Page 41 of Stuck with my Guarded MVP
Had I overstepped? First I’d moved in, now I was taking over not just his kitchen but his sister’s care plan. Was I bulldozing my way into his life like some kind of well-meaning hurricane?
I folded my hands in my lap, trying to look composed. Trying not to look like I suddenly wanted to crawl under the table.
"Did I overstep?" I asked.
That got his eyes back on mine. Green, sharp, still shadowed with sleep. "No. Claire, this… this is more than I could’ve asked."
“Liam,” I said gently. "Maybe that’s why I’m here." I smiled as I softly exhaled. “This is something I’m good at. Besides, it’s a lot for you to handle alone.”
He sat then, one knee bumping mine under the table. I didn’t move.
"So," I continued, shifting back to professional mode, "Maeve’s symptoms are vague but concerning. Muscle weakness, some coordination issues. She hasn’t had a neuro workup yet. Reflex tests, EMG scans."
He shook his head. "She’s had bloodwork and basic stuff, but not a full workup. They mentioned doing genetic testing next. That’s what scared her."
"Understandably. Genetic testing can be overwhelming, especially when there’s a possibility of something like Huntington’s."
He flinched at the word. I softened.
"Liam, I’ll walk her through it. I won’t bombard her with jargon. And if it’s not Huntington’s, we’ll figure out what else it could be."
He leaned forward, elbows on the table, brow furrowed. "Do you think it might be something else?"
I hesitated. "Honestly? There are a dozen other conditions that can cause similar symptoms. Some of them are very treatable. But it’s too early to guess. What she needs is a doctor who listens, and who won’t rush to a worst-case diagnosis. Her primary care doctor is doing the right things first, running several different blood tests. Start simple before ordering the more invasive ones. "
His shoulders relaxed a little. Just a little.
"Thanks," he said quietly.
I shrugged again, but my chest felt warm.
"This is the part of practicing medicine that was always hard for me. The part where I didn’t know what was going on yet.” I paused, considering all those patients waiting for the final verdict. “Watching my patients in limbo.”
I looked down, self-conscious.
Then I looked at Liam. I could see the worry in his eyes.
“And it's harder when it's family.”
His eyes flicked up.
I sat up a bit.OK, let me clarify what I mean.Maeve nor Liam are my family.
“I mean it's hard when I am talking to someone who loves the patient.”
I reached across the table and gently squeezed his hand.
And it's harder when the person I'm talking to means something to me.
I exhale, quickly release his hand, and reach for my coffee.
“I was thinking maybe Maeve and I could FaceTime, and I can bring her up to speed with what I am thinking and get her thoughts on which doctor she might want to see.”
"Claire." His expression shifted, just barely. A flicker behind his eyes, like I’d touched on something.
His voice was lower, closer. His hand was grabbing the edge of the table. "Sit. Finish your coffee."
I did. He didn’t say anything for a while. Just sat there, elbows on knees, hands clasped.
