Broken Dreams by Laura Scott

Author:Laura Scott [Scott, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Laura Iding

Chapter Nine

Amber walked to work the following morning, hoping the fresh air would combat her exhaustion. Last night, Nick’s rejection of so much as a kiss, hurt more than she'd thought possible. She hadn't been able to sleep, because she'd enjoyed their dinner so much, only to have the evening end on a sour note.

When she had finally fallen asleep, her dreams had been just as exhausting. She'd dreamed she was at work where Shane and Nick were both patients of hers and she'd had to run from one to the other, trying to help them both as they cried out in pain, but succeeding in helping neither.

The quietness of the morning was a blessing. Taking a deep breath helped clear the sleepy fog from her mind. The summer day was a perfect seventy degrees. Too bad she had to go into work. Would she see Nick today? It was ridiculous how badly she wanted to.

When she walked onto the rehab floor, there was no sign of him. Silly to be disappointed, especially since it was early. No surprise he wasn't here yet. Most of the physicians didn't show up until well after 8:00 AM for their morning rounds.

Except for Roland, who didn't show up much at all.

“Hi,” Irene greeted her. “I hate to tell you we’re shorthanded, down one nurse because Rachel called in sick again today.”

She stifled a groan. “Okay, it's nothing we haven't worked through before. Did we at least get an extra nursing assistant?”

“Yes, thankfully we did.”

“Good. We’ll have to take seven patients apiece, and each nurse will have their own nurses aid to help.” She stared at the census board, trying to figure out the fairest way to split up the various patient assignments.

Ten minutes later, they had divvied up the patients and had scattered for bedside shift report. Once that was finished, Amber started her day making rounds of the newer patients she didn't know very well. She took her time assessing them so she wouldn't miss anything. Mr. Fischer 's acute stroke symptoms remained far too fresh in her memory.

By mid-morning she was feeling pretty good about being caught up with her work.

“Amber?”

She spun around when Irene called her name. “Yes?”

“Your patient, Mr. Cooper, is down in PT, requesting additional pain medication. The therapist just called up asking if you'd bring him down more.”

She nodded. “I know Mr. Cooper has had a few rough days lately. Will you keep an eye on my patients for me? This shouldn't take too long.”

“No problem.”

She remembered the last time she'd gone down to the gym, when poor Mr. Goetz had suffered his seizure. As she took the stairs down to the first floor, she wondered if Roland even realized Mr. Goetz had died. Or if he even cared.

She found Mr. Cooper using the parallel bars, trying to walk with his new prosthesis. He had lost one leg due to problems with circulation and he often complained of phantom pain in that leg. It was a common phenomenon, suffered by young soldiers, and those who were more elderly.

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