Chapter 26 #2
“Hey, it’s Daddy!” Bella pointed to it.
Gen smiled, watching Kyle share about his road to recovery, noting how he said he was “so grateful to God to have had expert care so quickly from the medical teams both here and at Seattle General hospital.”
“That’s you, Mom,” Bella exclaimed.
Gen tucked her close to her side. It still felt surreal to have had such a transformation in recent months. God had been so very good to them.
She waited until the staff traipsed back in, again holding the phone against the glass, hoping the coach might see it.
“The coach isn’t looking, Mom.”
“I know.”
“Hey, we should make him notice us.”
“How do you want to do that?”
“I don’t know. Maybe I could do my special dance.”
Gen chuckled. “Okay. Try it and see. And I’ll make my message a bit brighter so it stands out.”
She highlighted the words “Coach”, “mole”, “head”, and “cancer” as Bella stood and started doing a weird dance.
One of the players turned around, and got Kyle’s attention and pointed to Gen.
Gen pointed to the coach, but Kyle didn’t seem to understand, as he shrugged.
“The coach,” she yelled.
“Coach?” he mouthed.
She nodded. Kyle turned to the coach, and finally got him to turn around.
Gen held her phone against the glass as the coach frowned and peered at it. Then glanced at her.
She nodded, pointing to the top of her head then at him. “See a doctor,” she yelled.
He glanced at Bella, still dancing, and shook his head, before returning his focus to the game.
Wow. Okay. Not what she’d expected. Still, she’d message Kyle and let him know to check in with the coach and get the doctor to do the same. Some of the staff she’d met might make the man see sense.
And hey, she’d done what she could do so the rest was up to him. And maybe Kyle.
The rest of the game passed, and Seattle won, two goals to one, with Kyle receiving the honors of the first star of the evening, thanks to his game-winning goal.
She clapped and cheered, and they waited for a while until the crowds dispersed.
Then she collected their belongings. Kyle had mentioned meeting them at a nearby restaurant but she wanted to drop Marco home first. It might not be a real date, but it would feel more like one if Marco wasn’t tagging along.
“Hey, this has been fun,” Marco said, as they slowly made their way up the many stairs. “I’d forgotten how cool a live hockey game is.”
“It’s extra cool because of all that ice, right?” Bella said.
“Oh my goodness. Who has been teaching this girl to make bad jokes?”
“Who else but her father?” Gen smiled.
Oh, it felt good to say that.
They were nearly to the top of the concourse when she heard a “Gen! Dr. Rivas!”
She paused, scanned the crowd behind her, then saw a man hurrying toward them.
“You’re Kyle’s doctor lady friend, right? The one who was sitting behind the bench tonight.”
She nodded. “Yes.”
He held out a hand. “I’m Lee, one of the assistants here.”
“I’m Gen Rivas, and this is Bella. And Marco, our neighbor.”
“Kyle has asked if you’d come with me to the team rooms.”
“What? Oh no. I couldn’t.”
“Actually, the coach has asked that.”
Oh dear. She hoped she wasn’t going to be reprimanded by a man who only had an unfortunate birthmark on his head. “Um, sure.”
They followed Lee, who led them on a winding path then through a maze of tunnels to reach the team room, where he asked them to wait outside. “You might be a doctor, but there’s things inside a little girl doesn’t need to see.”
“But I want to be a doctor too, one day,” Bella announced.
“Cool.” Lee grinned then disappeared through the doors.
“Well, this is unexpected.”
“Pretty cool, though.” Marco nodded to a couple of assistants, while Gen smiled at a blonde woman, who she thought might be the captain’s wife.
“You’re Kyle’s better half, right?” the blonde said.
“Um…” How was she supposed to answer that? They certainly hadn’t kissed lately to justify that comment.
“I’m Mackenzie, Sam’s wife.”
“I’m Gen, and this is Bella. And Marco, our neighbor.”
“Aren’t you sweet?” Mackenzie crooned to Bella.
“I’m nearly ten,” Bella announced.
“In March,” Gen murmured.
“That’s only six months away,” Bella said.
“Wow. My baby is not even four months old yet, so you’re a lot bigger than her.” Mackenzie smiled. “They should be out soon.”
“Great.”
But the longer she waited, the more Gen’s nerves grew. She really didn’t want to be the person spoiling Kyle’s return with an ill-advised remark to the coach. Maybe it had been a simple birthmark, and this was all an overreaction on her part.
Finally, the doors opened and she was all set to smile at Kyle. But it was the coach who appeared, a frown etched on his face. He pointed to her. “I need you to come with me.”
“Me?”
He nodded, and gestured to an adjoining room.
“Um, Marco, can you please keep an eye on Bella? I don’t know how long I’m going to be.”
“This won’t take too long,” the coach muttered, opening a door and gesturing her to go inside to what was obviously a medical facility. Where one of the team staff members she’d spoken to back in April was waiting.
“Dr. Rivas. It’s been a minute.” The man she vaguely recognized shook her hand. “Gerry Travis.”
The other one, wearing a lanyard announcing “Team Doctor” nodded. “Dr. Cheloff.”
“Hi.” She turned to Coach Aitken. “Sir, I really didn’t mean to embarrass you but I thought it was something worth checking out.”
“And it is,” Doc Cheloff said. “I noticed it a while ago and said something, but it’s definitely changed in shape and size since.”
She winced. “I’m sorry, Coach, but it sounds like you need to deal with it as soon as possible.”
“Oh, I’m getting it checked out tonight. I just wanted to say thank you, and thanks also for being so quick to help diagnose Tinks all those months ago.” His gruff exterior lifted as he smiled. “Who knew what a trip to the hospital would bring him?”
“I know I’m probably not supposed to say this, but I’m very thankful to God that it happened, as it’s brought a lot of good things.”
Coach Aitken nodded. “Like the fact that you’re here tonight. Well, I am very grateful to have someone observant like you willing to say something.”
Dr. Cheloff smiled. “If ever you need a job, young lady, then we would be happy to give a reference.”
“Thanks, but I love where I work.” Even if the upcoming board review meant she might not be working there for much longer.
“Well, let’s get some pictures so we can post about this on our accounts. That okay with you?”
“I might need to run it past the hospital’s powers that be, first.”
“Of course.” He smiled. “I can send a request if that’d help.”
“Uh, sure. Thanks.”
She blinked. Was this part of why she’d come tonight?
Wasn’t this similar to what Marcie had recommended?
Go public, make a fuss. And while she hadn’t wanted to do that, this felt like a golden opportunity to be recognized for her competency, of proving herself to the naysayers, without pointing a finger of blame at anyone.
And if the hospital realized via social media buzz that some people recognized that she was a valuable asset to the hospital, then that had to be a good thing, right?
“Okay. Well, let’s get some pictures and we’ll get the wheels in motion.”
She smiled and posed with the coach, then took a few more pictures with the medical staff, all the while feeling like this was a dream. But hey, who knew if it might help sway the board at the upcoming review? Her future wasn’t in the hands of men, anyway. It was in the hands of God.
By the time she exited, it was getting really late, and Bella was yawning, and it felt like the window to have dinner with Kyle was gone. Definitely the window was closed to drop Marco home then meet Kyle afterward for a meal.
Kyle glanced at her from where he’d been talking with Sam, Mackenzie and Marco, while Bella played peekaboo with the baby in the stroller. “How did you go?”
“Fine.”
He studied her a moment then nodded. “Well, we better go. Hey, how about if Marco drives home in your car, and I take you and Bella for a quick bite then drop you home?”
“Really? It’s pretty late. ”
“A really quick bite. Promise. It’s not a school night tomorrow.”
“I’m one hundred percent okay with driving Gen’s car,” Marco assured. “I used to be a mechanic, so I know how to look after the good ones.”
She handed over the keys. “Don’t scratch it.”
“Yes, ma’am. Or is it no, ma’am?” He scratched his head. “I’m never really sure.”
“See you tomorrow, Marco,” Bella said.
“Don’t do anything I would do,” Marco winked at Kyle.
Kyle blushed. “Just get it home in one piece,” he mumbled.
Poor man was embarrassed. “You don’t need to worry, Marco. Kyle is always a gentleman. And we’re only friends. He’s made that clear.”
Kyle quickly glanced at her and Marco raised a skeptical brow.
She shrugged. But it was true. So there. And disappointing though it may be, she would try to let it go and let God have His way.