Chapter 16 #2
“Apparently,” I reply, replacing the lid and setting it aside.
“Eat it.”
“I will,” I tell her, grabbing my next chart. “Let me get Mr. Fredrickson into his room and then I’ll share.”
She grins widely and turns her attention to Dr. Barnland, who is stepping out of Dr. Houston’s office. “We’ve got a physical for employment in Room 1, and there’s a sixteen-year-old with an abdominal rash in Room 2.”
The older woman with gray hair and a friendly smile nods. “Sounds good, thank you.”
“I’ll go get Mr. Fredrickson,” I state, following behind Dr. Barnland and slipping past as she knocks on the door for Room 1.
I say his name into the open waiting room, but already pick out who he is, considering there’s only one older man in the room at this moment. “Mr. Fredrickson?”
“That’s me,” the gentleman says, standing up and walking to where I stand.
“How are you today, Mr. Fredrickson?”
“Fine as frog hair,” he replies with a cheesy grin, making me smile.
“Well, that’s good. We’ll stop at the scale and then head into exam Room 3.”
“One hundred seventy-two.”
I look at the older gentleman curiously. “What’s that?”
“My weight. One hundred seventy-two,” he states with a decisive nod. “And my blood pressure is one twenty over seventy.”
“Sounds like you keep good track,” I state, watching as he steps onto the scale.
One seventy-two.
I note that on his chart and point to the open door in the hallway. “Let’s step inside the room.”
I take his vitals, smiling when they’re exactly as he stated.
“Betcher wonderin’ how I knew all those numbers, huh?”
“Well, I can assume you take your health very seriously and regularly take your own vitals.”
He nods. “My wife. She was a nurse for forty-seven years. When we first got married, it started as a way for her to practice her trade. Then, over the years, it became a habit. It’s how she keeps her talons in me,” he states with a barky laugh.
“I’m kiddin’, but she does enjoy utilizing her skills, even after she’s retired. ”
“I bet she does,” I agree, writing the rest of his vitals in the chart. “Looks like you’re here for your annual blood work. Is there anything you specifically want to talk to Dr. Barnland about?”
“Yeah, I got something going on with my left foot. I was hoping she could take a look.”
“Can you take off your shoe and sock and let me see?” I ask.
“You don’t get grossed out easily, do you, girly?”
I smile. “No, sir.”
He does as requested and slowly takes off his shoe. The moment he removes the sock, I can see what the problem is. “What did your wife say about this?” I ask, slipping my hands into a pair of gloves.
“Oh, she had me cleaning it with peroxide, but figured an antibiotic would help.”
“I would agree,” I say, gently moving the red, swollen skin around his ingrown toenail.
“I’m sure Dr. Barnland would be able to help.
And the good news is, we have a podiatrist starting this week.
Once you’ve had a round of antibiotics and gotten it cleaned up, we can get you in with them and have the ingrown part removed. ”
“Yeah, I figured. I used to wear work boots back in the day for my job. My feet weren’t in the best of shape after fourteen hour days of being stuffed in a sweaty boot.”
“I bet not,” I reply with a little grin, writing everything down. “Leave the sock off. I’ll let the doctor know you’re here, and we can get that toe looked at. Then, I’ll do your labs and send you on your way.”
“Sounds fair. I’ll just wait here,” he says, grabbing one of the Men’s Health magazines from the wall rack and getting comfortable in the chair.
“It shouldn’t be too long,” I tell him before leaving the room and closing the door.
By the time I chat with the doctor and she goes into Mr. Fredrickson’s room, I barely have time to use the restroom, let alone eat my cheesecake.
So, I place it in the small fridge kept in the nurses’ station and continue with my day.
I draw Mr. Fredrickson’s labs and send his prescription to the pharmacy, and before I know it, the rest of the afternoon flies by.
As we’re finishing up for the day, I remember my afternoon dessert and retrieve it from the fridge. “Have you thanked him yet?”
I glance over to Allison and shake my head. “He’s busy working.”
“Well, I know one way you can thank him,” she jokes, and there’s no denying what she’s suggesting.
I crack up and shake my head. “You’re incorrigible.”
“Maybe I am, maybe I’m not. But you know he’d be very receptive to any form of thank you offers.”
Grabbing my stuff, I wave goodbye to the rest of the staff, who are all preparing to head out themselves.
Allison and I walk out the back door and head for our respective vehicles.
“Have sex tonight. Then, you won’t care what your douche of an ex says or does tomorrow.
You’ll still be flying from the orgasmic high. ”
Honestly, her suggestion has merit…
“We’ll see,” I say, opening my Jeep door and climbing inside. “See you tomorrow.”
“Bye,” she hollers before climbing into her own vehicle and pulling away.
While my air-conditioning cools off, I pull out my phone and send a text.
Me
Thank you for the sweet treat. You didn’t have to do that.
His reply is almost instant.
Cade
Just a simple hello.
Me
Well, it was very thoughtful. I can’t wait to dive in.
Cade
You haven’t eaten it yet?
Me
We got busy and I put it in the fridge. But now I’m headed home. I might even just have dessert for supper.
Cade
Want some company?
I don’t even have to think about my reply.
Me
I’ll grab two forks.