25. Cedrick
“Dr. Greg to Radiology. Dr. Greg to Radiology.”
The intercom clicks at the World Clinic facility in Virkas, which is one of the largest of the entire organization. I lightly tap my pen against the clipboard as a new patient takes a seat.
A woman in her early forties sits on the exam room table, distracting herself with her phone.
“I’m looking over my notes, Alice. Do you have a family history of heart disease?”
She shakes her head. “But the chest pain was excruciating, doc. It was bad.”
“I can believe it. How are you feeling now?”
She thinks for a second, looking up from the phone as if it physically pains her not to. It must be a coping mechanism.
“It’s embarrassing, but I feel fine.”
I nod.
“After all the tests, all the exams… I really just want to go home.”
“There’s no reason to be embarrassed at all. I for one am glad.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because you came in when something physically seemed seriously wrong, and fortunately you’re in excellent health. Never feel guilty about seeking medical treatment.”
The fluorescent light flickers slightly. The wind outside has been particularly aggressive.
“So, what’s wrong with me then?”
I sigh gently, as my mind momentarily returns to Ellie. Here, I have control. Here, I know where I stand with people.
“Well, I have two pieces of good news, and one piece of bad news, but the good news is much better than the bad news.”
She looks unnaturally worried for a moment. “Oh God. How long do I have?”
I stifle a chuckle. It’s funny how quickly people’s minds jump to the worst-case scenarios. I’m half-tempted to have fun with it, but it’s not the time. “It’s nothing like that. You’re absolutely fine.”
She heaves a deep sigh of relief.
“Your heart is completely healthy. In fact, I’d like to know your secret.” I smile, and she starts listing off what she does, and I interrupt.
“I was just kidding. I have a background in cardiology.”
She nods, forcing a smile.
“You had severe reflux, which may be related to anxiety. Do you experience it regularly?”
“How did you know?”
The intercom replays the same message as earlier.
“Dr. Greg to Radiology, please. Dr. Greg to Radiology.”
“Like I said, we deal with this a lot. But I’m afraid in your case, there is something we need to take care of.”
“You mean the heartburn wasn’t the bad news?”
I place the clipboard onto the counter, realizing I might be contributing to her nerves with my occasional tapping.
“The heartburn was part of the bad news. But I suspect the reason for the heartburn is a small hernia that we’ll need to take care of. It’s very low-risk. Besides, you’re in Solvaria, not America, so it will cost you nothing. I’ve known patients who get it all done in a day.”
Just because it’s not an emergency doesn’t mean it’s not stressful, of course.
“Would it be okay if I got the surgery another day?”
I laugh a little, and I wave my hands. “No, no, you’d be scheduling the surgery anyway. We can arrange it with reception.”
She nods. “Thank you for your care, Doctor. You really have a bedside manner.”
“Thank you, Alice. I’ll see you soon. Tell the front desk to schedule it within the next two weeks. If it’s not me, it will be a surgeon who’s even better.”
I smile, and I shake her hand. She puts her hand on my arm and thanks me again before she leaves with a look of relief on her face. One of the best parts of medicine is knowing your very presence can give someone comfort.
At home with Ellie, it seems like I do the opposite lately. If she continues to be so miserable, we may have to consider doing something about the arrangement. I can’t continue with this setup knowing it’s making her miserable.
A soldier moving with efficiency walks past the doorway in full regalia, does a double-take, and doubles back to the room I’m in.
“Prince Cedrick, hello.”
“Thomas? What are you doing at the hospital?”
“Sir.” He salutes. “I know Ellie hasn’t been feeling well, and I was alarmed. She hasn’t been in the residence, and some of her things weren’t there. I tried calling her number, but she didn’t answer. I just wanted to alert you.”
“Well, she’s a grown woman, she’s free to come and go as she pleases. This seems out of the ordinary…”
Even as I’m saying this, pretending to keep a cool head, I’m worried. Could she have left for good?
“I know you’ve been concerned about her health, and you asked me to keep a closer eye to make sure she has everything she needs.”
“I have. You’re right. And you checked the palace as well?”
“I called security, and she hasn’t arrived there.”
I walk up to the front reception desk. “Regina, please have the residents on shift cover my patients for the day. I have to leave. Family emergency.”
“Oh, dear, I hope everything is okay.”
I’m out the door before I can give an answer. I hope so, too. As I drive to our home, I find Thomas’ matter-of-fact chatters soothing. He shows me how things were left, and we gather the security staff to locate her.
I check my phone. There’s a text from Ishmael thanking me for brunch, but nothing from Ellie.
“Where are you, Ellie?”
I climb the stairs up to the far tower, and check the surveillance room.
“This is a lost cause,” I say out loud, as I rewind through footage.
I notice a feminine form leaving through a side entrance, dressed casually in sunglasses and a hat.
With some difficulty, I manage to track her through surveillance cameras and cell tower triangulation. It looks like she’s just gone into downtown Virkas, not far from where I am now actually.
She’s fine. I was panicking for nothing.
Thomas gets an incoming message on his intercom as he sits with me in the car. “She’s been spotted in the Verdure Market downtown.”
“Great, I’m on my way there,” I reply back, leaning over.
The market? We have an entire staff for that. I have the sudden realization that my accompanying her into a guest room was too much of an intrusion for her to accept.
How’s she going to react to me following her all around the capital? Maybe it’s for the best. If the relationship is on a collision course, better to get it out of the way now.