Page 18 of Save Me

“A blanket would be good,” Renee said.

Lainie got a fresh one from the warmer and tucked it around her. “I’m going to be just inside the lab here getting things ready. I’ll check back with you in a few minutes.”

Renee stifled a sob. “I have cancer. I just know it. The women on my side of the family all die from it. I have three children still at home. They’re going to grow up without me,” she wailed.

Lainie paused, then pulled up a chair and sat down. “I’ve been at this job in one capacity or another for almost nine years now, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned about medicine, it is that we never assume anything, okay? The only man I ever loved had a saying that always made me laugh. ‘Darlin’.” She paused and smiled. “He always called me darlin’. Anyway, he would say, ‘Darlin’, you never want to borrow trouble. The only safe thing to borrow is eggs and butter.’”

Renee smiled through tears. “Sounds like a wonderful guy.”

“The best,” Lainie said. “Now, let’s just get through this test, and then you go home and take your kids out for pizza tonight. I believe in using every day to make memories. Nobody knows what their tomorrow will bring. I don’t know what awaits me, any more than your doctor knows what awaits him. One day at a time, honey. One day at a time. How about some music while you wait?” she asked.

Renee squeezed Lainie’s hand. “Yes, please, and thank you for that.”

“Absolutely,” Lainie said. “What kind of music do you like?”

“Music from the ’80s.”

“You got it,” Lainie said, slipped headphones on her, pulled up the proper link and started it playing.

When Renee gave her a thumbs-up and closed her eyes, Lainie slipped into the control area, and began checking the orders to confirm the imaging required for the test.

When it finally came time for Renee to be moved into the open MRI, she was calm enough to follow all the directions. It would be an hour-long process of immobility, flat on her back, with the thump and pulse of the machine around her upper body being drowned out by Bon Jovi singing in her ears.

When the test was finally over, Lainie helped Renee out of the machine and then helped her sit up. “Everything okay? Are you dizzy sitting up now?”

“No, I feel fine,” Renee said.

“Good. Now, what are you doing this evening?” Lainie asked.

Renee grinned. “Having pizza with the family at Famous Pizza and Subs.”

“Yum! Eat a slice for me!”

“Count on it,” Renee said, “and thank you.”

Lainie helped her into a wheelchair, and signaled for the waiting orderly to take her out.

Before her day was over, she’d done three more MRIs, and was emotionally exhausted. Dealing with patients’ stress was always more complicated than the actual act of her job. She knew the job and did it well. She just never knew what drama, if any, the next patient might bring.

She finally clocked out and was walking across the parking lot when she saw Charis, and waved.

“See you tomorrow!” Charis called.

“My day off! I’m hiking Beaver Brook Trail tomorrow!”

Charis rolled her eyes. “Better you than me. Some of us are going to Adelitas tomorrow evening for drinks and tacos. Seven o’clock. You’re invited!”

“Deal!” Lainie said. “See you there!”

“Yay!” Charis said and did a little two-step as she got in her car and drove away.

Lainie envied Charis’s ebullience as she was driving away, unaware Justin Randall had overheard everything, including her hiking destination.

CHAPTER THREE

Even though it was her day off, Lainie had set the alarm the night before. She wanted to be on the trail just after sunrise. It was her favorite time of day to begin a hike. The air was still cool, and she’d be on her way back down by the time the day was heating up.

She’d packed her backpack the night before with protein bars, snack packs, first aid, bear spray and a hunting knife. All she had to add were water bottles, and did so before zipping it up.

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