Page 54 of Right in Front of You

“Yeah, everything else is good.”

It would be as long as I remained far away from Hope Bay. Carter didn’t push any further. I wasn’t sure whether I’d ever tell him the truth or admit to anyone what had happened. I wasn’t ready to speak of it, and I was certain that he wasn’t ready to hear about that part of my life.

“Can I have a look at your arm?” I asked.

“Yeah, sure.”

I washed my hands, put on latex gloves, and unwound the bandage. From what I remembered, this area wasn’t as bad as Carter’s torso. When I first saw him after the fire, the hope I’d had for his recovery went up in flames along with the remaining walls of his house. Yes, he was young and healthy – but I knew from experience that a lot of the damage a burn could do to a body was irreversible.

I smiled at the healing wound. The graft he’d received on his arm had taken well. “You’re going to need compression sleeves for this,” I said.

“Yes, that’s what they said. And for my ribs as well.”

“Can I look at those?”

He nodded. I took the surgical scissors and cut through the bandage where I knew he wasn’t hurt and slowly peeled the dressing away. The area appeared normal, except around one edge of the transplant, which had more redness and swelling than it should have.

“Let me see your chart.” I reached for the clipboard attached to the side of his bed and looked through the most recent entries.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m just making sure they’re giving you antibiotics for this. Here it is. Second day now. Hmm…”

“Hmm what?”

“Well, this looks a little inflamed. It’s a possible infection, but the antibiotics should help.”

“They said this morning that it’s improved already.”

“That’s why they’re releasing you. But we’ll still need to keep a close eye on it.” I took a new dressing and began wrapping the wound again.

“Look at you acting all doctor-like.”

I smiled, whispering, “Not yet. Three weeks.”

“You’re already a doctor in my mind.” He winked in a typical sexy Carter style, and I couldn’t help but giggle on the inside.

“But seriously, I don’t want to be a burden on you, Molly.”

“You won’t be. And it looks like your face will recover nicely as well.” I reached for his cheek and gently skimmed my finger over one of the crusted scabs. If he didn’t pick them, which it didn’t appear that he had, he had a chance at full recovery.

“Do they itch?” I asked.

“Like a bitch,” he said, his eyes going wide. “I’m sorry.”

“Why?”

“I shouldn’t talk like that in front of you.”

“You should. You should be the Carter that I’ve always known. That’s all I ask.”

“Thanks, Molly. You know, for a long time there I didn’t know if I could find myself again, but you… you always made remembering who I was easy. I’m sorry I’ve been such a jerk to you. I’m sorry I didn’t believe you.”

Something clattered outside the room, drawing our attention to the door that was slowly opening. A small head popped in. First the eyes opened wide, and when I saw that bright smile as the culprit recognized me, I knew exactly who it was.

“Sarah?”

“Doctor Fowler?”

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