A Nurse's Forgiveness by Jessica Matthews

Author:Jessica Matthews
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-09-08T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

MARTA’S mind ran through all the possibilities, hoping the boy’s immune system was strong enough to deal with whatever bug he might have caught.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, aware of how quickly Evan sat at attention, his after-dinner lethargy instantly gone.

Lynette wrung her hands. “Charlie hardly ate any supper and now he’s vomiting. Would you mind checking him, Dr Gallagher? It’s probably nothing but…” she shrugged helplessly “…you know how over-protective moms are.”

Evan rose. “Sure, I’ll be happy to.”

“He doesn’t want people to worry, so would you play this low-key?”

He agreed. “Where is he?”

“In his room. First door on the right side of the hallway.”

With that, Lynette turned away and ambled in the opposite direction.

Marta quickly swallowed her surprise at being ignored. The odd turn of events was rather unsettling. For a moment she felt like an abandoned toy, discarded because it had outlived its usefulness. Then she scolded herself for her thoughts. Why wouldn’t the Zindels want a physician’s opinion if they could get one? She couldn’t afford to become territorial when her patients’ lives were at stake.

After a circuitous route to the house, Marta followed Evan to Charlie’s room. He knocked twice before a weak voice called out.

“Hey, there,” Evan greeted the new teenager, who was lying on the twin-sized bed on his side. The room was pure boy, with a red-and-blue plaid bedspread and curtains to match. “I just heard horrible news. You’re not enjoying all the good food.”

The corners of Charlie’s mouth turned up slightly. He held his stomach with one hand and clutched a hospital emesis basin with the other. “I don’t know why she called you. I’m OK.”

“Are you sure?” Evan asked. “I don’t mind practicing my doctor stuff.”

Once again a small grin tugged at Charlie’s mouth. “OK,” he agreed. “You won’t find anything, though. I’m just tired, and when I’m tired I get nauseous.”

Evan sat on the edge of the bed. “Do you have a thermometer handy?”

“Top drawer.”

Where he’d indicated, Marta found the latest model in thermometers, along with tongue depressors, alcohol wipes and a penlight. She gave Evan the supplies he would use before she inserted the thermometer’s tip into Charlie’s ear. As soon as the signal beeped, she held it so Evan could read the digital display.

Ninety-nine point seven. Slightly elevated.

She took Charlie’s pulse and counted his respirations. All normal.

“Did you get sick at camp?”

“I felt great.”

“Did anyone get sick at camp? Colds, the flu, sore throat?”

Charlie thought a moment. “I heard one of the leaders got into poison ivy. Does that count?”

Evan smiled. “No.”

“Then I don’t think anyone was sick. The nurses watched us real close.”

Evan probed the lymph glands in Charlie’s neck, and checked his throat. “Can you roll onto your back for me?”

Charlie complied and Evan palpated his abdomen and pressed down on his right lower quadrant. “Does this hurt?”

“No.”

Evan rose. “Looks like you were right, Charlie. I can’t find a thing wrong with you.”

“Told you so. Will you tell my mom, so she’ll quit worrying?”

Marta laughed at his plaintive tone.

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