Page 27 of Waiting for Devon
“I will go to the hospital and get medicine for your daughter, Mrs. Rodriguez.” Devon glanced at Inez’s protruding stomach. “How far along are you?”
“Seven months, one week.” Her eyes filled with despair.
“After I take care of Téa, we’ll talk about your pregnancy, yes?”
“Yes, but please call me Inez, Dr. Brooks.”
Devon smiled. “While I’m gone, take a cool cloth and bathe Téa. Her fever must come down.”
“Yes, yes, I will do as you say.”
Devon turned and saw a horrified Lincoln standing in the open doorway. “Take me to Dallas General.”
“But, Miss Brooks,” he argued. “This neighborhood isn’t safe.”
“It’sDr. Brooks!” she snapped. “These people need my help, and I don’t give a damn about my safety. Let’s go.”
Dallas General Hospital was located a mere fifteen minutes away, but to Devon those precious minutes measured an eternity. She dashed through the ER entrance and approached one of the nurses on duty.
“I’m Dr. Devon Brooks. And I need a medical bag.” She proceeded to list the supplies she needed as the nurse stared at her with mounting suspicion.
“I’m sorry, ma’am, but you can’t come in here and make these demands. Don’t you know it’s illegal to impersonate a doctor?”
Devon dumped her purse on the counter, rummaged through a variety of objects, and flashed her medical ID badge at the dimwitted nurse. “Call San Francisco General Hospital. They’ll tell you who I am. The number is…”
“What’s going on here?” Linden Bailey inquired as he entered from a double set of doors.
“Linden! Thank God, you’re on duty,” Devon exclaimed in relief. She explained the situation and repeated what she needed.
Linden frowned at the offending nurse. “Do you know who this woman is? Yes, she’s Dr. Devon Brooks, but she is also Shane Barrington’s fiancée. The Barringtons are major contributors to this hospital. You will give her whatever she wants, is that clear? Keep an inventory of the supplies she needs, and I will take full responsibility.”
The nurse nodded and hurried to do Dr. Bailey’s bidding.
“Thank you, Linden. I appreciate your help.”
“Come back for whatever you want. And let me know how the little girl is.”
Devon clutched the medical bag and prayed all would be well when she returned to the tiny apartment. Lincoln followed her upstairs and remained quiet but observant.
By the look of gratitude in Inez’s black eyes, Devon guessed she thought the doctor wouldn’t bother to come back. She squeezed Inez’s hand and smiled. Inez rewarded her with an expression of faith and trust.
With her stethoscope, Devon listened to Téa’s chest. Her diagnosis had been quick but accurate. The child suffered from an upper respiratory infection. She checked Téa’s temperature with a digital thermometer and frowned with concern. It read 102 degrees. Reaching into the medical bag, she removed a bottle of liquid fever-reducer and forced a teaspoon through Téa’s parched lips. Then she administered a shot of penicillin and made the child as comfortable as possible. She brushed a stray lock of dark curly hair from Téa’s forehead before she turned to Inez.
“Téa has an upper respiratory infection, just like I thought,” Devon explained. “I’ve given her medication to reduce her fever and an antibiotic for the infection. She should feel better within a few hours. You’ll need to continue to give her the fever medicine, and here is a bottle of antibiotics. She’ll need these three times a day. Now go into the other room, and I’ll be with you in a moment to discuss your pregnancy.”
Devon gestured for Lincoln to join her as she began to open cupboards in the kitchen and check the refrigerator. What she discovered appalled her.
“There’s no food, Lincoln,” she whispered as tears scalded her eyes. “There’s nothing except that loaf of bread Téa was carrying. There’s nothing nutritious to drink, either.”
Straightening her shoulders, Devon looked at Lincoln and issued another order. “Go to the grocery store and buy enough food to last Téa and her mother for a week. They need meat, fresh vegetables, fruits, milk, and orange juice. Buy whatever you think is appropriate. Spare no expense. You can use one of my credit cards. I left my purse in the limousine. In fact, I want you to set up an account for them in my name. That way they can buy the things they need whenever they want.”
After he left, Devon adjusted a pair of latex gloves and gave Inez as thorough a pelvic examination as she could in the cramped quarters of the bedroom the mother and daughter shared. Devon couldn’t be sure about the baby’s health without an ultrasound, but she was pleased by the initial exam. The fetus was small for seven months, but it was well-positioned, and now the mother had the opportunity to improve her own health with proper nutrition. Devon also planned to provide Inez with prenatal vitamins.
Téa was awake when her mother and Devon emerged from the bedroom. Inez rushed to hug her little girl and couldn’t stop the tears from flowing down her cheeks.
“Mami, who’s that?” Téa whispered in English.
“My name is Devon. I’m a doctor.” Devon smiled. “I helped you when I found you on the street.”
