10. Nate
Chapter ten
Nate
T he examination room was quiet except for the occasional beep of the monitors. I studied the pale, sleeping face of my young patient, Tyler, searching for answers.
His symptoms—fever, rash, joint pain—didn't fit any diagnosis I could think of. I furrowed my brow, racking my brain.
A knock at the door drew me from my thoughts. Ethan poked his head in, his usual easygoing smile replaced with concern. Behind him loomed Dr. Maddison, her sharp gaze missing nothing.
"No luck finding a cause?" Ethan asked.
I shook my head. "It's a puzzle. His labs are unremarkable, but his symptoms are persisting."
Dr. Maddison crossed her arms. "Well, keep digging. We need to get to the bottom of this."
Her sharp tone didn’t offend me. I knew she cared about the patients as much as I did.
"I'm not giving up," I said. "We'll figure this out. Tyler's counting on us."
Ethan clapped me on the shoulder. "We're here for you, man. Let us know if you need anything."
As they walked away, I couldn' t shake off the feeling of unease. Tyler's case wasn't just another one to add to my list. I felt personally responsible for uncovering the truth. But what if I failed? What if I couldn't solve this mystery and let down one of my most vulnerable patients?
The scent of tomato sauce and melted cheese greeted me as I entered the break room later that day. Susan stood beside the table, an anxious smile on her face as she smoothed her floral print skirt.
"Surprise!" she said. "I hope you don't mind, but I thought I'd bring something for you and the other doctors. It’s homemade."
She gestured to the steaming lasagna sitting on the counter. My stomach rumbled, reminding me I'd skipped breakfast again.
"You're a mind reader," I felt a rush of affection for Susan. Even while planning the library fundraiser, she had gone out of her way to brighten my day.
Her smile widened. "Well, I know you've all been working hard. You deserve a break and a hearty meal."
Ethan and Dr. Maddison entered, drawn in by the tempting aroma.
"Is that lasagna I smell?" Ethan sniffed the air and went to look in the pan. “Susan, you are an angel. I’m still trying to figure out how Nate got so lucky.”
Dr. Maddison gave one of her rare smiles. "This was very kind of you, Susan. Thank you."
Susan blushed. "Oh, it was nothing. I enjoy cooking."
The mood lightened considerably as we gathered plates and dug into the cheesy pasta. Ethan told funny stories about his kids while Dr. Maddison asked Susan thoughtful questions about her work at the library.
We briefly forgot about the job challenges and enjoyed each other's company. Laughter filled the room, easing the ever-present tension.
After we'd eaten our fill, I stood up reluctantly. "We should clean up and get back to work."
Once we were done cleaning up the break room, I pulled Susan aside. "Thank you again for the lasagna. It was just what we needed."
She flashed me a mischievous grin and playfully whispered in my ear, causing goosebumps on my skin. “One of the perks of having a fake fiancée?"
I didn’t know how to respond to her comment. I was afraid she was becoming much more than a fake fiancée, but her expression turned more serious.
"Honestly, I'm happy I could offer some assistance, even if it were just a temporary diversion."
I hesitated, deciding if I should talk to her about the case. I felt stressed and decided it might be nice to have someone to confide in. “I was hoping to talk to you about something. It’s a patient of mine. A little boy named Tyler. His case has me stumped and worried. His symptoms don't quite match anything I've seen before."
Susan nodded, her eyes filled with sympathy. "I can only imagine how difficult it must be, especially with a child. You care so deeply for your patients."
I sighed, touched by her understanding. "I just want to help him get better. But every test comes back normal. If I can't figure this out..." I trailed off, hating the helplessness creeping in.
Susan squeezed my arm reassuringly. "You'll find the answer, Nate. I know you will. You're the most dedicated, meticulous doctor I know."
Despite my swirling thoughts, her faith in me brought a small smile to my face. "Thanks. I wish I shared your confidence."
"Tell me about the case," Susan said. "Maybe if we talk it through, something will click."
I explained Tyler's mysterious fever, aches, and neurological symptoms that didn't align with any condition I could identify. Susan listened intently. Her brow furrowed in concentration.
"Have you looked into historical records or any old medical journals?" she asked. "Maybe there's a clue there about past outbreaks."
I chuckled wryly. "Leave it to the librarian to suggest hitting the books."
Susan smiled, giving my arm a playful swat. "Hey, don't knock it till you've tried it. Medical history is full of weird, forgotten diseases. We might find a lead."
Her enthusiasm was contagious. Susan had a knack for thinking outside the box. "Alright, you’ve convinced me. It's worth a shot."
Susan's eyes lit up. "Let's go dig into the archives at the library after your shift tonight!"
I grinned, amazed at her ability to turn my frustration into optimism so quickly.
After my shift, I headed to the library to meet Susan with a new sense of purpose. She went straight to the archives, which were located in a dusty back room filled with old leather-bound journals and medical texts.
Susan was in her element here. She breezed through the shelves, pulling down armfuls of medical journals and records.
"Let's start around the timeline when antibiotics became common," she said, opening a journal from the 1940s. "Maybe there's a clue about diseases that faded away then."
I nodded and reached for one of the journals, flipping through the pages to quickly scan the articles.
Two hours passed in focused silence, interrupted only by the occasional creak of a chair or flutter of turning pages. Most of the material was mundane—outdated anatomy diagrams, clinical trial logs, physician notes. Then Susan let out an excited gasp.
"Nate, look! This case from the 1920s has so many similarities." She pointed to an article detailing a boy with the same progression of symptoms as Tyler.
My eyes widened as I read the details. The disease was called juvenile rheumatoid fever, rare but treatable even then. "Susan, I think you cracked the case!"
Her eyes sparkled with joy. "See, I told you - hit the books!"
I pulled her into an impulsive hug. "You're amazing. I don't know how to thank you."
Susan leaned into me, her body soft and warm. "Dinner would be a good start," she said playfully.
My heart skipped a beat. Was this an invitation for an actual date? Either way, I wasn't about to turn her down.
"It's a deal. I have an early shift on Saturday, so I could pick you up around six. Does that work?”
Susan smiled up at me. "I'd love nothing more.”
I arrived at Susan’s promptly at six on Saturday. We decided to go to Luna’s Italian Bistro. As we drove, I recounted the details of the case to Susan.
"I can't believe you found that article. It was exactly the clue we needed to diagnose Tyler properly. He has made a huge improvement." I shook my head in amazement.
Susan smiled shyly. "Well, I can't take all the credit. You figured out how to treat him."
"But I never would have made the connection without you finding that journal article. Seriously, thank you."
We arrived at the bistro and grabbed a table by the window. The warm lighting and smell of fresh bread created a cozy atmosphere.
After we ordered, I gazed at Susan over the flickering candle between us. The glow lit up her delicate features and brought out the flecks of green in her blue eyes, which sometimes made her eyes change colors. She looked so beautiful at that moment that it made my heart ache.
"You know, you've been my rock these past few days," I said. "I don't know how I would have handled this case without you."
Susan blushed. "You give me too much credit."
"No, you went above and beyond. And I know you’ve been busy preparing for the Library Fundraiser." I hesitated, then continued softly. "I don't know if I've ever met someone so genuinely kind and caring."
Susan's intense gaze held me captive, her eyes shimmering with unspoken emotions. We sat there in silence, the tension building. I couldn't help but wonder if she felt the same pull toward me.
But before I could speak, the waiter brought our food, and the moment was lost. We enjoyed our meals, and the conversation turned to lighter topics.
We finished eating and decided to order dessert. While we waited, I worked up the courage to share a dream of mine.
"I've been thinking a lot lately about starting a low-cost clinic here in Rivermint Cove," I said. "A place that provides quality care for families and their kids."
Susan's eyes lit up. "That's such an amazing idea, Nate. It would fill a huge need in our community."
I nodded, encouraged by her enthusiasm. "I think I could make it work with the hospital's resources. But it won't be easy. I'll need to find funding and hire staff."
"If anyone can do it, you can," Susan said, reaching across the table to squeeze my hand. Her faith in me meant everything.
We talked animatedly about the clinic over dessert, brainstorming ideas. As the evening wound down, I realized how perfectly Susan understood my passions and supported my dreams in a way no one else had. Staring into her vibrant, intelligent eyes, I felt myself falling, unable to resist the growing pull between us.
I made up my mind to tell her when I dropped her off. I knew my feelings for her were growing far beyond friendship, and I had to see if she felt the same way.
Susan and I walked to my truck, still laughing and talking. I held the door open for her, catching a whiff of her floral shampoo as she slid into the passenger seat. This whole fake relationship was a dumb idea. Now, here I was, barely able to resist throwing myself at my little sister’s best friend .
After starting the engine, I turned on the radio, keeping the volume low. As we drove through the lamp-lit streets of Rivermint Cove, I glanced at Susan.
I felt the urge to reach over and tuck back a lock of loose hair, but I kept both hands on the wheel.
That last week had shown me how perfectly Susan fit into my life. Her playful spirit balanced my tendency to overthink. Being with her felt natural and easy. I wanted more moments like these without the pretense between us.
As we pulled up to her house, I almost lost my nerve, but I knew I had to confess my feelings. "Susan, can we talk for a minute? There's something I want to tell you."
She turned to me with a curious look on her face. My pulse quickened. Just say it, I told myself—no more hiding from how you feel.
"I just wanted to say that I-"
Suddenly, a sharp rap on Susan's window made us both jump. It was Mrs. Chandler, Susan's elderly neighbor.
"Oh, sorry, dears! I didn't mean to startle you," she called out. “Susan, have you seen my cat, Archie? I'm worried about him because he didn’t come home this evening."
Susan shot me an apologetic smile before opening the door. "I had a great time tonight, but I should help Mrs. Chandler look for Archie. Text me tomorrow." She jumped out to assist Mrs. Chandler in her search, leaving me alone with my unsaid confession.
I drove home, replaying the interrupted conversation in my mind. I'd been so close to telling her how I felt, but perhaps it was better left unsaid.
If I admitted how I truly felt, where would we go from there? What if Susan didn’t feel the same? How would Emily take it? I sighed, more confused than ever about our relationship. But one thing was sure—I couldn't imagine my life without Susan in it.