Page 21 of Scooter's Endgame
“Good morning, everyone.” She offers us a smile before turning her attention to Luke, who’s just woken up. “Hi Luke, how are you doing this morning?
“Hi,” he replies with a sleepy smile of his own. “I’m fine.”
“You feeling a little sleepy today?”
“Yeah.”
The doctor does a quick exam, chatting with him the whole time. It’s clear to see Dr. Murray loves what she does. She’s incredibly gentle with Luke, while being friendly and joking with him. Done with the exam, she consults her tablet, scribbles some notes, and then gives Kathleen another reassuring smile.
“I’m happy with the results of our overnight observation. His oxygen saturation is looking good, heartrate and pressure’s much better. Overall, I’m happy with the results, under the circumstances.
“So, I’m comfortable with him going home today. However, I would ask that you keep him as calm as possible. Excitement of any kind can lead to a repeat of last night, and we want to avoid that at all costs.”
She turns to Luke. “All right, young man. Home time for you. But I need you to make me a pinky promise that you’re going to take things easy, no running, and that you listen to Mama when she cautions you to be calm and still, okay?” Luke nods solemnly. “Promise?” she asks, holding out a pinky to him.
“I promise,” he replies, hooking his smaller one around hers.
“Good man.” This time, Dr. Murray holds up her hand for a high five. When he gives her one, she ruffles his hair. “I’ll see you soon.” Turning to Kathleen she says, “My secretary will email you all my written instructions and recommendations, she’ll include an appointment date, and I’ll leave a prescription at the nurses’ desk for you. I’ll see you soon. In the meantime, give my office a call if you need anything. They always know where to find me.”
“I appreciate everything you’ve done, Doctor. Thank you. We’ll see you soon,” Kathleen says, shaking the woman’s hand.
Dr. Murray shakes my hand and takes her leave. “I’ll be right back with the discharge paperwork,” the nurse says, following the woman out.
True to her word, it’s not long before she’s back with the relevant documentation to get Luke discharged and on his way home. I think we could all do with the rest. In no time at all, everything’s arranged and we’re on our way.
The trip home has a heavy sense of déjà vu – we travel in silence as Luke naps in the back and Kathleen broods in the front of the vehicle, much like the trip back from their storage unit.
The last twenty-four hours have been pretty damn stressful, not just for me as a bystander watching it all unfold and being helpless to help. But for Kathleen especially. I can only begin to imagine how she must be feeling as his mother.
But there’s a solution to the problem, and the doctor is confident that Luke has a healthy future ahead of him, post-surgery.
Once again, I pull the car up to the front of the cottage and tell Kathleen to go ahead and open up for me to bring the boy inside. Thankfully, this time is very different from the last. Gently, I lift him and take him to his mother so she can do what needs to be done. I place him on the bed and turn to exit the room. “I’ll be in the living room when you’re done.”
“I’ll be right there. This won’t take long.”
Walking toward me down the hall, the bright light highlights the exhaustion on Kathleen’s face. Dark circles beneath her eyes give them a bruised look. Her shoulders sag as though she carries the worries of the world upon them. Her skin is pale beneath the makeup she wore for her interview at Aces the day before.
It’s bizarre to think it was only yesterday. It feels as if days have passed. “He’s out like a light, and will most likely be that way for a good few hours.”
“Then you should grab some sleep too. I can hang around if it’ll help you rest easier knowing someone’s looking out for him?”
Kathleen appears to consider my offer, but then declines. “I appreciate the offer, Beckett, but I couldn’t possibly impose on you more than I already have.”
“It’s not an imposition if I offered.” It’s clear she’s not used to having people help her, and it certainly has her on the backfoot. “Kay, I hate to say this because the last thing I want to do is make you feel bad, but, sweet pea, you look all done in. Go get some rest. I’ve got you. Both.”
I watch her wrestle with her conscience – her internal struggle plays out on her face. Finally though, practicality – or sheer drop-down weariness – wins out. “Well, if you’re sure –”
“I wouldn’t have made the offer if I wasn’t. Promise.”
“Then thank you. I graciously accept.” Sighing, she says, “That definitely seems to be my word of the moment. I haven’t said it as many times in one twenty-four-hour span as I have these past hours.”
She’s close enough for me to reach out and give her a quick hug. “No need to thank me. I’m just glad I was in the right place, at the right time, to be able to help out. Now off you go.”
For the briefest moment, it looks as if Kathleen is about to rest her head on my shoulder. But then she steps back and turns for her bedroom. Watching her walk away, my mind begins to spin with thoughts on how to win over her affections. Because in this very second, a vision of what life could be makes me want it more than my next breath.
I’ve spent my entire career serving and protecting the lives of strangers who will never even know who I am or even that it was me who saved them. And it’s never mattered. Having been able to do it is what’s important. But this, right now? It matters. More than I can put into words.
Settling on the couch with the remote, I turn the TV on, ensuring it’s turned low so as not to disturb either Kathleen or Luke. I’m fading fast, watching a football game when Luke comes running into the room, looking confused and scared. In his fear, he’s searching the room, but I’m convinced he’s not really seeing anything, since his breathing continues to speed up.
