Chapter 2
R ae Alden walked the Carteret County Hospital corridor in a daze.
Everything she saw felt alien. She wanted to say the faint construction odors drifting from the unfinished wing were what left her feeling nauseous, but her new office held remnants of the same smells and she was fine with that.
Today, here, was different. And it all had to do with what had just taken place.
Abruptly, her legs refused to carry her. Rae settled into a hardwood bench across from the nurses’ station. The woman on duty glanced up and offered a vague smile, then went back to her work. There was nothing new, or wrong, in somebody needing a moment to recover.
The doctor who had called her was a new one, at least to Rae.
She knew him vaguely, mostly by reputation.
Dr. Kendrick Asher had grown up in Morehead, then left, like so many others with potential.
He had graduated from UNC, undergrad and medical school, and wound up staying in Chapel Hill.
Then last year he had accepted a position as resident internist at Carteret.
Kendrick Asher was a couple of years older than Rae.
She vaguely recalled an intelligent and handsome teen whose dark complexion and sharp features had suggested a trace of Indian blood.
The only significant difference between her memories and the man she had met with today were strands of silver in his hair and his gold-rimmed spectacles.
Dr. Asher had greeted her with an utter absence of warmth and dived straight in.
“Our records show you are attorney of record for Emma Alden.”
Rae opted to match his tone and directness both. “Why am I having this conversation with you?”
“I have been asked to supervise—”
“Where is Doc Arnold?”
“Ill.”
“Then I’ll wait.”
“You can—your aunt may not be able to.”
“I don’t believe you.”
He was at least capable of showing irritation. “Evidently you share your aunt’s attitude towards the medical profession.”
Suddenly his irritation had both a name and a reason. “Emma gave you a piece of her mind,” Rae said, not bothering to hide her smile. “I bet that stung. And from what I’m observing, you probably deserved it.”
He leaned back. “Rae Alden. I remember a very intense young lady who was out to conquer the world.”
“And look where it got me. I remember you, too.”
He might have smiled. A trace. Nothing more, and not for long. “Shall we start over?”
“I suppose we can try.”
“Doc Arnold brought me along for his most recent visit. I’ve been back once since.” Another tight smile. “A visit I won’t soon forget.”
“Is that normal, a hospital kind of doctor making house calls?”
“If I’m going to fit myself back into this community, some rules that work fine in other places need to be remolded to suit this region.” He glanced at the computer screen. “I suggested to your aunt that she might consider hospice care.”
The entire room did a sudden swoop and dive. “I’m sorry, what are you saying?”
“Her condition is deteriorating rapidly. There will soon be a point in time when the power of such decisions will be taken from her.”
Rae gripped the sides of her chair, struggling to stop the room from spinning. “She’s had spells for years. As long as I can remember.”
“This time is different. Do you want me to go into detail?”
“No.” The doctor’s impersonal nature came into focus. It gave her something to grab onto. A way to draw herself back from the brink. “I’ve lived with Emma’s health issues all my adult life.”
“Then you must have known this time was coming. I requested this meeting because that time has arrived.”
The doctor began describing stages she should expect to see, timing them out and suggesting the level of care that each would require.
Rae forced herself to make notes, because nothing really registered.
And all of this was important. Whether she wanted or could handle the prospect did not matter.
Emma’s care and comfort was all that mattered, all that kept her there in the man’s office.
So she could be there for her aunt, when it mattered most.
Rae started back down the hospital corridor, only to become certain she wasn’t ready to face the outside world.
She veered right and followed the signs to the hospital cafeteria.
She spotted her friend Olivia Reames seated with Cameron Tanner.
The three of them had formed a close unit, meeting at least once each week, until Cameron’s wedding the previous winter.
Rae decided sitting with friends and talking about anything except Emma would provide welcome support.
She went through the cafeteria line and selected items she might keep down.
This was going to be a very full day, and lunch was part of her recovery.
As long as she didn’t toss it all back up over her pals.
Olivia pulled out the neighboring chair and demanded, “Girl, who dropped a fly in your soup?”
“Doctor Asher. And to answer your next question, no, I don’t want to talk about it.”
“I’ve heard the new doc possesses the kindly manner of a good suppository.” Olivia grinned across the table. “Isn’t that right, Cameron?”
“It would be completely unprofessional to suggest that particular colleague is a porcupine with a medical degree,” she replied.
This was precisely the conversation she needed, Rae thought. “How is your pregnancy going?”
“Oh, these final weeks are just a basket of warm puppies.” Cameron’s smile was slightly canted. “And if it doesn’t end soon, my husband’s hair is all going to fall out.”
“Well, now.” Olivia’s smile was far more genuine. “Have you talked with Ursula in HR about your hours after the little bundle pops out?”
“She happens to be my new best friend.”
“Good girl.” Olivia toyed with her spoon, her expression almost coquettish. “Okay, I give up. What did you and Brody talk about while I was on the phone?”
Rae straightened, looking from the pregnant clinician to the grinning pal.
Started to ask exactly which Brody they were referring to, and whether it was the same one she was due to meet later that afternoon.
A surprise addition to her crowded calendar.
In the end, though, she wisely spooned her cottage cheese and fruit cocktail and stayed silent.
Cameron glanced at Rae and replied, “I’m not sure relating our conversation would be right and proper.”
“Is he one of your patients?”
Cameron huffed. “Definitely not.”
Olivia settled a hand on Rae’s shoulder. “It may interest you to know that our dear Rae is another lady branded by my brother.”
Cameron’s gaze sharpened. “Is that so?”
Rae shook her head. “I’m sitting here because I’m interested in listening. Not talking.”
“I suppose we can offer the lady a temporary pass,” Olivia said.
“Okay, to answer your question, Brody asked me to help him find his way through personal changes.”
Olivia’s hand retreated to the table. “What kind of changes?”
“He didn’t say.”
“My brother. Asked you. About changing.” A silence, then: “Did he mean it?”
“I’m certain he’s sincere. Now, in this moment.” A definite clinical element entered Cameron’s voice. “But taking the hard long-term steps toward genuine bone-deep change?”
“You have your doubts.”
Cameron nodded. “Is your mother going through with her divorce?”
Rae set down her spoon. She was so grateful for a reason to involve herself in other people’s drama she could have hugged them both. Or wept. “I’m sorry, what?”
Olivia replied, “Mia moved out three weeks ago.”
Cameron asked, “When did your brother learn about this?”
“Day before yesterday. Mom asked me to be there when she made the call. She wanted to be settled into her new apartment so she could invite Brody down for Christmas, just like she does every year. Keep this as calm and natural as possible.”
“Can I ask why?”
“Because Brody likes to take charge of problems. He’s done this all his life. Helping out, even when it’s not wanted.” Olivia had lost her smile. “Mom didn’t want Brody becoming involved. It would wreck whatever shred of relationship he still has with his father.”
Cameron was thoughtful now, every inch the professional. “What is his profession?”
Olivia shook her head. “The only profession Brody’s ever had is sailing. Everything else is gravy.”
“His job, then.”
“Something technical. He doesn’t like to talk about it.
I think he’s embarrassed over how little progress he’s made outside of ocean sailing—which is as close to an addiction as my brother has ever come.
I know he works in Charlotte. I know he’s got some kind of technical job that grants him time to compete and still pays him enough to have a place of his own. ” Olivia shrugged. “That’s it.”
Cameron asked, “How often does he come back for Christmas?”
“Every year he’s not off racing.”
“To answer your question, I think Brody has been brought up short by your mother’s actions.
It has shaken his world to the point where he is questioning other aspects of his life.
In time Brody will recover, and he will resume the only course he’s taken his entire adult life.
His interest in the sort of change that I represent will vanish. Smoke in the wind. Poof and gone.”
Olivia nodded slowly, keeping time with Cameron’s words. “Will you help him?”
“Help is definitely the wrong word here. I will be there for him as long as he’s interested in talking.” She cast a glance in Rae’s direction, then added, “Despite everything.”
“Thank you.” Olivia was somber now. “From the sounds of things, Brody needs you.”
“And I’m there for him.” Cameron glanced at her watch and rose from the table. “Who knows? Our conversations might even last through Christmas.”