Page 45 of The Scientist

“How have your treatments been so far?” I asked Mary.

“Not too bad. It tires me out for a few days after. I’ll start to find my strength again, but then it’s time for another treatment. Small price to pay, I suppose.”

“My Mary’s a fighter. She’s going to be just fine,” her husband Phil said, taking her hands and bringing them to his lips, planting a kiss on her knuckles. The gesture was so sweet and his adoration shined brightly.

The nurse walked up at that moment and introduced herself. “Hi, Ms. Olivier. My name’s Amber. I’ll be your nurse today.”

“Hi, Amber. It’s nice to meet you. This is my daughter, Hadley.” She and I exchanged greetings before she began opening a kit at the bedside table.

“So, I’ll start your IV and go over some information about the treatment you’re receiving,” she said, putting on a pair of gloves. “The infusion will last about two hours, and I’ll be with you through most of it. But some things to look out for will be bleeding around your gums, soreness or ulcers in your mouth, nausea, fever, or trouble breathing. Let me know immediately ifyou start to experience any of these symptoms. You can expect to be tired afterward and probably won’t have the best appetite. You may also start to have hair loss after a few treatments.”

She explained all of this while starting Mom’s IV. The doctor had already gone over most of this with us at her last visit, so we felt prepared.

“Do you have any questions before we get started?”

“No, I don’t think so,” Mom said, looking to me. I shook my head.

The nurse came back after a few minutes covered with a biohazard gown, face shield, and heavy-looking gloves.

She started the infusion pump, and we looked on, not saying a word. I think it all became a little more real for both of us, watching the bright red medication slowly drip into her veins.

“Where are you from, Nurse Amber?” my mom asked, probably needing a distraction. She loved gathering the details of the lives of everyone she met.

“Minnesota,” she answered, taking down some information in Mom’s chart.

“Wow, that’s a pretty big change. What brought you here to California?”

She paused for a moment before sighing. “A guy.”

The three of us laughed together, appreciating her candor.

“It always is,” my mom said. “In fact, that’s how I ended up in New York. My James was a musician, and he was so passionate about it. I moved to New York so we could be together, and I’ve been there ever since. Well, up until a month ago.”

I’d heard the story of how they met several times over the years. My dad was a folk singer and was in my mom’s hometown for a gig filling in for another band that had cancelled last minute. She followed her sister out to a bar that night and the rest was history. They fell madly in love that same night, and she left with him to go to New York the next week.

“Well, my story doesn’t have as happy an ending. He dumped me less than two months after I moved here,” Nurse Amber said.

“You didn’t think about moving back home?” I asked.

“I thought about it, but I ended up falling in love with California. If I’m being honest, I really hate the snow,” she said, and we laughed at the irony. “I do miss the Swedish meatballs, though.They’re hard to come by here.”

“Everything happens for a reason. I wasn’t even planning to go out the night I met James, but my sister begged me,” my mom told her. “Trust me, you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.”

“Thanks, Ms. Olivier,” she said, her shoulders softening.

My mom smiled at her reassuringly. She stayed with us for the first thirty minutes before leaving to check on another patient.

Mom turned her head and gave me the same reassuring smile she’d given Nurse Amber. It was the teacher in her. She had taught sixth grade at Valman Elementary for almost thirty years before she retired a few years ago. I could still spot those nurturing mannerisms she once used on her students now subtly resurfacing in her interactions with everyone else.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t go car shopping with you,” she said. “I hate to think of you going out into the city all alone.”

“I didn’t go alone,” I told her. “Lex came with me. We went to lunch the next day at this really great Mexican place.”

“How wonderful! It’s about time you went on a date since you dumped old stick-in-the-mud Gary.”

“His name’s Garrett,” I said, giving her a dry look. She just smiled, knowing exactly what his name was. “And it wasn’t a date. His roommate came with us. We went to a museum and walked around the city.”

“I thought you said Lex didn’t like you. Has something changed? Did he finally come to his senses?” she asked.

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