Chapter Sixteen
Later that afternoon, Rose headed into the hospital to start her shift. She’d barely set her things down at the nurses’ station when Rebecca came running up. A feeling of déjà vu washed over her on seeing the panic in Rebecca’s eyes.
“What’s wrong?” Rose demanded. “Is it Steven?”
“No, it’s Mr. Patrones. He was brought in a moment ago and is in ICU.”
“Mr. Patrones? B-But he was just released the other day!”
Rebecca nodded, her face grim. “Apparently, he didn’t heed Dr. Myers’s advice to take it easy. According to the neighbor who called it in, he was on a ladder, cleaning his gutters, when he suddenly fell.”
“Another heart attack?” Rose covered her mouth with her hand.
“Looks like it.” Shaking her head, Rebecca sighed. “I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news as soon as you started your shift, but I know you were fond of him.”
“Thank you for letting me know,” Rose whispered.
“I’ve asked the ICU nurses to keep me posted on his progress. I’ll tell you if I hear anything more.” Rebecca patted her arm and walked away, leaving Rose alone with her thoughts.
Sinking into a chair, Rose struggled to draw breath. It’s not the same. Mr. Patrones was an elderly man who had no business being on a ladder at all but especially not right after a heart attack. In contrast, Steven was still confined to a wheelchair. And he was following the doctors’ orders. Mostly.
Rose closed her eyes. And there it was, her worst fear rearing its ugly head at the news of Mr. Patrones. The truth was, even if he couldn’t climb ladders or clean gutters, Steven was still at greater risk of a second heart attack. And his insistence on returning to work the moment he’d left the rehab facility further jeopardized his health.
Images of Steven lying on the floor of his house, cold and unresponsive, came unbidden to Rose’s mind. She squeezed her eyes tight, trying to block the thoughts.
Get control of yourself.She forced herself to take deep breaths, trying to calm the erratic beating of her heart. Steven was fine. At the diner, he’d even looked healthier. The circles under his eyes had faded, and he seemed in better spirits.
Shaking off her morose concerns, she stood and wiped her eyes. She could check on Mr. Patrones later. It was time to start her shift.
She began making her rounds, changing fluids, dispensing medications, and catching up on her patients. As she finished up with a new patient, she rounded the corner and almost collided with a wheelchair. She blinked as she met the familiar hazel eyes of her fiancé.
Her heart jumped into her throat. “Steven? What are you doing here?”
He grabbed her hand and pulled her down for an awkward hug. “I had an appointment with Dr. Myers and Dr. Bhati this afternoon. Didn’t I tell you?”
Just an appointment. That’s all.But she allowed her eyes to rove over him to reassure herself nothing was amiss.
“Rose? What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Forcing a smile, she shook her head. “Nothing. I don’t recall hearing about your appointment, and seeing you here scared me for a moment. How’d it go with the doctors?”
“Everything’s looking good. Dr. Bhati said the spinal contusion has healed enough to where we can increase my physical therapy to help me start walking again.”
She frowned. “Is he sure you’re ready for that? You don’t want to overdo it.”
Steven rolled his eyes. “We can trust the good doctor, but you’re welcome to interrogate him yourself if it’ll make you feel better.”
Heat rushed to her face. “That’s not what I meant.” She swallowed around the lump in her throat. “I’m worried about you. That’s all.”
He sighed. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. It’s just… I was excited to share the news with you, and I had hoped for a better reaction.”
“No, it’s my fault.” At his questioning look, she continued, “A patient of mine who was discharged the other day is back in the ICU. He had another… heart attack.” Her voice broke on the last word.
Steven’s expression morphed into one of sympathy and concern. “Oh, Rose, that’s awful.” His eyes softened. “No wonder you were so frightened when you saw me.”
“I certainly wasn’t expecting it.” She cleared her throat. “Anyway, where are you going for PT?”
“Dr. Bhati gave me a referral for an outpatient physical therapist closer to home. I don’t have to go to the rehab center anymore.” He held out a small piece of paper.
After scanning the information, she laughed. “Oh, Ronnie. You’re in for a world of hurt.”
It was his turn to frown. “Why do you say that?”
“Let’s just say she believes in getting people back on their feet as quickly as possible.” More laughter bubbled up in her throat, and she pressed her lips together to hold it in.
“I’m not sure I like the sound of that. But I’ll do whatever I have to if it means you’ll smile like that more often.”
His words melted her heart, and for a moment, she could pretend all was right in their world. She slipped her arms around his neck and gave him a quick kiss.
“Are you going on break soon?” he asked.
“Unfortunately, no. I only arrived an hour ago.”
His face fell. “Ah, okay. What does your schedule look like this week? Maybe we could have a date night.”
“I’m off Tuesday and Wednesday.”
“Let’s plan for Wednesday. I’ve got a few deadlines on Tuesday.”
And just like that, her earlier fears came rushing back, but she swallowed them. After all, he’d gone into the office only a couple of days that week. And he has Michael now.
But she still couldn’t shake the nightmarish image of Steven on the floor of his house. Bending down, she kissed his forehead so he couldn’t see her face. “Wednesday sounds great for dinner. We can figure out the details later. I’ve got to get back to work.” Without waiting for a response, she spun on her heel and rushed away from him.
After her rounds were done, she headed to the cafeteria to grab a cup of coffee. When she returned to the nurses’ station, Dr. Myers was waiting for her.
“How’s it going?” he asked.
“Everything’s great.” It took effort, but she was pleased with the cheery tone she’d infused in her voice. “I hear you had an appointment with Steven today.”
A wariness flashed in his eyes, but when he blinked it was gone. “I did. I was surprised you weren’t there.”
A knot formed in her stomach, but she ignored it. “He forgot to tell me, but my shift was starting anyway.”
“Mm-hmm,” he murmured, his forehead creasing. “Did you want me to tell you what we discussed? He’s granted you access to his medical records.”
The knot tightened, and she fought with herself. On the one hand, it would be smart for her to be kept informed. But on the other hand, it would be difficult for her to review his medical record with the clinical detachment she’d honed over the years in order to be a good nurse. Her reaction to the news of Mr. Patrones clearly demonstrated she couldn’t be impartial when it came to Steven.
The concerned side won over her better judgment, and she nodded. At the very least, it would put her mind at ease to double-check that Steven hadn’t left anything out in his vague report on the appointment.
At her nod, Dr. Myers produced a thick file and handed it to her. “He’s looking much better, but I’m concerned with the level of stress in his life. I suggested that he consider doing some yoga or meditation classes to help calm him when he’s not working.”
Her head shot up. “You approved him to return to work full-time?”
A smile tugged at one corner of Dr. Myers’s mouth, though he appeared to be trying to suppress it. “I appreciate the vote of confidence, but you know your fiancé. Would my approval really alter the course he thinks is best for himself?”
Pressing her lips into a thin line, Rose returned her attention to the file. Pigheaded, stubborn man. Of course, Dr. Myers was right. Steven had argued against most of the medical advice he’d been provided thus far. Sometimes, she wondered if Steven gave much credence to career paths other than his own. After all, wouldn’t he be offended if a client went against his sound legal advice?
“Look, while I would prefer him to take things a little more slowly, he’s doing well considering everything he went through.” Dr. Myers put a hand on her shoulder, and she was too shocked by the gesture to flinch. “He’s following the diet I prescribed, and as long as he keeps an eye on his stress level, I don’t see any reason he can’t return to work.”
“Thank you,” she said, relenting. After all, it wasn’t Dr. Myers’s fault Steven was being stubborn. Rose laid that character trait entirely at Max McAllister’s feet. In the nature-versus-nurture argument, the trademark McAllister stubbornness could be traced to both genetics and learned behavior.
“Happy to help.” Dr. Myers stepped back. “And if you have any concerns, you can always come to me.” That time, he didn’t bother to suppress his grin. “Especially if Steven waves them away without fully addressing them.”
She found herself smiling back. He might not have known Steven well, but he clearly knew his type.
When Dr. Myers had gone, she pushed aside the files she had pulled to update, then she opened Steven’s. As the doctor had said, Steven was progressing at a decent rate. Still, his attitude toward his health hadn’t changed, and the similarities between him and Mr. Patrones haunted her. All she could do was continue to keep an eye on him and pray that luck was on their side.