Chapter 38 Flapping in the Breeze
thirty-eight
flapping in the breeze
Liam
“Doc, open up. I know you’re in there. The lights are on in your apartment.” I pounded on the door of the doctor’s office again, my knuckles stinging from the cold. “Come on, it’s an emergency.”
Fluffy snowflakes piled in the streets, blanketing the town in what should have been a peaceful silence. Tonight, though, the quiet felt heavy, stifling.
“Doctor Madison. It’s important.”
Just as I raised my fist to knock again, the door swung open and I found myself subjected to a withering glare from a woman in a fuzzy unicorn onesie.
“Do you have any idea what time it is?” She scowled, crossing her arms over her chest. “What do you want? This had better be good. I’m in the middle of a Buffy marathon.”
I blinked.
“Who the hell are you?” I demanded when I’d finally gathered my wits. Apparently, I’d forgotten my manners at the side of the road where I found Nana. “Where’s Doctor Madison?” Doctor Madison set my broken arm when I was a kid, and this angry, pyjama-clad woman was clearly not him.
She rolled her eyes, heaving a beleaguered sigh. “That Doctor Madison is semi-retired and spends his winters in Barbados now. I’ll tell you what I’ve told everyone else since I started working in this godforsaken town. Come back in June if you’d prefer to see him.”
She tried to shut the door in my face, but I slapped my palm against it. “Wait, please.”
She narrowed her eyes, her fists clenched. “What now? Did you come to tell me all about how I’m too young and female to be a doctor, too?”
I blinked at her again. “Of course not. Why would I knock on your door in the middle of the night for that?”
She sagged. “Honestly? No clue. I wasn’t even going to answer until I remembered this is a small town, and someone might have a genuine emergency.”
“Yes! Yes, it is an emergency!” My voice cracked; I sounded unhinged. “It’s my nana. I need you to take a look at her.”
Her expression shifted from one of irritation to one of concern. Lowering her voice, she asked, “Is your nana here with us right now?”
I stared at her. “What? No, she’s in the car—”
Suddenly, it clicked. As far as she could tell, I was here alone. She thought I was talking about an imaginary Nana.
“I meant—never mind.” I stumbled back to the car, opened the door, and helped Nana to her feet. “I found her walking down the highway a couple of kilometres from here.”
Dr. Madison muttered a curse. “Ms. Bishop?” she said, all traces of irritation gone as she shifted into professional mode. “Let’s get you inside and out of this cold.”
“Oh, no need to fuss over me, Doc. I’m fine now,” Nana protested with no sign of her earlier confusion. “Feeling much better, actually.”
Together, we guided Nana into the office. Dr. Madison helped her onto the examination table.
“We should get you out of these wet clothes right away, Ms. Bishop.” She patted Nana’s hand. “Would you like your grandson to step out?” She jerked a thumb over her shoulder at me.
I shook my head. “No way. I’m staying.”
“You bet your sweet bippy I want him out of here.” She swatted at me with the back of her hand. “I’m free-titting it here, Doc. He doesn’t need to see that.”
Dr. Madison choked on a laugh, and I rolled my eyes.
“Nana, I am not leaving this room.” I crossed my arms and widened my stance, daring her to make me go. “I’m staying right here.”
Her eyes gleamed. “Liam Fitzgerald Bishop, you will get your little behind out of here right now if you know what’s good for you. One word from me, and those glamour shots we took? All. Over. The internet.”
My jaw dropped.
“I’ve been saving them for something special, but I won’t hesitate to use them now if necessary.”
I opened my mouth to remind her I already had all the pictures, but she rushed on.
“And I know you think you have them all, but the photographer sold me the negatives. And you better believe I’ve had them digitized and backed up to the cloud and had extra copies printed.
” She snapped her fingers. “One click of a button and the entire world will see those beauties. Don’t think I won’t do it. ”
Dr. Madison wheezed with uncontrollable laughter, struggling and failing to keep it together as Nana snickered from her perch on the exam table.
I sucked in a shocked gasp, torn between laughing and shaking my head in wonder at the depth of Nana’s machinations. “I’m worried about you, Nana. I would prefer to stay.”
“And I’m an old lady who would prefer that my grandson not see my nip-nops flapping in the breeze. So, go on.” She swatted at me again. “Shoo.”
Doctor Madison grinned, her laughter finally under control.
“Why don’t you head up to my apartment? I have some jogging pants and sweaters in the tall dresser in my bedroom.
You can borrow something warm and dry for Nana to wear.
” Then, with a smirk, she added, “But I draw the line at lending out my underwear. Nana’s nip-nops will just have to keep flapping. ”
Nana giggled, and Doctor Madison burst into laughter again. The weight crushing my chest eased slightly. Pressing a quick kiss to Nana’s forehead, I turned and left the room.
By the time I returned downstairs to the office with a pair of heavyweight joggers, a thick sweater, and a pair of fuzzy socks, Doctor Madison was stepping out of the examination room.
“So, is she okay?”
She smiled. “Her temperature is on the low side, but not enough that we need to worry. Otherwise, she’s fine. Bring her by tomorrow so I can examine her again, but I’m confident that a proper night’s sleep in a warm bed will have her feeling good as new.”
Relief flooded my chest, but before I could fully exhale, she continued.
“But we will need to discuss your grandmother’s needs going forward.” Her voice was gentle but firm. “She’s expressed her wishes to me, and as her doctor, I will advocate for them. With you. And with Maya.”
Shit.
In my rush to get Nana to safety, I’d forgotten about Maya. I should call her now, but it was so late, and Nana needed to rest.
First, I’d get Nana home. After that, I’d fix things with Maya.