Page 59 of Right in Front of You

“Yes, we can. We’ll make an entire puppet show.” I reached for her blanket and pulled it up to cover her. “Why don’t you get some rest? I’ll check on you after my appointment.”

“See you later, hero.”

“See you later, hero.” I replied, hoping that one day she’d understand why I called her that. She was the one who was a true hero. Could I be a donor for her next treatment? And why did it feel like Sarah was running out of time?

I rolled my wheelchair out of the door and took the elevator to the burn recovery unit. On the third floor, the door opened and Doctor Burke stepped inside.

“Hey, Carter. How’s it going?”

“Good. Check-up time. How are you, Doctor Burke? Are you here on business?”

“No, I wish that were the case. It’s a personal matter this time.”

“I hope everything is all right.”

“I hope so too. Just the old ticker giving me a little bit of trouble, that’s all. How are you feeling? I heard Molly’s taking care of you.”

“Yes, she is, and if you can’t tell by my progress, she’s doing a great job.”

That was a lie, of course, because I didn’t let Molly help me as much as she wanted to. I craved independence. I didn’t want to be a cripple, especially in front of Molly.

“How is Molly doing? I haven’t seen her back in town for a while.”

“She’s good, but if you know of a way to get her to come to Hope Bay, I’d love to hear it.”

“I thought having you there would be reason enough. Molly’s always been smitten with you.”

“Yeah, it’ll take a lot more than this cripple to get her back home.”

He gave me a confused look but then he pressed his heart and took a sharp breath.

“Are you feeling all right?”

“Wish I was. It will pass.”

“You know, for a doctor, you’re not taking this heart stuff seriously enough.”

“Just like a mechanic usually drives an old broken car.”

I laughed. He was right.

“Don’t worry, Carter. I just think it’s time for this old geezer to rest.”

“Why don’t you retire?”

“I would if anyone else would take over the clinic.”

“Molly! She’s a doctor now. She could do it.”

Now he was the one to laugh. Doctor Burke shook his head, and it appeared as if he were lost in some sort of a memory for a moment. When he looked at me again, sadness flashed in his eyes.

“Anything I can do to help you and Molly?” Doctor Burke left the elevator with me and followed me to the waiting area. After I registered, he sat down beside me.

He never did answer my question about Molly taking over his practice. Maybe it was a little presumptuous of me to ask whether he’d give up his life’s work to someone else.

“Do you know how to permanently get her father out of town?”

“Hah! I guess I’m not the only one with that wish. It seems like that man is capable of pushing everyone out of Hope Bay.”

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