Page 17 of Storm's Embrace

Maybe he should go to her. Perhaps try and—

“Dr. Storm.” LaDonna’s interruption was just the thing he needed to change his focus. He’d have plenty of time to talk to Miriam later.

“Yes,” he said, then frowned at his nurse practitioner’s pinched light mocha features and concerned dark brown eyes.

“Can we speak for a moment before you go in?” She glanced at the closed door of the exam room he was about to enter, then back at him. “In private?”

He took in a deep breath and nodded. A sense of dread settled in his chest as he followed her into the empty exam room on the other side of the hall. He suspected his afternoon was about to get worse.

* * *

Eli grasped the door handle to exam room three and readied himself, then plastered a smile on his face before he opened it. He peeked in the room. It was what he did with younger kids, especially new patients, so he wouldn’t startle them. What greeted him was what he normally would have expected in a small room occupied by a rambunctious two-year-old.

Little Jesse Garrison ran around the room in his disposal training pants with his arms out like an airplane. “I fwy mommy.”

“You sure do, my little man,” his mom said, clearly enjoying watching her child play.

“Knock, knock,” Eli said as he stepped into the room.

“Who dare,” Jesse said while looking way up at him. Eli noticed his mom’s smile faltered slightly.

“Dr. Eli.” He smiled and squatted down to get close to eye-level with the towheaded little boy with long curls.

Moms and their babies’ curls.

“And you must be Jesse.”

The little boy nodded. They were close enough to his mom he could reach out his hand. “And you must be Mrs. Garrison. I’m Dr. Eli Storm.”

She took his hand and shook it, but quickly released it, saying, “Yes, sir, Brittany Garrison. It’s nice to meet you.”

“So,” he said as he stood and opened Jesse’s chart, “I see you were with Dr. Stephens’ practice down in Cullman.” He smiled up at her nervous expression, hoping to put her at ease.

“Yes, that’s right,” she said. “My husband’s an attorney and he’s just joined a practice in Madison.”

Eli didn’t show any reaction, but news her husband was in legal circles concerned him.

“Well, we’re always glad for new patients, especially big guys like this one,” he said, patting Jesse’s head. “So let’s talk about what we’ve got so far.”

Eli went over the initial nursing assessment including Jesse’s height, weight, and head circumference with his mom. He let her know everything was within normal limits and in the fiftieth percentile, all except for his height, which was in the seventy-fifth percentile. In looking at the chart information forwarded from Dr. Stephens, if he continued on the same track, he was going to be one tall young man.

He spent more time than normal speaking with Brittany Garrison, hoping to gain her trust while giving him the opportunity to assess Jesse as he played and explored the room. The little boy touched everything within reach and talked nonstop, while his interaction with his mom struck him as being mutually loving. Especially how her worried expression softened at her son’s babbled questions, and the patience she showed each time he climbed in and out of her lap as she and Eli talked.

He felt a small measure of relief when he saw no hesitancy on Jesse’s part when it came to approaching her. In fact, the little guy seemed to love touching her hair and face and cuddling—something his mom seemed to take great pleasure in as well.

But each time she put him down, she self-consciously adjusted the cuffs and collar of the long-sleeved, button-up shirt she wore—the buttons done up all the way to the top. Sadly, it didn’t keep Eli from noticing a few purple marks along the base of her neck and around one of her wrists.

“Okay, buddy,” Eli finally said, turning his attention to Jesse, “why don’t we take a look at you.” Jesse stopped and looked at him wide-eyed. “Mom, can you put him on the exam table for me?”

Mrs. Garrison’s demeanor changed only slightly as she stood—her steps hesitant as she picked her son up and put him on the paper-covered table before she stepped back.

“Okay, let’s get a better look at you,” Eli told Jesse, while he pulled his stethoscope from his pocket and placed the ends in his ears.

“Was dat?” Jesse said, pointing at the bell when he was close to placing it on him.

“It’s a stethoscope. I’m going to listen to your insides,” he told him with a smile. “Watch.” He placed the bell in various spots across Jesse’s chest, while the little boy sat and watched every move Eli made intently. “See, that’s not so bad, is it?”

“Mmm-mmm.” He shook his head.

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