Page 51 of Doctor Neighbor

"Morning, boss," Nelson calls from behind the counter, his hands a blur as he works the machines.

I force a smile, trying to hide my anxiety. "Morning, Nelson. Are we ready for this?" Balding John Early is supposed to be here at eleven, the short lull between morning rush and lunch.

He nods, barely looking up from the latte he's crafting. "We are. I was here until eleven thirty last night, making sure everything was in its place."

"Thank you, Nelson. When this is over, we are both going to celebrate. On me. Have you been slammed like this all morning?"

"Been like this since we opened. It's the cooler weather, I think."

I hang up my bag, grab my apron, and make my way behind the counter, scanning the cafe. Everything looks clean and in order. But will it be enough for the inspector?

As I tie on my apron, I feel pride and fear in equal measure. Seeing it so full and alive this morning reminds me why I pour my heart and soul into this place every day.

I take another deep breath and plunge into the morning rush, praying that when John arrives, he'll see Brewed Awakening as I do—as a thriving, well-loved part of the community. And a safe and clean place to enjoy a snack and a coffee.

SEVENTEEN

Buster

UAB Hospital

9:07 am

I walk down the sterile hallway, my mind racing with thoughts of my patient, James Harrison. The early morning quiet of the hospital is deceptive—behind these walls, life and death battles are waged every day. I take a deep breath as I approach his room, steeling myself for what's to come.

When I enter, I see James propped up in bed, looking pale but alert. His wife sits beside him, worry etched on her face.

"Good morning, Mr. Harrison," I say, forcing a smile. "How are you feeling today?"

"I've felt better, Doc, I'm not going to lie," he replies weakly. "But I hear you're gonna fix me up again."

I nod, pulling up a chair. "That's right. Your blood work shows there might be a small leak at the surgical site. We need to go back in and repair it."

His wife grips his hand tighter. "Is it dangerous?" she asks, her voice trembling.

"Every surgery carries risks," I explain gently. "But leaving this untreated is far more dangerous. We caught it, so that is good. Going in and replacing the patch gives us the best chance for the best outcome."

James closes his eyes briefly, then looks at me with determination. "Well, let's get it done then. I've got two daughters to walk down the aisle someday."

His words hit me hard, reminding me of my father, who never got that chance. I push the thought away, focusing on the present.

"We'll take excellent care of you, Mr. Harrison," I assure him. "I'll be leading the surgery myself, and we have a top-notch team ready. You're scheduled for eleven, but my morning surgery was rescheduled, so we may move you up sooner. Would that be okay?"

"The sooner the better. No offense, I’m ready to feel better and get out of here."

"None taken."

I notice Mrs. Harrison is drinking from a Brewed Awakening cup. Seeing it makes me smile and think about Cole.

"Best coffee in town, am I right?"

"Oh, we absolutely love that place! And the owner, Cole, is a good friend of ours. James restored an old roaster for her, and the whole family adopted her and Maddie, her daughter, after that."

My stomach drops. The thought of that roaster and the memories attached to it cause me to catch my breath. Now, knowing that this patient who has attached himself to my heart, unlike most of my others, is connected to it, to her, makes all of the other coincidences seem more poignant.

"You don't say? Cole is a friend of mine, too. As a matter of fact, she just showed me the roaster yesterday. Good job on that. It is beautiful."

"It's a small world, isn't it? James has an affinity for them."

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