16. Chapter 16
sixteen
Gene wiped the sweat off his forehead with the hem of his T-shirt as he walked the trail toward the water. Spring in Georgia was long and beautiful, but the temperature and humidity could change within hours. You could wear a jacket in the morning and a T-shirt and shorts in the afternoon.
He stole a glance at Amanda walking next to him, with Loki trotting a few steps ahead on the leash. He couldn’t help the smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. She had stripped the shirt she’d been wearing earlier down to her tank top and put up her hair in a high, messy bun. Beats of sweat trickled down her chest into that tantalizing valley between her shapely breasts.
Amanda Garner, in her signature dress, looked the beautiful and sweet southern woman his mother had described her to be. But she turned into a hot adventuress akin to Lara Croft in her hiking gear. Though she was wearing lightweight cargo pants, Gene could easily picture how sexy she’d look in tight hot-pants instead.
Look away. Look away.
Gene reminded himself that she’d asked him to pump the breaks between them. Obviously, he was failing to tamp down his hunger for her. He shifted his eyes to the sky to calm the yearning inside him by focusing on the swaying tips of the trees. The wind had picked up, though they could hardly feel the breeze closer to the ground.
“So, that was a bust,” Amanda said.
Her heavy sigh brought Gene’s eyes back to her. Her mind was obviously on the mission, unlike where his had gone.
“Not necessarily,” he replied. “We’ve only checked the tent camping area. We haven’t even gotten to the RVs yet. Besides, most of the campers are out on the water this time of day. Maybe we’ll see more people on the beach.”
Their search so far didn’t exactly make them feel like they were doing anything worthwhile. River Forks Park was an organized pay-to-use campground with access to the lake for swimming, fishing, and other water sports. The park bordered private properties overlooking the lake. Between that, there was a lot of wooded area to hide in, assuming the girl they were looking for was hiding.
There were only five occupied tent spots. Amanda had shown the sketch to a young couple at one tent, but they claimed they’d never seen the girl. The other camps had been empty, which wasn’t unusual. People were there to enjoy the lake. They were probably out kayaking or hiking themselves.
“Let’s have lunch and review the map again,” Gene suggested as they found a spot to sit overlooking Deer Run cove.
They settled on a felled tree sitting on the sand overlooking the water. Gene handed Amanda a chilled bag he’d carried in his backpack. She pulled out wrapped sandwiches, cut up fruit, and a bag of chips. She also poured water for Loki in a collapsible cup and gave him a snack.
“Wow. When did you have time to make this?”
Gene unwrapped the chicken salad sandwich and took a big bite.
Amanda chuckled as she watched him eat. She grabbed a paper napkin from her pack, dabbed at the corner of his mouth, and handed him the napkin.
“Thanks,” Gene said after he swallowed. “I swear my mom taught me manners. This is great. Thank you for packing lunch.”
“You’re welcome. But why am I the one who keeps feeding you when you’re the one who promised me breakfast?”
Amanda took a more ladylike bite of her sandwich.
He stopped eating and gave her a side-look. “I would’ve taken you to breakfast this morning if I knew you wanted to go. But I thought we were taking a step back.”
“It’s just breakfast.” She returned with an eye roll. “A promise is a promise, Doc.”
He smirked. “Oh, is that so?”
They shared the fruit and chips as they ate in companionable silence for a few minutes while enjoying the view. Loki laid by their feet, watching a flock of geese gliding on the water.
“I forgot how nice it is out here,” Gene said, looking out over the lake. There was a thin layer of yellow pollen over the water, another sign of spring in Georgia. A lone kayak pedaled along the mouth of the cove. A speed boat glided through on the far end of the lake, creating wakes.
“Yeah,” Amanda agreed with a sigh. “This time of year, especially. Though we have access to this, I don’t come out here enough.”
“Why not?”
Amanda suddenly covered her face and sneezed. She rubbed her nose with her napkin. “That’s why.”
“Are you allergic to pollen? You seemed fine during the walk.”
She rubbed her forearm. “I get itchy and sneezy, but not too much.”
Gene dug into his pack and pulled out a single package pill from his med-kit.
“Here.”
“What is it?”
“Antihistamine. This should help with the sneezing and itching,” Gene said. “You should get an allergy test.”
“I don’t have allergies,” Amanda claimed, but it was ruined by another sneeze.
Gene chuckled. “I beg to differ.”
“Why do I suddenly have to get so many tests done since you came along?” she questioned as she popped the pill in her mouth. “And do you have a pharmacy in your bag or something?”
“I have a first aid-kit with lots of things. I happen to know what I’m allergic to, and I keep antihistamine with me in case I need it.”
“What are you allergic to?”
“Cats.”
“No! I love cats.”
Gene smiled at the disappointment in her voice. “I love them, too, but they make my eyes itchy.”
“But you’re good with dogs,” she stated the obvious, seeing he’d spent some quality time with her mutt. “You ever thought about getting one?”
“It’s not fair for the dog.” Gene rubbed Loki’s back. “My hours are crazy and I live in a one-bedroom apartment. A dog needs space to be active, and a human who has time to take him on walks and hikes.”
“I think a dog would do you good. It pushes me to make time for walks with Loki,” Amanda said. “Sounds they work you too hard, Gene. Is that why you’re exploring other possibilities?”
“It’s not the work, per se. I love the ER. The pace, the challenges, and I’ll admit, sometimes, the adrenaline.”
Gene gathered the trash and put it back into his pack.
“What is it then?”
Amanda waited for Gene to answer her question. But he didn’t seem to be in a hurry to respond. His eyes gazed far off as if he was looking at something across the lake, but she had a feeling he was somewhere else.
“Gene?” She gingerly laid a hand on his arm, wondering where he’d gone.
“I’m tired of losing patients,” Gene finally said, as he turned a sad gaze at her. “Either due to their own negligence, other people’s disregard for human lives, or those of us in the system treating people’s health as commodities, something to be bargained for or ignored just because they can’t afford the lifesaving treatments needed.”
Though he spoke calmly, Amanda heard the frustration in his voice. A frustration she could relate to after having to watch her mother go in and out of treatments for the last two years of her life. The amount of money it had cost them. The headaches the insurance company had given her parents. And the devastation they’d felt when it had all failed.
“In the ER, we’re obligated to help anyone with no regard of their insurance status. I’m glad about that,” Gene continued. “We’ll do whatever we can to make anyone feel better. Most times, the cases are mild and we can send patients home all fixed up or with simple care. Other times, we have to figure out more complicated cases, stabilize them for further treatment when needed, like surgeries or other follow-up treatment. But there are moments, regardless of how hard we try, when nothing can be done.”
Amanda could understand that, too, somehow. Nothing else could be done for her mother. They had to accept it’d been her time to go.
Amanda squeezed his arm. “You can’t save them all, Gene.”
“But we can do better,” he said. “When I was in Costa Rica, their system fascinated me. Do you know they have one of the best health care systems in the world?”
“Really?”
“Reasonable pricing, full coverage of all health procedures, doctors and hospital visits, prescription drugs with a small monthly payment. That takes the pressure off the patient and their family while they’re trying to fight cancer, for example. Not worrying if you’d be able to afford that series of chemo is a blessing. Patients have enough weighing on their minds.”
“So true,” Amanda agreed softly.
Gene sighed. “We can do better. I want to do better for my patients.”
Amanda studied his face and had an epiphany. She understood now why he’d pushed her to get the CT. Her mother had seen a specialist who’d only seen her for mere minutes to just throw test after test at her, then shrugged when the results were either normal or inconclusive. They needed doctors who saw the patient as a person, not just a case or a set of tests. Doctors like Dr. Bloom.
“Do you think you can do that working with Dr. Bloom?” she questioned. “Treating small town folks?”
“I honestly don’t know. That’s why I’m here—”
“Exploring. Right,” Amanda finished the sentence for him. “I can tell you if not for Dr. Bloom, I don’t know how my family could deal with my mother’s illness.
“He went above and beyond his capacity as our family doctor,” she continued. “Without him guiding us through the process with the specialists and advocating for us, we would’ve been lost in the system. Though, in the end, my mother didn’t survive her disease, Dr. Bloom gave her and our family peace of mind by being there for us every step of the way. I personally feel we need more Dr. Blooms.”
Gene smiled slightly. “I agree. There’s not many who can fill those big shoes.”
She searched his eyes. “I think you can.”
Amanda knew Gene graduated from one of the best medical schools in the country and worked for the number one hospital in the state, so he was probably more than qualified to fill Dr. Bloom’s shoes. And experiencing his full attention firsthand after the accident, there was no doubt he cared enough.
The better question was: would he want to stay?
Gene locked gazes with her as if he heard the unsaid question. He smiled slightly.
“Thank you for your vote of confidence. But that’s yet to be determined.”
“I think it’s more about what future you see yourself in,” Amanda said. “See, I’ve always wanted to preserve my mother’s legacy, but also make my mark in this town, henceSanctuary. Working there every day makes me happy. Do you see yourself working in the ER for the rest of your life?”
His brows furrowed deeply. “No. But I hadn’t planned to move on this early, either.”
“You have time to decide your next step, I suppose,” Amanda said neutrally. It wasn’t her place to influence him, even if she thought he should stay. Especially if she wished he would stay. Amanda eyed the ominous dark clouds edging the blue sky. “We should probably get moving if we want to hit those RVs. Looks like a storm is brewing.”
Gene followed her gaze. “Wow, where did that come from? They didn’t forecast a storm for today.”
Amanda stood up, laughing. “You still trust the weather forecast? Nine out of ten times they got it wrong lately.”
“We could use the rain to wash out the pollen,” he said, pulling his backpack on. “Ready to get back at it?”
Amanda nodded and geared her head back onto the mission. “Let’s go.”