Page 18 of Love Medley
“I think so. But ask me that again at the end of the shift.”
Jake smiles. “Will do.”
It feels like we’ve been gone for hours, but it’s really only been ten to fifteen minutes. That’s probably still way longer than either Jake or I should have been absent. Coming down from my panic attack has left me spent and exhausted. I’ve never had one before, which made the whole episode frightening. One instant I was fine, and the next, I was completely out of control.
After I return to the doctor’s bay, Dr. Simons waves me over. “I thought I lost you for a moment,” she says, pushing up her red-rimmed glasses with a finger. “While you were in the room, I ordered an X-ray, and it’s already back.”
I blink in surprise. Usually everything moves so slowly in the ER, but itisa weeknight and not as busy, and X-rays don’t take long. Tanya must have gone to Radiology as soon as I left the room.
Dr. Simons pulls up the film on her computer. “What do you see?”
I peer at the X-ray. There’s a definite break; it’s not a subtle finding. “That looks like an ulnar fracture,” I say, pointing to the bone.
“Yes,” Dr. Simons says. “It’s a bit displaced, too. Did she say what happened?”
I pause, gathering my thoughts. I don’t want to break Tanya’s confidence, but I need to inform Dr. Simons what was said so we can take care of her medically. I trust that she’ll know what to do. “I’m pretty sure physical abuse caused the fracture.”
Dr. Simons leans back in her chair. “Say more.”
“It’s mostly a gut feeling,” I admit. “But Tanya's frightened. She has bruises at different stages of healing. And the mechanism of her accident doesn't make sense—she said she fell, but not on anything hard. Her fracture is located in the right place for someone raising her arm to shield against a blow. Plus, while she never admitted someone hit her, she also didn’t deny it when I asked her point-blank.”
Dr. Simons nods. “Do you think Tanya would be willing to press charges and help us catalog more of her injuries?”
I shake my head immediately. “She looked like she was about to run out of the room when I suggested anything like that. Probably the best we can do is report this incident, document the conversation accurately, and make it clear in the medical record that the reported mechanism of injury doesn’t fit her physical exam and X-ray findings.”
“Terrific, Lucy. That’s exactly right.” Dr. Simons regards me. “I’ve never worked with you before, but I’m impressed. You treated this with sensitivity beyond that of a typical fourth-year medical student and astutely figured out what was going on with very little information.”
Even though Dr. Simons’ words send a glow of pride through me, I’m still incredibly worried about Tanya and feel that I haven’t done enough for her. There has to be more I can do. “I wasn’t sure I was taking the history appropriately. Is there a specific screening questionnaire or guideline I should have been using for this situation?”
Dr. Simons sighs. “Great question. If someone in the waiting room exhibits any red flags, the triage nurse hands that person a paper questionnaire about physical abuse. But unfortunately, in general, we rely on the patients to volunteer that kind of information. As for a standardized way to evaluate patients on the doctor’s side, there isn’t one. We have to rely on our instincts like you just did.”
Before I can give that any more thought, Dr. Simons glances over my shoulder. “I called Ortho, and they already sent someone.”
I turn around. When I see who it is, my heart seizes in my chest.
It’s Weston.
Chapter seven
Jake
After I return to work, I make a half-hearted attempt to focus, but my thoughts are full of Lucy. The warmth of her skin, the sunny smile on her lips, those large brown eyes. And then later, her cold terror, the wide-eyed panic, the fear. Being able to help her in some small way—it moved me in a way I can’t name. She’s gone through so much. And I can’t stop thinking about her.
There’s no chance for me here—she’s clearly out of my league. Lucy Chang is someone my father would actually approve of, unlike me. Why would she even give me thetime of day? I mean, Sam, my ex, even found a better replacement…in Sterling. And of course that leads me to think of how my brother would respond to my thoughts about Lucy.
Fuck. Sterling would have a field day if he knew. If he found out I was falling over myself for a medical student, he’d laugh in my face. How ironic would that be? A med-school dropout falling for another med student?
God, I need to stop fantasizing about a woman who has obviously put up with a lot of shit from a complete asshole of an ex. I’m sure dating is not even on her mind right now.
Speaking of her ex, what kind of douchebag would terrorize a woman like that? For once, I understand what would lead a man to hit someone. I could definitely smash this motherfucker in the face and not even feel bad about it.
Lucy said she was okay after her panic attack, but a sense of protectiveness overwhelms me. While of course I'm interested in her (who wouldn’t be?), that’s besides the point. I just want to make sure she’s okay. I know she’s tough; she left him, after all. A lot of women stay in terrible relationships. But meeting that abused patient must have been jarring for Lucy, a mirror to her own horrors. I grit my teeth at the idea of this incredible woman being frightened in her own home.
On autopilot, I turn into the doctor’s bay to check on her. Just to ensure she really is all right. It would make me feel better to lay eyes on her.
Lucy is talking to a tall blonde guy; she’s hunched over, like she’s trying to make herself smaller. Realizing instinctively that this isthe asshole, I force myself to remain calm, clenching my fists at my sides. If I approach them, everything will go sideways. I doubt I’d be able to stop myself from pummeling him. And does Lucy want me to get in between them? Probably not. She’s technically safe at the moment, out in the open. I never want her to feel like I’m encroaching on her space. The last thing she needs is another Neanderthal going ballistic on her.
Lucy meets my gaze for a moment. Before she can look away, I nod at her reassuringly. I hope that small gesture informs her that I’m planning to stay in the vicinity until he’s gone. The part of me that's not going feral understands that she's strong enough to deal with this asshole herself.
