Page 38 of Ruled By Fate

“Took you long enough.”

“I’m sorry, I was—”

“I don’t care.” She nodded down at the patient in the bed. “This is Esther Abrams. She’s been in here on and off with a case of pneumonia for months. Whenever we think we’ve got it under control, it flares up again. Her daughter keeps panicking and calling the ambulance when she can’t stop coughing.”

“I’m afraid I’ve made quite a nuisance of myself,” chimed in the old lady before succumbing to a hacking cough. Brie immediately grabbed a fistful of tissues and placed them into her hand.

Denise observed this with a practiced, keen eye. “Nurse Weldon, you are going to stay with Ms. Abrams this afternoon. You will monitor her condition and page me immediately if there are any changes or concerns. Is this understood?”

“Yes, of course,” Brie replied immediately, though, in truth, she didn’t understand why she wouldn’t be shadowing Denise as she made her afternoon rounds.

Why aren’t we transferring her to the ICU?

The charge nurse took a step towards her and inclined her head. “I am fond of Ms. Abrams and would be extremely disappointed should her standard of care be even slightly deficient. Is that understood?”

Ah. Gotcha.

“Absolutely understood.”

Denise turned to Esther with a stern command. “Get better.” Then she turned on her heel and left.

Esther chuckled quietly. “She’s a tough cookie, that one,” she rasped in a near whisper. “But as good as they come.”

Brie had already begun adjusting the pillows and familiarizing herself with the woman’s chart.

“It’s my first day, but I’ve already heard that same thing from a few people,” she agreed. “Can I get you a glass of water? We should try to keep you hydrated as much as possible.”

“Call me Esther, please.” She sank back against the pillows as if exhausted by even this brief conversation. “Your first day, you say? So that’s why they’ve got you babysitting an old bat like me.”

She chuckled before another series of coughs took her down. This fit was a bad one, worse than the others. Brie got more tissues and held her as her fragile body was wracked with coughs. When it finally subsided, she sank back down again, weaker than ever.

“Try to rest, Esther. We’ll get you feeling better soon.”

For a long time, the two women sat in comfortable silence. One was staring out the window, the other was holding the box of tissues and holding her hand.

After a while, Esther finally spoke. “I understand why you’re here, but what did I do to deserve that handsome fella?”

Brie stared in confusion for a moment, then spun around to see Cameron standing by the door. A rush of panic washed over her as she pushed quickly to her feet, about to make a million excuses and murder the angel where he stood. Then she froze, perfectly still.

She can see him. What does that mean?

“Hello, Esther.” He smiled warmly and came to her bedside. “How are you feeling today?”

She let out a weary sigh. “Young man, it is impossible that one so vibrant as you could understand how tired I feel.”

Cameron took her hand, perching beside her on the bed. “Perhaps I can help.”

The moment they touched, the woman’s features completely transformed. The deep lines between her brows smoothed, her breathing evened, and her expression seemed to clear.

“Oh!” she gasped, eyes shining. “How did you…?”

Cameron continued to hold her hand.

“Stop,” Brie whispered in a panic. “You can’t.”

The angel threw her a sympathetic look but didn’t move.

At any rate, there was no further need for excuses or explanations. As the two of them watched, Esther’s wonder softened into understanding and then, at last, acceptance.

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