Page 74 of Arden and the Girl Downstairs

“What other triggers?” Mady says, wiping her mouth again.

“Things like vagus nerve damage, issues after surgery. Anything, really. It’s one of those things that if the symptoms fit, then the diagnosis could fit. But again, like I said, no miracle cure.”

“Honestly, I don’t need a cure. I just need these guys to know what’s going on, so they will stop freaking out every time I’m sick or end up in emergency.”

I feel sorry for them; I know what it’s like to love someone who is unwell. I’ve been to the hospital more times than I can count with Julia.

That’s probably why I’m so protective of Yasmin, and now Ella.

I turn back to Caleb. “You should look into it.”

I can see the wheels turning in his head. He’s piecing it all together.

“Why did I not think of doing a gastric emptying study?” he says to no one in particular.

Lochlan comes to stand beside him.

“I’m the one that should have thought of it. I studied Nuclear Medicine. Gastroparesis is one of those conditions that can easily get missed. They don’t ask for gastric emptying studies often because it’s expensive and time-consuming.”

I know this because Julia’s tests were some of the most expensive we’ve paid for. She had to lie on a bed for hours while the machine took pictures of the radioactive food she’d eaten.

It was fascinating to watch on the screen, but she hated every minute.

“Don’t beat yourselves up, guys. This isn’t something that I had even heard of prior to a couple of weeks ago. And now we’re all learning how to manage it together.”

“Can I ask a favour?” Caleb speaks so quietly I almost miss it.

“Of course. I owe you for helping with Ella. I have a feeling we’ll be needing your help often.”

“Can you set up an appointment with Julia’s gastroenterologist, please? I could go through the hospital, but I’m sure you’ve already vetted all the specialists in New Hope and would have picked the best in the field for Julia.”

“Consider it done, but just so you know, it wasn’t just the gastroenterologists in New Hope. We have the best specialist in the Southern Hemisphere.”

“Thank you, I appreciate it, and I’m here anytime you need.”

“No thanks necessary. It’s what I do for the important people in my life. If you’d like some privacy, feel free to use Ella’s vacant apartment outside. Chad will be able to get in. His fingerprints still have access.”

“Thanks, Arden,” Chad says while giving me a hug.

I hug him back before turning around and walking out with Ella.

Ella

I finish up getting ready for bed. It’s been a long day, and everyone was so kind. I don’t think it has fully hit me yet that these people want to be a part of my life.

I’d met most of those in attendance for Steve’s memorial service, but there were people here who I had only ever heard of. They didn’t hesitate to wrap me in a hug and console me, and it was too much at times. That’s when Arden would step in and shelter me for a while, until I was ready to face the crowd again.

“Did you bathe in hand sanitiser?” Arden yells from the bedroom.

I walk out of our bathroom towards him. He’s lying on the bed, shirtless, and the sheet is draped across his bottom half. The best thing about this house is the climate control. It’ll be dropping below 10 degrees tonight, but the house is toasty and warm.

“I’m not bathing in disinfectant,” I deadpan.

“But all those people touched you today. Think of the germs.” He’s serious. Arden has been working on his germ phobia, but it’s difficult for him.

“I’ve showered and I’ve changed. I don’t think anyone who came today was carrying the bubonic plague with them.”

“Don’t joke. You never know.”

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