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Someone in the ward said something about his language and Tully disappeared behind the curtain, leaving Doreen standing there. She was holding a bag in her hand, wringing the handle.
I’d never seen her look so awkward.
“How ya holdin’ up?” she asked.
“Had better days,” I replied. “But I’m getting better.”
She was still fidgeting with the bag. “Tully said it was a close call.”
“Yeah. Lucky he was there.”
She nodded. “So you gonna quit or something?”
“What? Quit the office? No.” I shook my head. “You can’t get rid of me that easily.”
She finally smiled. “Well, good. Glad to hear that. They tell me the install’s about to start. Some optic cable guys came by to measure something.”
Finally.
“Oh, that is good news.”
“But don’t you worry about none of that. I’ll keep ’em on their toes for ya, make sure none of them are slackin’ off.”
I smiled. “Good. Thank you.”
She nodded, looking around awkwardly again. “Couldn’t believe it when I heard. I was gonna come in yesterday, but Tully said today might be better.”
“Thank you for coming in,” I said. “It’s a lovely surprise.”
She nodded to the balloons. “Lemme guess. Tully gotcha those?”
“Ah, no. His brother.”
She nodded as if that made total sense. “Kinda funny.”
I smiled at her. “It is.”
She winced. “You know I’m not a fan of hospitals.”
“I got that impression, yes.” It was only then I noticed her shirt. It did indeed have a dinosaur on it. It was pink, white, and orange—the lesbian pride colours—with long eyelashes, and underneath it was the writinglickalotapus.
I expected nothing less.
“Love your shirt.”
She smiled, for real this time. “Thanks. It’s new.” Then she only just seemed to remember that she was holding something. “Oh, I got this for you. I got it when I ordered mine. Was gonna save it for Christmas or a birthday or somethin’, but it didn’t feel right comin’ to see ya and not bring something.”
She handed it over. Inside the bag was a shirt, which I could see had the wordsI love Dickwritten on it and a picture of Dick Van Dyke’s face.
I laughed and my ribs twinged. “I love it, thank you.”
“No worries.” Then she rocked back and forth on her heels, uncomfortable again. “So, uh, did it hurt?”
I didn’t mind her questions. She was, after all, a meteorologist. Her curiosity was natural. “I don’t remember it. The pain afterwards, yes. When I came to, I guess, for the want of a better word. There was pain. Everywhere.”
“Was it a direct hit?”
I shook my head. “Side splash. Got me in the ribs.” I lifted my left arm, and she looked and winced.
