Chase had stopped in front of a distinguished-looking, silver-haired man dressed in scrubs and a white coat.
As she approached him, she could read his name tag: Sean Fallon, MD.
“Hi, I’m Dr.Fallon.You are Mrs.Simmons’s daughter?”
She nodded.“Yes, one of her two daughters.I’m Katie.Pleased to meet you, doctor.”
“Your mother is being prepped for surgery.”
Katie looked from Chase to the doctor, frowning.“What’s wrong?”
“She has a fractured hip.She’s going to need a hip repair to fix it.”
Katie sucked in her breath, covering her mouth with her palm.“Oh no.”
“We’ll need to put the pieces back together.The fracture is along the upper femur.We’ll put a rod in the bone shaft and use pins or screws to attach it to the hip and to hold them together in place while it heals.”
She must have made a sour face.The doctor replied sympathetically, “The good news is your mother won’t be needing a hip replacement.”
“This—this doesn’t sound as bad.”A brief smile upturned her lips.“Doctor, how long will the surgery take?”
“Two to four hours.She’ll be sore and on pain meds after.”
“Will she be staying in the hospital for a while?”
“She’ll have to stay for two or three days, and we’ll be monitoring her closely.But she’s going to need help at home.”He gave her a stern nod and turned to go.
“Thank you, Dr.Fallon.”
Chase thoughthe could put her out of his mind, once and for all.
Katie was standing so close, his heart raced.He hadn’t expected to see her today.She was taking deep breaths, the rise and fall of her chest gradually slowing down as her fists unclenched.His heart softened to see her like this.His thoughts jumped wildly.If only he could help her.If only she’d let him.
She had come back into his life a grown woman who’d carved out a place for herself, doing it the way she’d dreamed of.She was strong, determined, and capable.But seeing her like this, so vulnerable and worried, he wanted nothing more than to protect her.To let her know he would not abandon her, even though he’d been hurt.
“Would you like to sit?”he said.
Her beautiful hazel eyes met his.
Chase swallowed, wondering if she knew his heart was pounding now.Inside, he was that boy again.Shy, awkward, and naïve.He’d been in love with her and carried the flame for her until she snubbed it out.But he’d dug through the embers and found his broken heart, keeping it buried and yet not extinguished.He had no assurance one day things would change.Would she look at him again the way she used to?
“Sit?”Katie surveyed the waiting room, looking at the empty chairs and those occupied by the people sitting scattered around the room.In the corner, an old man dozed with his mouth open, a drizzle of saliva dangling from his lip and dribbling down to his chin.Off to the side, a couple murmured in each other’s ears and nestled so close, their arms were intertwined.Further down sat a young mother carrying her sleeping baby in a sling.
Chase checked the time.“We have at least a couple of hours.”
“I’d like some fresh air.It’s too depressing in here.”
“Don’t you have to wait for Mary?”
“She’ll be here after her shift ends, but she’s going home first to change and then pick Jim up.She’ll call me when she’s on her way.”
“C’mon.I’ll walk out with you.There’s nothing we can do now while she’s in surgery.”He wanted desperately to have a talk with her.
“You’re leaving?”Katie asked, her voice dropping to a whisper as they walked out into the bright sunshine.
