6. Kimberly
Chapter 6
Kimberly
Walking into the hospital this morning feels different from it did in the past. Today my spine itches knowing that Silas could be anywhere in the building. At any time. My thoughts haven't strayed far from him and all the old habits I thought I broke seem to come back.
Opening the door to the locker room, I try to focus on what I need to do. Once I get my patients, it should be easier to keep Silas from invading my mind. I recall every action to focus my mind. Place your backpack in the locker. Grab your badge. Walk out into the hall toward the nurses' station. Log into the computer. Talk with the night nurse to see what you need to do for your patients this morning. I repeat each step until I'm done with that action. As if I'm mentally marking each one off of a checklist.
Before I know it, it's time to meet with Angel and I haven't even thought about Silas once. Shit, how did I let that happen again? Somehow that man always seems to enter my thoughts no matter what I do. But I'm going to stop that right now.
Shaking my head, I see Angel walking up, giving her my best smile. I say, "Hey Angel, how was the night shift?"
She lets out a sigh and then leans against the top of the desk, resting her forearms on it. "Girl, it was exhausting. It seemed like everyone needed me all at once."
"I understand that. It feels like everything always happens all at once."
"Yes. Are you ready for the report?"
Pulling closer the notepad that I use to record all my notes in, I nod at Angel to start. I know I could just use the computer, but I love having the notes right on me. Besides, I rarely write any medical stuff. No, it's the more personal stuff I need, like if someone likes green Jello better than blue.
"Okay, Mr. Stevens just got his meds. Seems to be recovering from his surgery well. His wife said she will come sometime before lunch to check on him. That way, she can make sure he eats properly. Her words, not mine."
That particular statement makes me smile as I continue to jot more notes. "Now, Mrs. Saxony seems to be extra sad. I was giving her more one on onetime last night, when I could, and it seemed to help her. My suggestion is to do the same."
Nodding my head along, I pause enough to ask, "Does she have any family?"
"No. Or at least none that have visited."
"Lastly, Mr. Reynolds should be discharged today. We're just waiting for Dr. Bryan to give the go ahead. The last bed was discharged last night. I'm sure someone else will come in soon. That's all I have for you."
"Awesome. Thank you, Angel. Your attention to the details always make my shifts easier."
"Well, now, it's time for me to go home, take a bubble bath and pass the hell out. Besides, my feet will be thankful not to be on them anymore. See you tonight," she says as she pushes off the desk and walks toward the locker room.
"See ya!" I yell after her.
I make my way to each patient's room, making sure I introduce myself to everyone, along with taking their vitals. After I finish up, I sit down to put all the vital signs into the computer. Honestly, sometimes it feels like I spend more time on my computer than I do with my patients.
"Hey Kimberly." Dr. Bryan says as he walks up, interrupting my flow.
"Hey, Dr. Bryan. Are you here for that discharge?"
"I am. Are you ready?"
"Yes, let me finish putting this in and I'll be right there."
"Sounds good," he says as he goes to Mr. Reynolds' room.
Taking just five more minutes, I make sure I have everything together and make my way to the patient's room. When I enter, Mr. Reynolds is sitting on the bed, his wife standing next to him, both of them smiling at Dr. Bryan. A warm feeling in my chest spreads. This is the reason I got into nursing, helping patients.
When Dr. Bryan notices I'm in the room, he turns toward me. "Kimberly. Mr. Reynolds here is ready for discharge. I've given him instructions for when he gets home."
"Will do, Dr. Bryan." He nods at my acknowledgement and returns his smile back to the couple. Pulling out my nurse's phone, I step to the side of the room to call down to set up transportation. I keep my other ear on Dr. Bryan and the patients, that way, I know what is going on.
"Now remember you have a follow up appointment next week. I'll see you then."
"Thank you so much for all your help, Dr. Bryan," Mrs. Reynolds says with unshed tears in her eyes, not wanting to voice that her husband could've died if we didn't do the surgery. Gulping, I try to keep my own emotions at bay. It's the hardest part of the job sometimes.
Dr. Bryan's eyes soften with her words. I know, just like me, he's trying to keep his emotions back. As medical professionals, we learn to deal with them later. "You're welcome. I'm glad I could help. Now let's get you out of here."
Everyone chuckles at the way he says it lifting the heavy feeling in the room. "Kimberly, did you get transport?"
"Yes, they should be here in a few minutes." Before I can finish, there is a knock on the door and Mandy, from transport, is standing there with a wheelchair. "Wow, that was quick."
"I didn't have anyone else for another hour, so I came immediately," she says, shrugging her shoulders.
"Alright. Mr. Reynolds, Kimberly will get your IV and everything out. Then Mandy will take you down to the front door." Dr. Bryan explains to him, then turns toward Mrs. Reynolds. "Do you want to pull the car around front?"
"Yes." She then leans down and kisses her husband on the cheek. "I'll meet you down there," she whispers to him, before quickly grabbing her stuff and heading out the door.
Tears threaten to spill over, but I'm able to sniffle them back. That's what I want some day. Dr. Bryan continues saying his goodbyes to Mr. Reynolds, leaving shortly after. Leaving me and Mandy behind to finish the discharge.
"Okay, let's get those heart monitors off first." I say as I pull them from his chest, trying not to pull his hair too much. When I'm done, I move to get his IV out. "How come you're not married yet, Kimberly?" Mr. Reynolds asks.
Giving him a soft smile, I pull out the needle, placing some gauze on the spot to stop the bleeding. "I guess I haven't found the right person yet." Or maybe I have. Grabbing a Band-Aid, I place it on top of the gauze.
"Well, you'll find them soon. I can feel it."
"Thank you. Now let's get you out of the bed so you can change."
Mr. Reynolds heads into the bathroom and changes out of his hospital gown into his regular clothes. When he comes out, I help him into the wheelchair but can't help think about his comment, about finding them soon. What if I already found him? Maybe Silas buying the hospital is fate. Are we meant to be together?
Shaking the thoughts away, I focus back on the task at hand getting Mr. Reynolds out of here. Once he's settled into the chair, I, kneel down to his level, smiling. "Alright. Mandy here is going to take you down to your wife. I enjoyed having you here."
He places his hand on top of the one I have resting on his wheelchair. "Kimberly, I'm serious. You're going to find your soulmate soon."
Not being able to help myself, I answer him, "I hope you're right."
Once Mandy takes Mr. Reynolds out of the room, I take my time breaking it all down. When I'm finished, I head back to the nurse's station, ready to take my break. As I walk up a group of my coworkers are standing there talking. "Hey what's going on?"
They all look at me. "Have you heard?"
"Heard what?" I ask the group.
"That the hospital has been sold and made private." Cherry says first.
"Oh yeah, I heard that. Randall brought him by a day or so ago."
"You saw him? I heard he's hot. Is he?"
My stomach twists with jealousy. It takes everything in me to keep myself neutral when I answer her. "He's attractive."
I have to remind myself he's not yours, no matter how much I want him.
"Well, I'm going to find out for myself. I just overhead Randall say that he has a board meeting today and that the new owner is going to be there."
"Good luck with that. We should all get back to work," I say. As I turn on the balls of my feet I know damn well that I'll be slipping out later for a chance to get a glimpse of Silas Cabot.