New Beginnings (11 page)

Although she knew she should go back downstairs to the Birthing Unit, she hurried down the hallway to Radiology. Molly Abrams, a blonde X-ray technician with a pixie cut, who doubled as a receptionist, was behind her desk. The screen saver on her computer slowly scrolled one Caribbean island scene after another. A perfect antidote for the weather outside.

“Hi, Molly. Is Heath around?”

“Honey, we’re both going around and around so fast, we’re about to meet in the middle. There’ve been a bunch of accidents. The ER is filled to overflowing with broken bones and who knows what else.”

Candace’s excitement deflated like a tire penetrated by a sharp nail. “Guess this isn’t a good time.”

“Not really.” Molly picked up a chart from her desk. “I’ll tell him you dropped by next time I see him. Might be a while.”

She darted away, more energy than any young woman needed, leaving Candace staring after her, blinking and wanting to chase Heath down wherever he was. But that wouldn’t do.

Patients always came first. Hers included.

With a sigh, she headed downstairs.

After prepping Mrs. Witten, James joined Dr. Drew in the operating room. They stood side by side at the sink scrubbing for surgery. They both wore surgical caps covering their hair and green gowns over their scrubs.

“Are you going to perform the surgery laparoscopically?” James had assisted the doctor several times when he’d skillfully maneuvered the miniature fiberoptic instruments, the procedure visible on a monitor. A primary benefit of laparoscopic versus traditional surgery was the much shorter recovery period.

“Not this surgery. There are a few specialists at major hospitals who have developed a laparoscopic procedure for liver duct resectioning, but I haven’t been trained. And the truth is, if we don’t get the patient some help soon, she won’t be around long enough to recover from any kind of surgery.”

Wincing at the bleak prediction, James continued scrubbing his hands and forearms. “She still has a low-grade temperature.”

“I know. We’re going to douse her with every antibiotic I can think of and hope for the best.”

Holding their hands up, they backed their way through double doors into the operating room. Mrs. Witten was already on the table; Dr. Moore, the anesthesiologist, was positioned at her head.

“Hello, Trisha,” Dr. Drew said. “How are you feeling?”

“When will I be able to go shopping? I have a lot of presents to buy.”

“Don’t you worry about that.” Dr. Drew glanced at the anesthesiologist, who nodded, acknowledging the patient’s confused state. Dr. Drew waited while the circulating nurse gloved him and adjusted his mask. “I’m sure you’ll get everything done in time.”

James held up his hands and the nurse gloved him as well and tied his mask in place. Then he stepped up to the operating table and the waiting tray of sterilized surgical instruments.

With another nod from Dr. Drew, the anesthesiologist began the drip that would put Trisha Witten under sedation. Mentally, James held his breath hoping she’d awake feeling better and more cognizant.

Assisting with a surgery never failed to amaze James. Even when he was an army medic he’d been fascinated with the precision, the knowledge needed to perform the simplest of surgeries. A complicated one like a duct resection drew on the doctor’s years of experience and often a review of the procedure immediately prior to surgery. Nothing was left to chance.

He lost track of time as Dr. Drew deftly found the blocked ducts, removed sections, and sewed them back together again with a stitch that the finest seamstress would have to admire.

The overhead monitor continued to beep a regular heart rhythm, the bouncing line moving steadily across the screen. Oxygen intake remained within normal limits. Breathing steady.

“All right,” Dr. Drew straightened his back. “That’s the best I can do. I’ll close her up now.” The nurse patted the sweat from his brow.

James carefully counted the clamps as the doctor retrieved them. It wouldn’t help the patient to leave one behind. She didn’t need any more added complications.

“We’ll keep her on heavy antibiotics and pain meds for a few days,” Dr. Drew ordered. “Let’s hope she’ll be stabilized until we can get her a new liver.”

James thought Mrs. Witten’s future was in God’s hands now. He’d pray for her recovery and the much-needed liver.

With the hospital short of staff, and an uptick of vehicle accidents plus one complicated birth, Candace and Heath were both late leaving the hospital.

The snow was still falling, or rather the snow was blowing sideways, piling up in frozen drifts that hadn’t been plowed in hours.

Tiny frozen pellets stung Candace’s face. She kept her head down and clung to Heath’s arm. She had to tell him about the baby. She’d nearly burst out the exciting announcement several times during the day and had had trouble waiting to be alone with him to break the news. No question, he should be the first person she told.

“I don’t know if I can get the car out of the parking lot, much less all the way home.” Heath raised his voice to be heard over the wind.

“Maybe we shouldn’t try. We might never get back in the morning, assuming we make it home tonight.” She had to tell the children about the baby too. And her mother. But maybe not tonight. She and Heath could relish the news for a few days before sharing it with others.

Heath helped her into her snow-covered four-wheel-drive compact SUV. “I think you’d rest better at home. Let’s see how this goes.”

Climbing in behind the wheel, he turned the key. Nothing happened.

Candace folded her arms across her chest. She shivered. If Heath could get the car started, the heater would take care of the cold.

He tried the starter again. Not even a click.

Leaning his head back, he blew out a cloud of chilled breath. “I knew I should’ve checked that battery. Of all the dumb things—”

“It’s all right, honey. You’re not dumb, and we’re going to have a baby.” The words she’d been saying to herself all day flew out of her mouth before she could stop them. What a way to break the news—

His head snapped around; his vivid blue eyes widened. “What did you say?”

She licked her chapped lips. “I said, we’re going to have a baby.”

His mouth opened and closed several times. He swallowed hard, making his Adam’s apple bounce beneath his turtleneck sweater. “Now?”

“Not this instant.” She grinned. “I’m guessing next July.”

“Oh my. You’re sure? I mean, it couldn’t be a mistake or anything, right?”

“No mistake. I took a pregnancy test this morning.”

“This morning?”

“Yes, honey. This morning. You’re going to be a daddy.”

“Oh, wow! I mean—” He grabbed her by the shoulders, kissing her soundly. “You’re all right, aren’t you? I mean, you’re glad and all, right?”

She palmed his cheek with her gloved hand. “I’m over the moon.”

“Yeah, that’s good. That’s great.” He looked around the parking lot. Cars were piled high with snow and few people were in sight. “We’ve gotta tell somebody.”

“There’s no rush.”

“Yeah, there is. I’m going to be a daddy!”

He shoved open the car door and stepped out into the pelting snow. Raising his hands above his head like he’d just scored a touchdown, he shouted at the top of his lungs. “Hey, everybody! We’re going to have a baby!”

Candace burst into laughter. “Stop that, Heath! People will think you’re crazy.” Snow covered his cap and the shoulders of his heavy down jacket.

He ducked down to look at her. “I am crazy, little chickadee. Crazy in love with you!”

A
NABELLE DIDN’T GET HOME TUESDAY NIGHT.

Cam offered to come pick her up in his truck. They lived only two miles from the hospital, a dangerous two miles in this weather. But there was no one to replace Anabelle on the floor. Taking turns, she and Elena rotated in three-hour shifts covering CCU and ICU, sleeping when they could in an unoccupied room.

“Working a twenty-four-hour shift used to be easier when I was younger,” Anabelle mumbled as she climbed out of bed and stretched. Her back ached. So did her shoulders from lifting and moving patients. She needed a shot of caffeine like an addict needed his drug of choice.

With a perfunctory effort to smooth her hair into place and brush out the wrinkles in the hospital scrubs she’d slept in, she stepped out into the hallway. The patient meal cart came rumbling down the hallway.

“Sarah?” Anabelle cocked her head. “Do they have you delivering meals now?”

“Hi, Anabelle.” Wearing a set of blue hospital scrubs, her hair tied back in a short ponytail, Sarah stopped the cart. “We’re short staffed in the kitchen just like every other department, so we’re all doubling up. Earlier, they had me preparing pans of lasagna to cook for lunch. Now I’m delivering breakfast.”

“You don’t happen to have a spare cup of coffee, do you?”

“Oh, I’m sorry, I don’t. I could go downstairs—”

“I need to go get some breakfast downstairs myself.” Anabelle waved off Sarah’s offer. “Did you get home at all last night?”

“No, but Rafael called me to see if I was okay or needed a ride or anything.” Her cheeks flushed a bright pink.

Anabelle saw the spark of pleasure in the young woman’s eyes, and thought maybe Sarah’s hope of getting back together with Rafael wasn’t misplaced.

“That was very thoughtful of him to call,” Anabelle said.

Sarah’s blush deepened. “I’d better get on with delivering these breakfasts. I don’t want the eggs to get cold.”

“You go ahead, dear. I’m going to check on Elena and then head downstairs.”

“Tell her hi for me.” Giving the cart a push, Sarah moved on down the hallway.

After checking the charting at the nurses’ station, Anabelle found Elena in ICU. She had one patient—a postsurgical middle-aged woman. She’d noticed a man and a younger woman in the waiting area, probably the patient’s husband and grown daughter. They’d be restricted to ten-minute visits every hour or so.

“How are you doing?” Anabelle asked Elena.

For a moment, Elena glanced away from the monitor. “I got a few hours of sleep, so I’m okay.”

Anabelle wished she could say the same. Her eyes still burned with fatigue. “Do you want to take a break for breakfast now? I can go later.”

“Sarah brought me a muffin and coffee a bit ago, so I’m fine. You go ahead.”

“I just saw her. Did you know Rafael called her to see if she was okay or needed a ride?”

Elena’s brows rose, and she smiled. “Really? She didn’t mention that to me.”

“Maybe she was embarrassed to say anything in case he hadn’t called you.”

“She doesn’t need to feel embarrassed with me. If those two young people could finally get together, I’d be cheering on the sidelines almost as loudly as Izzy would. And lately, I’ve been seeing some signs that they’re getting along exceptionally well.”

Chuckling, Anabelle said, “I’ll do a walkthrough of our cardiac patients. From the notes on the chart, it looks like they made it through the night comfortably.”

“Thank goodness. We’re so short of doctors and nurses, I think Eddie Blaine will have to respond if we have a code blue.”

Grinning, Anabelle wasn’t so sure Eddie, a beloved hospital custodian, was the right person to rely on to resuscitate a case of cardiac arrest. However, she was sure the dear man would do his very best.

Telling Elena she’d be back to relieve her soon, Anabelle made her rounds, checking on her patients, and then went downstairs to the cafeteria. A big bowl of hot oatmeal with raisins and brown sugar seemed perfect for such a wintry morning.

After James ate breakfast in the cafeteria, he stepped out into the lobby to call home. Like many staff members, he’d spent the night at the hospital. From the look of the snow still falling outside, he could well be spending a second night in an empty patient room.

Pulling his cell phone from his pocket, he punched in his home number.

“Hi, Gideon,” he said when his son answered.

“Oh…” The boy hesitated. “Hi, Dad.”

“You were expecting someone else to call?”

“Naw, not really.” A long exhale blew across the phone connection like the cold blizzard winds had sneaked inside the instruments. “What did you want?”

“Just checking on how things are going at home.” James could already tell Gideon’s ex-girlfriend had yet to call him. Chances were she wouldn’t anytime soon. He hated that his son was so upset by their breakup.

“We’re okay. Nelson and I shoveled a bunch of driveways yesterday but only right here in our neighborhood. Mom didn’t want us driving over to our old place.”

“Good for your mother. Road conditions have been treacherous. It’s better if you stay close to home for now.”

“Yeah, I guess. But it’s boring around here. You wanna talk to Mom?”

“Sure, put her on.” James waited until he heard his wife’s voice. “Hi, honey, is everything all right at home?”

“We’re fine, James. The furnace is running nearly full-time and we have a good fire going in the fireplace, so we’re nice and warm. The boys cleared our sidewalk and driveway yesterday, and it looks like they’ll have to do it again today. How about you?” Her voice sounded strong, which relieved James.

Phone to his ear, he leaned against a wall near the closed gift shop. Volunteers and nonessential employees had been told not to try to get into the hospital until the weather cleared. “I miss you all and worry about you.”

“No need to worry. We have plenty of food in the house, enough to last us a month.”

“Even with two teenagers scarfing down three or four times a day?” he teased.

Fern lowered her voice. “Actually, Gideon isn’t eating much these days. He’s so down about Jenni, he’s lost his appetite.”

“Poor kid. He’ll work his way out of it. I hope.”

Suddenly the lights went out in the lobby. James looked around, waiting for them to kick back on.

“James, we just lost power.”

He grimaced. The whole town must be affected. “So did the hospital. The backup system ought to come on in a minute.”

As he spoke, he saw Eddie Blaine hurrying across the lobby, toolbox in hand. A terrific maintenance man, he could fix just about anything except computers. He ducked into the stairwell.