Page 57 of Saving Veronica
“Roger,” both men said, while Ronnie and the nurse exchanged eye rolls. She only winced twice when she felt a pinch on her lower ribs.
“You okay?” Sara asked.
“Yeah, it’s pinching at the bottom of the ribs on the right.” Suddenly the back was off and Finn, who was in the front grabbed the front, and she didn’t know what happened, but he and Patch made movements to each other with their brows, and she was suddenly lowered so she lay on her back. Sara was there, and at a nod from Patch, she held up the sheet and Finn closed his eyes as the front cast was removed, and the sheet was draped over her.
“Don’t move,” Patch said, as he cut the gauze up both sides, then he nodded to Sara, who reached in under the sheet and helped remove it. Ronnie breathed in relief when it was the nurse that looked beneath the sheet and removed the gauze.
“Okay, now we do x-rays,” Dr. Smith said, and asked everyone to leave, except for Patch and the nurse. Thirty minutes later, Patch opened the door and Finn hurried in and saw Ronnie sitting up with the sheet around her, and he also saw her right hand was down at her side. Gerald hurried over to her and took her hand, and helped her step down. With Finn on her other side, they went over and inspected the x-rays.
Finn had no idea what he was looking at, and Ronnie sighed. “So there’s no improvement.”
“Huh?” Patch looked at her, then grinned. “Sorry. That was the day it happened. I forgot you know how to read x-rays. These are today’s,” he said, and slapped up several films and watched as Ronnie leaned closer and inspected them.
“What are we looking at?” Gerald frowned.
“The top ones were the day of the accident,” Ronnie said. “The bottom ones were just taken.” Then, she pointed out the differences in the two.
“So, you’re healed?”
“Yes.” Ronnie sighed and held up her arm. “It’s a little skinny, but I should be back to normal in no time. Are there any restrictions, Patch?”
“Dr. Smith?”
“No lifting anything over three pounds for two weeks. And I’m going to write you a prescription for physical therapy. Follow their instructions and restrictions, but other than the lifting, I don’t see anything that warrants any more visits to us. You can do all your follow-up with your regular doctor. Tell him to contact me if he has any concerns.”
“Thank you. If we’re done here, can you direct me to a bathroom?” she asked, and took the pack her grandfather handed her, holding the sheet to her bare chest. They nodded, indicating she should follow Sara, and was surprised she was taken through a door that said employees only.
“This is the doctors’ lounge. There’s a shower back there. Don’t worry, Dr. Atwal and Dr. Smith discussed you using it before you arrived. I’ll be out here if you need anything.”
“Oh god, thank you so much,” Ronnie said, and almost cried, but she hurried through the door and didn’t waste any time taking care of business. Twenty minutes later she was brushing her wet hair as she came out, and grinned when Sara looked at her in shock. “God, that felt so good.” She grinned, and together they went out and found Finn and Gerald in the reception area. After taking care of her bill, they started to leave and she stopped.
“My scooter.”
“Already in the truck.” Gerald grinned. “And Finn called his father to tell him he’s riding home with us.”
“Cool. Did you ask Patch about Captain?”
“What about him?”
“He’s four pounds, can he ride my shoulder?”
“Oh,” Gerald said, then looked up as the door whipped open, and he grinned when it was Patch.
“Ronnie,” he called, and they turned. “How much does Captain weigh?”
“Four pounds.”
“Okay, that should be okay, but talk to the physical therapist about it.”
“Thanks, Patch,” she said, then the three of them went out to the truck, and she was surprised when Finn offered to sit in the back, but she had him sit up front, because his legs were longer. It was a joyous ride home.
Chapter 19
“Veronica Parker? Has anyone seen Miss Parker today?” Professor Graham asked Monday morning, and Ronnie giggled.
“Here, Professor,” she said, and held up her right hand from her usual seat.
“You’re normal,” he said bluntly, then groaned when the class laughed.
