Page 14 of Read Between the Stars

“She was-”

“She was shooting hoops,” Ben cuts in all of a sudden. “She lost control of her ball and it bounced down the dock. She ran after it and the boards were wet. She slipped and hit her head on the edge of a rowboat and fell in the water.”

The nurse closes her eyes and nods with a knowing look before tapping the information into her computer, the story seeming to make sense to her.

“You saw?” I quietly ask, turning to Ben.

“I was on the lower patio having coffee,” he nods. “As soon as I saw her running, I got up and tried to get to her.”

“Oh my God,” I practically wheeze.

It’s then that two more staff members come in, announcing that they are taking Luna to CT. One of them gives her a cream colored, soft teddy bear to cuddle, and they assure us both that they will bring her back quickly. Luna seems okay with them wheeling her out as one of them talks to her kindly and asks her questions as if they are going to be BFFs. And fortunately, they were true to their word, and Luna was back and giggling with them in no time, and another short while later, the doctor comes in to give me discharge instructions. I can’t be sure, but I feel like at one point Ben smiles over at Luna with a vague hint of pride in his eyes, just before yet another staff member walks in.

“Hi,” a nurse who appears to be in her early fifties walks in with a friendly smile and a folded stack of light blue material in her hand as she walks towards Ben. “I saw your clothes were soaked so I brought you some scrubs to change into if you want them.”

It’s a thoughtful gesture, but I swear I see the color drain out of Ben’s face as he seems to absentmindedly take them out of her hands. He says nothing, but nervously nods what I assume is his thanks.

“Also, your family has arrived. Do I have permission to fill them in?”

Ben gets a mildly stunned look on his face, as if he just realized where he is, and quickly gets to his feet.

“I’ll go talk to them,” he volunteers, and without waiting for a response, abandons the scrubs on the chair he was sitting on and swiftly walks out of the room.

Ben

I make my way past all the curtain-enclosed cubicles and nurses in scrubs bustling passed me, towards the waiting room. The smell of antiseptic, bleach and sweat all assault my nostrils, bringing a serious wave of anxiety with it, transporting me back to a time and place five years ago. It’s nostalgic and terrifying at the same time, and I try to tamp it down as I pick up the pace.

I turn a corner and stride down one last corridor that opens up to a waiting area with powder blue walls that I know from experience is meant to be calming for worried loved ones of the ER patients. In plain view, front and center, is Melanie with her new husband. Her back is to me as she faces him, her cheek resting against his chest, his chin on her head with his arms locked around her like they’re trying to hold each other together.

Matt’s eyebrows go up when he sees me approaching, and he lightly loosens his grip on Mel as a woman sitting in a chair just behind them, who I think is his and Kasey’s mom, jumps to her feet.

An old instinct kicks in and I immediately jump to set their minds at ease.

“Luna’s fine,” I tell them with my hands out in the universal pacifying gesture, and they let out a collective sigh of relief. “Yeah, her neuros are all good, she’s alert and oriented and her O2 levels are spot on…”

It’s seeing that bewildered look on Melanie’s face again that I realize I’m in medical mode and dial it back.

“Uh… she handled the CT like a champ,” I continue nervously, trying to work my hands into the pockets of my damp jeans, and appear as casual as I can. “They gave her a teddy-bear to hug while she was in there that she gets to keep. They’re just waiting on the radiologist to give the all-clear.”

The last word is barely out of my mouth when the older woman’s arms are suddenly around me. As an ER doctor, this used to happen all the time, but now it feels unfamiliar and awkward as fuck though I try not to show it as I tentatively return her hug and give her shoulder a light pat.

“Sorry,” she says as she pulls away and smooths her blouse, looking like she’s trying to compose herself. “I just love my granddaughter so much, and what you did…” she trails off as her eyes mist over.

“It’s okay,” I murmur quietly.

“I’m Caroline,” she gestures at herself, “Matt and Kasey’s mom.”

I nod kindly to her and then Matt reaches over and grips my shoulder, leveling me with an intense stare full of gratitude, and I appreciate that he shows it without being too abrasive.

“Can we go see her?” Caroline asks again.

“Yeah, they’re in room eleven back there,” I tilt my head in the right direction.

“You guys go, I’ll be right there,” Mel tells Matt. He nods and gives her a wink before he places a hand on Caroline’s back and ushers her to the patient rooms. When they’re out of sight, Melanie turns to me and I know I’m in for it. She and I forged our friendship on not sharing things about our lives, but this, I admit, is kind of a big piece of information to leave out.

“So… youwerea doctor?” She starts in like we’re just picking up where we left off on the dock.

I nod thoughtfully before answering, “Yeah,” and stuffing my hands in my wet pockets and she blows out a breath.

---