Page 31 of Blessings in Disguise

Jackson leaned over and squeezed his shoulder. “We’ll help you with that, too. You can stay at the Med Center at Pathways while you recuperate.”

His gaze transferred to Jackson. “What about the new boys comin’ in?”

“That’s not till next month. Let’s take this one day at a time.”

Once again, his gaze went to Caleb. “Would you still want me as a patient? After this?”

“Of course. I’d never abandon you.”

Gemma said, “Would you like us to leave so you can talk to Dr. Shepherd now?”

“No, that’s okay.” His eyelids drooped. “I’m tired.”

“Go ahead and sleep.” Caleb squeezed his shoulder. “We’re staying with you until we can bring you back to Westwood.”

Harlan nodded off.

Jackson stood. “I’m going to go talk to Dr. Barry about getting Harlan out of here safely.” He left the room.

Gemma looked over at Caleb. He wanted badly to console her and be consoled by her.

She said, “This makes our problems seem small.”

“I was thinking the same thing.”

“Have you been okay?”

“Shaky over Harlan mostly. It didn’t help that Saul Jacobs came to see me.”

“The youth pastor? I thought he was in jail.”

“He said he was let go because there wasn’t enough evidence at the trial to convince the judge he was guilty.”

“Why did he come to see you?”

“He wanted my forgiveness for having an affair with Marlena. Apparently, they’re not together anymore.”

“Wow. That’s a lot to deal with. You must be conflicted over this.”

“Not as much as before. I guess I’ve healed some.” He angled his chin to Harlan. “But he takes precedence over that anyway.”

She gave him a comforting smile.

* * *

Pax Barry sat in his makeshift office, a utility closet in former days, filling out the new boy’s chart, though he didn’t know much about Harlan Ford.

He took off his reading glasses and rubbed his eyes. It probably didn’t matter anyway as the files wouldn’t exist soon. Thank God that three angels of mercy had come to get him.

He knew all about Jackson Kane. Once, in a different life, he read the news and stayed current with the location he’d landed in. Even though Pathways was in Westwood, the place was a legend. Kane had worked miracles. Once,hewas seen as a miracle worker. Not anymore. Pax understood Harlan Ford’s desperation. After all that went down, he himself almost didn’t make it.

“Am I interrupting?”

“No, come on in. It’s crowded but clear off that chair and stack the papers on the shelf.”

When Jackson sat, he said, “Do you keep this place running by yourself?”

“Ah, no. I have a skeleton crew.”

---