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“You should check out the snack selection in the vending machines they have in there.” He whistles. “This man could live on that alone.”
“A burger is better.” I point toward the corner. “Let’s hop on the subway. I know a good spot to grab food not far from your place.”
“Are you going to walk me home after you buy me dinner?” He bats his eyelashes. “You’re such a gentleman.”
Shaking my head I take off down the sidewalk. “It’s your turn to buy dinner and you’re on your own after that. I need to get home to bed. It’s been a hell of a long night.”
“This feelslike the longest day of the year,” Mrs. Robinson says as she studies my face.
She arrived at the hospital shortly after I did this morning with her four-year-old daughter in tow. I knew who she was before she introduced herself to me. Her son has her nose and shares her eye color.
She gave me a rundown on her family history but not one word of that included the information I requested. I wanted to know if anyone on her side or her husband’s suffered from the same cardiac issue that her son is facing.
That lead to an unwanted confession about her not knowing who her son’s father is, along with a tear-filled retelling of the conversation she had with her husband about that. Apparently, Daxton is still in the dark regarding his paternity.
It seems she’s not the only Robinson family member carrying a secret. Daxton knew about his heart condition before he left Indiana months ago after landing a job at a recruiting firm in Manhattan. He was bound and determined to accept the position. He boarded a plane with the medications he needed to temporarily manage his condition, but he was aware that the pills he takes every morning weren’t a long-term solution.
His cardiologist in Indianapolis filled me in on all of that when I reached out to him first thing today. He asked me to keep him updated on Daxton’s progress, and I’ll honor that because I heard the concern in his voice.
I heard it in Daxton’s mom’s voice too when I asked her for a moment alone.
Her daughter, Saylor, is currently with one of our nursing staff in a private family gathering room while I explain to Mrs. Robinson the procedure her son is facing.
“The treatment for Daxton’s condition requires an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. The doctor on staff who specializes in cardiac electrophysiology will handle that,” I tell her.
“Cardioverter defibrillator?” Her voice shakes. “My husband is in Houston on business. I need to explain all of this to him. Should I tell him to come to New York, too?”
There’s always a chance that something can go wrong during a procedure like the one Daxton will undergo, but I can’t make that determination for her, so I offer what I can.
“I can give him a call and explain the situation directly to him.”
“You’d do that?” Her brows pinch together. “You would do that for us?”
“It’s my job to help,” I tell her.
“Thank you.” Her hand jumps to my forearm. “You’re very kind.”
It’s not the first time I’ve heard that but I understood the assignment when I was taught in medical school that a good bedside manner is at the core of success in my chosen field.
The woman in front of me is scared shitless that her son isn’t going to see his twenty-fourth birthday. It’s my job to do what I can to not only ensure that happens, but keep her calm throughout the process.
Julissa, a nurse who works in this unit, approaches us. “Dr. Morgan I’m sorry to interrupt but there are two women waiting to speak to you and Mrs. Robinson. One is named Penny I believe, and the other is…”
“Eloise?” Her name leaps from my lips before I realize it’s left my tongue.
“Yes.” She nods with a slight smile. “That’s right. They’re friends of your patient and would like a moment if you can spare it.”
Eloise somehow got roped into returning here, so the least I can do is assure her and Penny that Daxton is receiving the best care possible. I’ll keep that quick and to the point.
“We’ll be right out, Julissa.”
She starts toward the exit of the coronary care unit as I shift my focus back to Mrs. Robinson. “Penny is the young woman I mentioned earlier. She was with your son when he collapsed.”
She tugs on the gold pendant around her neck that has the word ‘Mom’ etched into it. “And the other woman? Eloise, you said? Is she a friend of Dax’s too?”
I have no idea how the hell to answer that, so I don’t. “I’ll let Penny explain it all to you. Why don’t we go speak to them now and then I’ll make that call to your husband?”
“Yes.” She nods. “That works. Let’s do that.”
