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“Dr. Wallace,” Amber is in the doorway, sees my father in the chair, and backtracks. “I’m sorry. When you’re available, I just wanted to go over Mrs. Jennings’s results.”
“No need. I was just leaving.” My dad stands. “What do you say? I’ll cover for you so you can head over to the stadium?”
I shake my head. “Thanks, but I blew that chance.”
“Oh, I think you could murder that boy’s dog and he’d still want you.” He leans in close, lowering his voice. “If you love him, go.”
I squeeze his hand. “Thanks, Dad.”
“Just let me know.” He walks out of my office, and I step out to join Amber on the walk down the hallway to Mrs. Jennings’s room.
“Everything looks good. There is a spot on her lungs that they want to keep an eye on, but other than that, it’s just pneumonia.” Amber smiles.
“Oh, that’s good, but let’s admit her overnight. Get some antibiotics in her and make sure her oxygen levels go up.”
“I’ll find her a bed.”
“Do you mind if I tell the family?”
“Not at all. I’m a Buffalo fan.” She heads over to the phones and computer while I knock on Mrs. Jennings’s door.
I open it slightly and peek my head in. “Hi everyone.”
“Oh, come in,” one of the sons says.
Mrs. Jennings is sleeping, and they have the television on mute now. I glance to see it’s already in the fourth quarter and only two minutes left on the block.
“Is it really tied?” I ask.
They all stare and nod. Oh, come on, Cooper.
“Well, I have good news, it’s just pneumonia. There is a spot on her lungs that they don’t think is anything but would like to keep an eye on it, so she’ll have to go for another scan in a couple of months, but follow up with your primary care provider for that. We’re going to admit her overnight to get the antibiotics in her system and make sure she’s off the oxygen before leaving.”
They all hug one another, clearly relieved.
“Thank goodness,” Mr. Jennings says. He comes to me and wraps me in a hug. “Thank you. I was scared for a moment when she’d become disoriented.”
“That was from the lack of oxygen.”
“I can’t thank you enough.” A tear drops down his cheek.
“Oh, Dad,” the kids say in unison, sounding mortified.
He stares down at his wife with so much love that my throat squeezes shut. Not because I’ve never been looked at like that, but because I have, and I threw it away because I was scared.
Oh my god. What have I done?
Mr. Jennings smiles over at me. “It’s never too late.”
I shake my head. This man can really read people. “For us it is.”
“I don’t believe it. Go get him.” He nudges me with his elbow.
“I…”
I don’t really have an excuse. I’m the reason we couldn’t make this work. My own fear stopped me from giving him all of me. The real question is, can I give him all of me?
“You have no excuse. If you love him, go to him, and when there are problems, love him harder. If you both truly love one another, you’ll figure it out. I promise.”
