13
“I think the patient in room 7 needs to be intubated, Dr. McQueen, but the PA on the case disagrees.” Kim, the nurse, sighed in apparent frustration. “She said the patient is too old and her medical history is extensive, so she’s against it. But of course, you can override her, sir.”
“Who is the PA?” Hogan asked with his eyes fixated on the computer screen as he continued typing away.
“It’s Gwyneth Marrow, sir.”
Giva’s eyes closed for a brief prayer because she knew the situation could spiral out of control fast. Gwyneth and her childish verbal jabs could be ignored, but gambling with a patient’s life was a serious issue. Such a decision was above her pay grade and expertise.
“Let me assess the patient and then confer with Dr. Patel. If the patient requires intubation, he’ll sign off on the order, so Dr. Kamanda and I can perform the procedure.”
“Thank you, Dr. McQueen.”
Three hours later, Hogan, Giva, and Ardaijah, the unit’s most experienced respiratory therapist, left room 7 together after checking on Mrs. Henderson. Her intubation had gone off without a hitch, and they were hopeful but realistic about her chances of recovering. Hogan had spoken candidly to her family about her prognosis, and he’d promised that someone from the unit would update them on the status of her condition as frequently as possible.
“Why don’t you ladies let me treat you to lunch?”
“I’m here for it.” Ardaijah flashed a toothy grin.
“We can order sandwiches from Oscar’s Pub and I can jog around the corner to pick them up. It’s a nice sunny day so, let’s eat—”
“You sneaky arrogant son of a bitch! How dare you waste a vent on a seventy-year-old woman with diabetes and hypertension against my recommendation? No, I’m not a doctor, but I know infectious diseases like the back of my hand. This is personal, Hogan and you know it.”
“It was a major medical decision that required a licensed physician to make the call, so after a consultation with Dr. Patel, Dr. Kamanda and I made the correct call. The patient is stable and resting.”
“Humph…” Gwyneth’s amber eyes narrowed above her mask as she glared at Giva. “Somebody needs to be reminded about the no-fraternization policy around here.”
Hogan, Giva, and Ardaijah watched as Gwyneth damn near ran down the hall in a huff. When she was out of sight, they resumed their casual walk down the hall.
“As I was saying about lunch, ladies…”
Giva’s mind wandered off as Hogan finalized their lunch plans. She admired him for making the right decision regarding Mrs. Henderson’s treatment. It showed great professionalism and sound judgment based on medical science. His performance during the procedure was impeccable and it had helped the old woman get oxygen into her failing lungs to increase her chances at survival. Everything had worked out smoothly for the good of the patient, which was their number-one priority in the unit. But there was an unsettling feeling in the pit of Giva’s stomach that she just couldn’t shake and it had everything to do with Gwyneth.
“It should only take you an hour to pack a few sets of scrubs and some sexy thongs and collect your mail, right?”
“That sounds about right.”
Hogan pushed the glass door open and allowed Giva to step out into the parking deck first, but he was right on her heels. “Cool. Your salmon dinner will be almost done by the time you reach my place.”
“You’re so kind to me.”
“I told you I would be, didn’t I?”
Giva smiled. “I remember you saying something like that.”
“Give me a kiss,” he whispered when they reached their cars parked side by side.
Giva was puckered up and ready, but Hogan’s ringing phone stole the moment.
He checked the number on the screen when he pulled the cell phone from his pocket. “The number doesn’t look familiar, but I think I better answer it. Who knows? It may be one of our colleagues from the unit. This is Dr. McQueen.”
“Hey, man, I hope I didn’t catch you at a bad time.”
“Who is this?”
The man on the other end started crying and rambling hysterically, but Hogan couldn’t make out a single word.
“Sir, please calm down and tell me your name so I can help you.”
“This is Tee Dog. Remember me?”
“Ugh…mmm… Yeah, I remember you. You’re Dessy Pooh’s uncle.”
“Yeah, that’s me. I hope you don’t mind me calling. Alejandro gave me your number after I worried the hell out of him.”
“It’s fine, my man. What’s going on?”
“I don’t know what happened, man! She’s been wearing a fresh mask every day when I let her go outside to play with the other kids. We all wear the masks. I’ve been washing her hands and mine like crazy every day, but something ain’t right. My sweet Dessy Pooh won’t eat. I’ve been fixing all her favorites, but she wouldn’t even touch her SpaghettiOs or her PB&J sandwich. And she’s got a high fever. I can’t find a thermometer no damn where, but her lil’ body is real hot.”
“How long has she been like this?”
“It started yesterday morning. I think the virus got her, Doc! Oh Lawd, how did I let this happen to my sweet Dessy Pooh?”
“I’m on my way, Tee Dog, but I need you to do something for me until I get there.”
“I’m listening.”
“Is there any alcohol in the house?”
“Yeah, we got some. I used it the other day when I cut my finger in the kitchen.”
“Great. I need you to get a washcloth and wipe the baby down all over with alcohol. We need to get her fever down, okay?”
“I can do that. How long will it take for you to get here? I’m scared, Doc. I swear to God and I ain’t scared of a knife or a bullet, but this shit right here got me fucked up.”
“Hold on, Tee Dog. I should be there in thirty minutes.”
“Okay, man. Thanks.”
Hogan ended the call and allowed Giva to hold him as he fought back tears. “A precious little girl I met recently is very sick. Her uncle thinks it’s the virus.”
“Oh no! Let’s go, Hogan. I’ll follow you.”
“No, babe. Go ahead to your condo, pack your things, and hang out with Kyle until I get there. It shouldn’t take me long to rush her and her uncle to the hospital and get them checked in.”
Giva stood on her tipped toes and kissed Hogan like he was about to be deployed to a foreign country for war. He felt all the love in her heart for him touch his heart, and it made his heart dance.
“Be careful.”
“I will.”
“Don’t forget your PPE.”
“You know I keep gloves and masks in my glove compartment at all times, babe, so quit stressing. I’ll see you soon.”
Tee Dog rushed outside on the porch when Hogan pulled up. He looked like hot constipated shit with swollen, red eyes and an unkempt afro and bare feet, but he was wearing a mask and gloves. Hogan could tell he was upset that his precious niece was sick, so he needed to move fast. Just as he reached over to get a mask and a pair of gloves, his phone rang. Hogan was in such a hurry that he didn’t bother to check the number on the screen.
“This is Dr. McQueen.”
“Your pork chop-eating, malt liquor-guzzling grandmammy died fifteen minutes ago, Hogan. She used that vent for a total of six hours before she got her wings and flew off to that great big hog farm in the sky. I was right and you and Little Miss Sarafina were wrong. Admit it, you fucking sex fiend!
“Listen, you psychotic bitch! I don’t have time to waste on your bullshit. Get over it already! I don’t want you! And if you want to call important clinical shots at the job, take your ass back to med school and become a goddamn doctor! In the meantime, go see a fucking psychiatrist and ask him for the strongest meds he’s got because you’re loony as fuck!”
Tee Dog tapped on Hogan’s window. “Yo, you coming, man?”
“Where is she?” He opened
the door and hopped out of the car, clutching his key fob and phone. After he locked the doors, he sprinted toward the house.
“Hello?” Giva glanced at the clock on her nightstand. It was after two o’clock in the morning.
“Hey, babe, I’m sorry it’s so late. It took me longer than I’d expected to get Destiny checked in and properly assessed.”
“How is she?”
Hogan sighed and Giva felt his pain through the phone. “She tested positive for the virus.”
“Oh my God! Is she going to be okay?”
“I’m not sure. That goddamn virus is ravaging her little body. Her temp was a hundred and five. She had a freaking seizure in my arms when I was carrying her to my car, babe.”
“I’m sorry, Hogan. I could be dressed and at the loft in 20 minutes.”
“About that…”
“What’s wrong? Something is off. I can hear it in your voice.”
“I’m going to have to self-quarantine for fourteen days.”
“What? Why?” Giva was up in a flash, pacing in the dark.
“That nut job, Gwyneth, called me talking crazy when I was about to put on a mask and gloves. After I hung up on her, all I could think about was getting inside the house to check on Destiny. But I for—”
“You forgot to protect yourself,” Giva finished the sentence for him in tears. “We’re due for testing tomorrow, Hogan.”
“I know, but I’m going to wait five days before I take another test. If I contracted the virus from Destiny today, it won’t show up in a test tomorrow. So, it just makes sense to wait five days.”
“I’m coming over.”
“No, you’re not. That’s foolish, Giva. You’re a doctor so you know better.”
“I’ll wear a mask at all times and—”
“Nooooo!”
Giva trembled and gasped at Hogan’s outburst, but she was determined to plead her case. “I want to be with you. I’m a big girl and I can take care of myself, Hogan.”
“I can’t let you do that no matter how bad I want to hold you right now, babe.” He sniffled. “If I have the virus and you come over, you might get it too. And I can’t let that happen. You know why?”
“Why?”
“Because I would die if you got sick with the virus. I would lose my fucking mind, babe. Don’t you know I’d be lost without you?”
“No, I didn’t know that.”
“Well, you know now. So, stay home and go back to sleep. I’ll be fine.”
14
“I need you to eat, GiGi. You haven’t eaten very much food over the past few days. I know you’re worried about Hogan, but I need you to take care of yourself.” Kyle rubbed her back, tenderly. “Eat your breakfast, sweetie.”
Giva didn’t respond. She just pushed her scrambled eggs closer to her hash-brown potatoes with her fork. Kyle’s heart went out to her because the love she felt for Hogan was obvious. She’d fallen in love with the handsome doctor, and now he was possibly sick with the virus they’d been fighting together for over two months.
The official total of COVID-19 deaths in the United States had surged above the fifty-thousand mark overnight, yet Trump, in his gross incompetence, was on a mission to convince the entire world that he and his administration were doing a great job protecting Americans from the virus. Bullshit! The richest, most powerful, and most resourceful country on earth was no less vulnerable than a poor and struggling third-world nation against the pandemic, all because there was a clueless fool in the White House who knew absolutely nothing about governance. He was a reality show star and a piss-pitiful businessman who’d experienced more bankruptcies than a mother hen had laid eggs. How had his cult following of minions thought he could successfully lead the country?
“Today Hogan will learn if he has the virus or not.” Giva had spoken so faintly that Kyle almost missed her statement.
“I know, sweetie.”
“He’s not experiencing any symptoms.”
“That’s a good sign.”
Giva nodded absently, staring off into space.
“Nyaheigiva Naomi Fatu Kamanda, eat your damn food before it gets cold!”
Giva dropped her fork onto her plate and laughed her face off, and Kyle happily joined in.
“Eh? So, you felt the need to use my whole God-given birth name, Kyle?” She chuckled again.
“Hell yeah! I’ll use any damn name to get you to eat and laugh, girl.”
Out of the blue, the doorbell rang, interrupting their laughter.
“I’ll get it,” Giva offered, pushing her plate aside.
“Nah, I’ll get it, boo. You stay here and eat. It’s eight o’clock on a freaking Saturday morning. I don’t know who the hell could be paying us a pop-up visit. I bet you it’s those pesky Jehovah’s Witnesses. Ewww, they make my butt itch.”
Kyle left the kitchen on a slow stroll to the door. He scratched his bald head he often referred to as his Milk Dud because it reminded everyone of a piece of the popular chocolate-caramel candy. Kyle disengaged the locks and chain and snatched the door open and was immediately robbed of words.
“Good morning, Dr. Summers. I am Dr. Hassan Jusu and I’ve come to visit Dr. Nyaheigiva Kamanda.”
“Mmm…” Kyle hummed with his eyes fully assessing Hassan from his shadow fade to his wingtips before yelling over his shoulder, “Hey, GiGi, the king of Zamunda is here to see you, girl!” He then gave his attention back to Hassan, crossed his arms over his chest with his hands balled into fists, and flexed his pecs. “Welcome to Wakanda.”
Elián knocked on Hogan’s closed bedroom door. “Your meals for the week are labeled and sealed in containers in the refrigerator, sir. And I’ve picked up your prescriptions. The bag is in my hand, sir.”
“Crack the door a little and toss the bag of meds inside and get the hell out of here, Elián!”
“Yes, sir.” Once the door was open and the bag of medicine was on the plush taupe carpet close to Hogan’s bed, Elián asked, “Do you need anything else before I leave, sir?”
Depressed, defeated, and afraid, Hogan lay on his back staring up at the ceiling. “Nah, I’m good, my man. The compact fridge in here is stocked with bottled water and all kinds of juices and my shower chair is in place. So, you can go home and rest easy. I’ll be fine. Go home.”
“I could stay long—”
“Get out of here now, Elián! Go!”
“Yes, sir.”
When the door closed, Hogan gave in to the fear, desperation, and uncertainty that came with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. He was now a statistic just like over three million other people in the world. It had been several years since he’d cried, but now he was wailing uncontrollably from his soul. The mental anguish far outweighed the fatigue, dry cough, and slight chest pain. This wasn’t supposed to be happening to him. He was a goddamn doctor. He was supposed to be taking care of other sick people. Dr. Hogan McQueen should not have COVID-19.
And how the fuck was he going to tell Giva he was sick? It hadn’t surprised Hogan at all that she had been the first face that’d floated across his mind the moment Dr. Patel had broken the bad news to him earlier. He and a male nurse had come to his loft that morning to examine him and administer the test. Hogan had prayed the entire time that he’d be able to call Giva and tell her he was okay and she’d be in her arms by nightfall. But God had had different plans.
“Arrrggghhh!” Hogan threw a lamp across the room and it crashed against the wall and fell apart.
Delivering the tragic news to his parents and siblings would be difficult enough. But telling Giva, the woman he loved…
Hogan’s weak body shot straight up in the bed with sweat and tears covering his face. He loved Giva. After a brief, laid-back courtship, he had fallen in love with the only woman who’d ever challenged him and read him his rights. She had boldly called him a heartless bastard to his face and had been seconds away from walking out of his life forever. And instead of despising her and tossing her aside like h
e’d done the many other women he’d fooled around with, what had he done? He’d given his heart without even knowing it.
“I love you, Giva, babe.” Hogan swiped at his tears and sniffed. “Damn, I love you, girl.”
His hands were shaking when he reached for the phone as fear and a myriad of emotions raced through his feverish body, but love gave him the determination to push forward.”
Giva sat on the sofa in her living room staring at the most exquisite engagement ring she’d ever seen. Her jaw had dropped in shock underneath her mask. It was a massive emerald-cut diamond with no flaws, set high on four prongs in the center of a semi-wide platinum band encrusted with smaller diamonds of the same cut and clarity. She reached out and closed the box that was still resting in Hassan’s gloved open palm.
“I can’t accept it, Hassan. I’m sorry.”
“Why not, Nyaheigiva? It’s the kind of ring you often spoke about when were together. Is it not lovely, my dear?”
“It is a very fine ring, Hassan, but it does not belong on my finger because I do not wish to marry you.”
“But I love you, Nyaheigiva. I always have.”
Giva shook her head again. “You don’t love me, Hassan. Our fathers thought it was a good idea for us to marry because they are so close. But we don’t love each other. In fact, I don’t think I ever truly loved you.” Giva placed her latex-covered hand on his knee. “All my life I’d been told by my father and yours that you were my husband, so I did what had been expected of me until I announced my plan to study medicine in the United States. That’s when I realized I didn’t want to marry you. So, it was easy for me to leave you behind without ever looking back.”
“I understood your need to chase your dreams after you left Sierra Leone, but I didn’t like it at all. But I held my peace because I expected you to return home to me after graduation so we could marry and become partners in my practice. I’ll admit I wasn’t a saint during your extended absence because I’m a man, you know, and men have certain needs. But those women meant nothing to me. It was you, my beautiful Nyaheigiva, who I longed for. And I still do.”
Feverish Love Page 8