AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter Four
Rob
It must be a full moon. The ER is crammed to full capacity. It’s even busier than usual for a Friday afternoon. I’ve only been on the clock for four hours, and I’m already exhausted. The bustle of commotion around me leaves me in an adrenaline-induced haze.
On days like today, I’m actually thankful for the activity—keeps my mind off the rehearsal dinner tonight and my best friend’s wedding tomorrow.
But it doesn’t block the ever-present thoughts of Marcy. Shit.
Summer, one of the nurses on duty, rushes up to me with a chart in her hand. “Dr. Thompson, I need your assistance in exam two.”
“What do we have?” I take the chart and flip through it.
“Female. Mid-twenties. Came in complaining of stabbing pain in her abdomen.” She rushes on before I can ask any standard questions. “She has bruising.”
I glance up from the chart. “On the abdomen?”
“Yes, but that’s not where it concerns me.” Summer lowers her voice. “She has a black eye and swelling on her left cheek and along the jaw.”
“You asked her what happened?”
“Yes. She says she tripped over the mop bucket in the kitchen and hit the counter when she fell.” Summer doesn’t seem convinced by this story, and neither am I.
“Does she have anyone with her?”
“Her husband.” Summer shifts her weight from one foot to the other. “He refuses to step outside so we can speak to her alone.”
“Shit.” I rake my fingers through my hair. “Okay. I’ll take a look.”
The unknown variables play in my mind as I head for the exam room, Summer following. She takes her place by my side in the curtained area. The woman on the gurney glances up. The left side of her face is swollen and purple, exactly how Summer described. She’s clutching her side, just over the liver. Fuck.
The man beside her hovers, his arms folded across his chest. He doesn’t look the part, but you don’t have to look like a bully to beat the shit out of someone. Flashbacks to the night Marcy left her ex flood back in a rush. The bruises, the cuts, the blood. I shove the memories away and focus on the patient in front of me.
“Hello, I’m Dr. Thompson.” I offer a friendly smile. The man grunts when I sit on the chair beside the bed. I ignore him and focus solely on the patient. “What’s your name?”
“Grace.”
“What’s going on, Grace?”
“I fell. In the kitchen.” The woman’s voice is strong, but her hands tremble. “My side hurts. Feels like something’s broken.”
“Do you mind if I take a look?” I hand the chart to Summer and gesture to Grace’s side.
Her gaze shifts from me to the man beside her. He nods. Fury shoots through me, but I maintain calm. I don’t want to escalate this situation. Confrontation in an emergency room isn’t uncommon, but it’s highly disruptive. I try to avoid it if I can.
She moves her hands and I gently palpate the area. She winces at the pressure and fists her hands in the sheets. Her face pales, and she bites her lip to suppress cries of pain. Poor kid. I inspect the area thoroughly before leaning back to give her space once more.
“There’s definitely something going on here. But before I make a definitive diagnosis, I’d like to get a CAT scan of the area to get a better idea of the possible damage.”
“A CAT scan?” The man huffs. “Is that necessary?”
“I need to be sure there’s nothing broken and her liver isn’t damaged or hemorrhaging. It could just be inflammation, but I need to be sure before settling on a course of action to treat it.” I turn my attention back to Grace, who looks terrified. “Do I have your permission to get a CAT scan?”
She glances at him again. I clench my hands into fists and take a deep breath. I want to kick his ass out of the room, but if I do, he’ll surely throw a fit and lash out. No, I have to play this with finesse.
Reluctantly, the asshole nods.
Grace breathes a sigh of relief. “Yes, please, it hurts terribly.”
