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Chapter 11: Well, finally!
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Diagnosis: Love Chapter 12: I've been waiting for this
Jenny"Nico! Put me down! What the fuck do you think you're doing?" I'm yelling the words as if maybe he won't hear me, but there's little chance of that, since my head is dangling just south of his ears. I'm probably breaking his eardrums. I don't really care, though, because I'm the worst combination of emotions: I'm hurt by his refusal to listen to me, I'm frustrated by the way he revved me up and then shut me down, and I'm furious that he slung me over his shoulder and is carrying me-again. When I made my stubborn declaration back at the lake, Nico had knelt in front of me, and for a moment, I thought he was going to kiss me again. My heart began to pound out a staccato, and I almost reached for him. But instead of easing me to my back onto the picnic blanket, he scooped me up, flinging me over his shoulder, and then grabbed the rest of our gear and stalked to the car. I hadn't screamed then, but that was only because there were other people at the lake, and they were al
Diagnosis: Love Chapter 13: Decisions
DeaconIt was nearly eleven o'clock, and I was exhausted. But then again, what else was new? The day had been a long one, but not a bad one. We were three weeks into real life for the oncology wing here at St. Agnes Memorial Hospital-the realization of a dream I'd had for years-and real life wasn't always pretty. The patients occupying the rooms on this floor were all seriously ill. Each one was facing pain, incredible suffering and possible death. I never forgot that, not for one minute. They deserved the best we had to give them, even when that meant sacrificing time, energy and any kind of life outside these walls.That was why the telephone call I'd gotten late this afternoon was such shitty timing. The last thing I needed was someone else telling me that I was needed-desperately-thousands of miles away from the hospital where I'd committed my time and energy. There was no way I should have told Erin Lopez that I'd even think about the possibility. I was the head physician i
Diagnosis: Love Chapter 14: First day, part 2
EMMA"Just who in the blazes do you think you are?"The voice that rang out behind me shook with fury. Anxiety threatened to close my throat, but I kept walking anyway. "Stop!" She was much closer behind me than I'd thought, but still, my step stuttered only slightly. "I said, stop walking." She grasped my upper arm, not so much to hurt me as to get my attention. A large part of me wanted to shake her off and keep running away, but the wiser portion of my mind-and years of training-prevailed. I drew myself up and turned to face her. "I'm sorry-Mrs. Hoskins, was it? Did you need something?" I pasted on what I thought might have passed for a pleasant smile. "I didn't hear you." We both knew I was lying, but she was too fired up to call me on that. "Yes, I do need something. I need you to not go into our patients' room and change their care plan-to tinker with what Dr. Girard has carefully and thoughtfully put in place for their treatment. You have no right." I sucke
Diagnosis: Love Chapter 15: Making friends
EMMAAn hour later, I left Mr. Crew's room, feeling somewhat better than I had when I'd gone in. He wasn't an easy man, that was for sure, but on the other hand, he'd been fighting multiple myeloma for almost four years. He'd been in remission for two years; now, the stem cell transplant that had given him a few years of relative health had to be repeated. He was in the hospital for a clinical drug therapy prior to the next stem cell harvest. The man had been through excruciating pain, crippling illness and fatigue. I couldn't blame him for being tired of more doctors, more questions and more options. Still, he'd opened up enough to listen to me for a while and had seemed amenable to further discussion, once I'd had the time to review his file more thoroughly.Back in the hallway, I wasn't unaware of the eyes that followed me with interest as I wandered toward the staff lounge. The head nurse and I hadn't been exactly circumspect in our disagreement, and if this hospital was lik
Diagnosis: Love Chapter 16: Well, hello, hunky
EMMAThe humidity wasn't bad today, but it was still muggier than I would've liked. Still, the sun was warm, and there was the slightest breeze keeping me from sweating through my cute little short-sleeved top and pencil skirt.I closed my eyes, lifting my face to the warmth, letting the soft air mend the hurt and upset from this morning. Intentionally relaxing my shoulders, I began the deep-breathing exercises that I knew would help bring me back to center."Is this a private class, or can anyone join?"I jerked up, my eyes flying open. In front of me, nearly blocking the sun, a man was looking down at me. In my surprise, as I squinted at him, I had the fleeting thought that he looked like a god, huge and backlit and impossibly attractive. "Um, what?" Ever the mistress of a snappy comeback, I blinked, trying to take him in.He pointed to me and then waved around the general area. "I figured this had to be a yoga class, right? You were doing that deep-breathing stuff that
Diagnosis: Love Chapter 17: Home, sweet . . . trailer?
EMMAI hadn't paid much attention to my surroundings when I'd driven into Harper Springs early that morning, but now, as I followed my navigation app's directions from the hospital to the piece of land that was my new home, I took the time to check it out. The main street was lined with shops and businesses that gave way to small homes, most of which looked like they were fifty years old or more.My first reaction to the email asking me to consider taking this position had been cautious interest. And then I'd opened up a map on my computer to see exactly where Harper Springs, Florida, was located, and I'd laughed. Why in the world would I leave Philadelphia? Why would I give up an apartment that was within walking distance of restaurants serving five different cuisines, the best grocery stores in the world, and a bustling nightlife? The answer was that I'd never really wanted to live in the city. For years, my dream had been to find a piece of land where I could build my own hom
Diagnosis: Love Chapter 18: With a little help
EMMA"Wow." Jenny stood alongside her car, gazing at my new home. Sunglasses hid her eyes, but her mouth had drooped open slightly. "I know." I slumped back against the side of my sedan. "And if you think the outside is bad, wait'll you open the door. The smell . . ." I shook my head. "It's bad. I think maybe if I open the windows and air it out, it might help some, but there's no question that it's going to take some bleach, too. Lots of bleach." Jenny nodded slowly. "Okay. So . . . we need bleach. And vinegar and baking soda." At my questioning glance, she explained, "It's good for cleaning sinks and showers and toilets. Great for deodorizing, too." She looked back at my car. "It's not furnished, is it?" "Bobby Lucas told me there was a bed, but it's nothing I'm going to sleep on, believe me. I'll haul it out. I'll need a mattress at the very least, and maybe a chair or two . . . but I won't be able to afford much." I threw up my hands. "I sank everything I have into th
Diagnosis: Love Chapter 19:
EMMA"Well . . . this is better." Jenny stood in my sitting room with her hands on her hips, surveying the trailer. "I mean, with all due respect, it's probably not going to make the cover story of Home and Garden any time soon, but it's kind of cute, actually." I flopped back into the comfy chair we'd found at the thrift store, kicking off my shoes. "It smells better. And it's clean. And . . ." I took a deep breath. "It's mine.""It is, indeed." Jenny's tone left it up to interpretation as far as whether that was a good thing or a bad one. I understood her trepidation. While my little home-on-wheels was better than we'd found it, it was lit by a variety of gas lanterns (from the camping department at Walmart) and kerosene lamps (from the thrift store). My bedroom and sitting room walls were lined with jugs of water I'd bought for drinking, washing dishes . . . and showering. I hadn't been sure how I'd manage basic bathing, but then when we'd been looking for the lanterns at
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