Page 2 of The Doctor's Promise
Noemi sighed and sat on the edge of the bed. “Tomi… Yes. You’re really sick, or we wouldn’t be here. I can’t say definitively that you’ll get a heart, but by God, I’m praying you do. It’s an odd thing to say because it means someone else dying, and that offends all my good intentions. I can’t be biased, but I promise you this: the second we get that call from UNOS, I’ll harvest the organ myself, and I won’t let it out of my sight until it’s pumping in your chest.”
Thomasina smiled at her. “I could get quite the crush on you, Dr. Castor.”
“Ha, right back at you, sister. Now, get some sleep. Doc’s orders.”
Noemi shruggedinto her denim jacket as she walked out of the hospital. A fine mist of rain was falling, and the November night was bitterly cold. Noemi shivered as the breeze whipped around her. She walked briskly to her car, an ancient Volkswagen with intermittent heating and a rattle that Noemi ignored. She got in and tried to start the ignition. It faltered twice then died. “Oh, no, not now…” She tried again, but the car was dead. “Fuck, fuck, fuckety fuck,” she muttered, then jumped violently as someone rapped on her window.
Rafa Genova smiled at her as she rolled the window down. Yes, her car was old enough to have manual windows. “Hey, Noemi… trouble?”
“I’m good with hearts, Rafa, but not with cars.”
He laughed softly. “Let me have a look. Pop the hood, would you?”
Noemi watched him as he checked out the engine, seemingly oblivious to the rain. His dark curls stuck to his face as his hair got soaked through, and a small curl of desire warmed Noemi’s stomach.
Stop it. He’s Tomi’s man, and you love Tomi. Stop it.
Noemi looked away as Rafa stood back at up. “It’s completely dead, I’m afraid. I could try to jump-start you, but I’m not sure you’d make it all the way home.”
“Oh, darn it. Well, I guess it’s the bus for me then. Thanks anyway, Rafa. I do appreciate it.”
“Nonsense, I’ll drive you home. We can arrange for your car to be picked up too.”
Noemi shook her head. “No, honestly, you’ve been kind enough.”
But he wouldn’t take no for an answer. He called his assistant as they walked back to his Mercedes and arranged for her car to be towed to an auto shop.
Rafa drove her home. Luckily, she didn’t live very far from the hospital, so she didn’t feel too badly for taking him away from Tomi. He asked her how Thomasina was doing.
“She’s in good spirits, Rafa, and she finally ate an entire meal. That’s a really good sign. It means she’s getting stronger. Any little step like that means she’s more likely to survive a transplant.”
Rafael nodded. “I know you can’t answer this, but…”
“The chances of getting a heart are what they are, Rafa.”
“I know,” he said softly, and her heart ached for him.
“Is Bepi okay?”
“He’s asking a lot of questions about his mom. I keep saying she’s going to be okay, but it’s getting to the point where I can’t lie to him.”
“You’re not lying to him, Rafa. He’s two.”
For a long time Rafa was silent before he looked over at her. “What if we lose her, Noemi? Then what do I tell my son?”
Her throat closed, and she shook her head. “I can’t answer that for you, Rafa. I have never lost anyone that close.”
“I’m glad.”
“I wish I could advise you… Look, let’s not dwell on that—positive thoughts and all that.”
Rafa smiled, and her stomach flipped. She looked away. “You mean,” he said, “that you doctors believe in karma? That old cliché?”
“Hell, yes! We’ll take anything like that!” she retorted, and they both laughed.
At her apartment building, she thanked him. “You’re a lifesaver.”
“Least I could do. Goodnight, Noe.”
