Page 45 of Family Bonds- Garrett & Justine

“It’s everyone’s choice,” he said. “Any other things you’d like to talk about? Concerns physically or mentally?”

“Really?” Beth asked.

“Yes,” he said.

She waited a minute. “Is it normal to dread coming here?”

“I do every morning,” he said, laughing.

She grinned. “You know what I mean. My blood pressure is always higher here. I have these mixed emotions I like knowing someone is seeing me but then hate coming.”

“Completely normal,” he said. “One hundred percent. There is comfort in knowing someone is watching out for your health but some PTSD from the past and what you went through. I can give you some recommendations on sites to look into for breathing techniques to help you before you come. It will help with the blood pressure readings. One less thing to stress about.”

“I’d love it. I mean, I’m breathing already, so how hard can it be to do it another way to calm me?”

“Not hard at all,” he said, laughing. He loved her mentality.

“Do you do it?” Beth asked.

“More than people realize,” he said, still smiling. “Anything else? I’d like to listen to your heart and lungs.”

“I’m good,” Beth said.

Before he started his exam, he asked, “Did you want a breast exam? Some feel like they are fine and don’t need it, others like the reassurance of it?”

“I think a second opinion is always good,” Beth said.

“Let me get a nurse,” he said, going out and flagging down Danica to come to his room. They turned back in. “Here is a gown. I’m going to step out while you change.”

He moved into the hall and saw one of the nurse techs. “Everything okay, Dr. Mills?”

She looked nervous and young. Someone he’d just met this morning who was filling in from the hospital. “When I’ve got breast cancer patients, can you ask if they’d like an exam ahead of time so they are set before I come in?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. No one told me.”

“Now you know,” he said, smiling. “Not a big deal. She’s changing now.”

He knocked on the door when Danica made her way over and they went in together, he did the exam and Danica stepped back out.

“Thank you,” Beth said. “You’ve been really helpful today. I didn’t feel dismissed. Will I see you again?”

“You’ll see me in six months,” he said. He’d still be here, so it was easy enough to say that.

“Wish it was longer than that,” Beth said. “But I know how things are here too.”

“You never know,” he said. “Have a great day.”

But he did know.

He wouldn’t just do it for himself but for the patients too. They deserved it.

He was already seeing a life here and he was hoping that maybe he could use the next five months to get Justine to see that too.

First step, she’d have to see him as more than a friend.

14

TO FIND LOVE

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