When One Night Isn't Enough by Wendy S. Marcus

Author:Wendy S. Marcus
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2011-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

ON THURSDAY, Ali was eight hours into a twelve-hour shift on 5E when she received the call. A school bus versus school bus MVA—motor vehicle accident. Estimated seventy-six children and two adults injured. ETA thirteen minutes.

The nurse administrator instructed her to proceed to the E.R., stat.

A winter storm had moved in earlier than predicted. Madrin Memorial was the hospital closest to the crash site. With dangerous travel conditions no patients would be diverted. Ali gave report to Victoria, who would cover her patients until the next shift of nurses arrived.

Before leaving the floor, Ali made a call of her own.

“We need you, Gramps, and Mrs. Meyer. Two elementary school buses collided out on Clover Hill. Wear your hospital volunteer blazers and bring your ID badges. The E.R. is going to be a madhouse.”

“We’ll see you in ten.” He hung up the phone.

Ali would have offered to send someone to get him, but, living three blocks from the hospital, she knew Gramps would have refused.

“All non-essential personnel report to the emergency room, stat,” boomed over the hospital PA system. Ali ran for the stairs.

Hospital employees from every department, in a rainbow of scrub colors and uniforms, moved with purpose throughout the emergency room. Extra stretchers brought out of storage lined every spare inch of wall space along the main inverted T-shaped hallway. Staff from Housekeeping washed them down while men from Maintenance trailed behind them, tying on clean sheets. Wheelchairs, which never seemed to be around when you needed them, were collapsed and lined up three deep along the back corridor.

Security guards set up tables and barrier screens. Staff from Food Service assisted staff from Patient Registration by putting together and stacking new patient files. Men from Engineering hung premade signs directing ambulance staff and family members of the injured, signs that, for the most part, were ignored.

After receiving her assignment, Ali found Jared in Trauma Room One, Bed One, listening to the chest of an elderly man through his stethoscope. The patient looked up at her, sighed, and said, “I’ve died and gone to heaven.”

Jared lifted his head and bent toward his patient’s ear, his eyes fixed on Ali. “I feel the very same way every time I see her, too,” he whispered loudly, making certain she heard.

He smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes. Something wasn’t right. She’d thought he might show up at bingo last night. He hadn’t. Their last contact had been physical in nature, and when she’d woken up in the morning, he had gone. He’d snuck out, again.

“Is there anything I can help you with, Dr. Padget?” she asked.

“Why, yes, Nurse Forshay,” he countered. “Mr. Conran fell at the nursing home and is having some left hip pain. Let’s get a left hip X-ray.”

“Right away, Doctor.” She hesitated, stared at his luscious mouth, remembered.

He smiled, this one genuine. “Penny for your thoughts?”

Not for a million pennies. Her body in the midst of a heated flush, she turned and left the room, heard him laugh behind her.

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