by Barbara Ebel
Annabel and Stuart veered off to the right as Bob stayed straight. “I guess I’ll talk to you,” she mentioned, glancing back over her shoulder. “I hitched a ride with Stuart.”
“I can drop you off instead. The way I see it, I owe you some transportation.”
Annabel shrugged her shoulders.
“Go ahead,” Stuart said. “After all, studying for the test is over for both of you. Might as well enjoy social time.” He kept walking without checking on her decision.
Annabel caught up with Bob and they proceeded to his car. The beginning of the drive, Bob stayed shrouded in silence.
“You’re awfully quiet,” Annabel said. “Are you worried if you passed the written?”
He looked over. “Not only that. What Stuart said struck home. Our studying together for the final is over and I can’t impose on you for help anymore. I’m feeling well enough to take better care of myself through the tail end of this tick disease.”
“Hmm.” Annabel thought it out some more and also realized they wouldn’t be on the same rotation after medicine so, in essence, they wouldn’t be seeing each other at all. Unless they got a dog together and unless they arranged to do something together. And with conflicting schedules, how often would that be?
She frowned. Bob was too good of a friend to not hang out with on a regular basis.
“I see what you mean. I’m sorry you’re not finishing the week with us. But listen, I’ll keep you posted about the wards and my Powassan patient that I extubated today. Plus, let’s keep the discussion going about sharing a dog.”
A smile formed on his lips and she sighed with relief.
“At least you don’t have Jordan to contend with anymore.”
“Ha! So true.”
Bob weaved through the parking lot and to the front entrance of the hospital. Annabel scrambled out and passed in the front of the car. She gestured her hand for him to roll down his window.
“Thanks for the lift. You stay at home tomorrow and I’ll find out our test results in the morning after call. I’ll let you know. I’m going to miss sharing my chocolates with you for the rest of the week.”
She surprised herself and Bob too. She leaned in and gave him a mini gesture like a hug.
“Talk to you later.” She stepped back, turned, and disappeared into the hospital.
-----
“I’m impressed!” Annabel exclaimed, her eyes glued on Jae Nixon as she came around his bed in the ICU.
Jae was sitting up against the pillows in his bed and a tray table was in front of him. A food tray with a bowl of broth and a cup of applesauce was on top and Jae had a spoon to his lips. He slipped the contents down his throat and nodded.
“Dr. Burg said if I slide this down, sometime later today, one of you will take this out.” He patted the central line on his upper chest. “You’re the one who took that nasty tube out of me, so maybe you can whip this out too.”
“And I better check on all the lab work that was done on you this morning. We don’t want to take things away without knowing the total picture.”
“I heard this disease I have can kill people.”
“The infectious disease doctor just gave a talk about that.”
“I’ve never been so popular. I wish it were under different circumstances.”
Annabel nodded. “You will come to learn that the tick that bit you is called Ixodes scapularis. You can blame him.”
“There are better living things to be intimate with.” He checked her expression to see if she was amused, and they both laughed.
“Do you remember me from before?” she asked.
He narrowed his eyes. “For sure. You drove me to the hospital … the first time. And now I’m certain.”
“Certain about what?”
“These latter days … I was going in and out of dreaming and, occasionally, I heard things going on around me. It was you who told me.”
He gave her a fixed gaze and imitated her. “It’s time to roust yourself awake and recover. I’m leaving the rotation soon, so I won’t be helping with your care anymore.”
Annabel’s eyes widened; she opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
Jae smiled. “You see … I took your instructions to heart.”
“That really makes my day, Mr. Nixon.” She wrapped her hand around his empty applesauce container and pitched it into the garbage can. “Looks like that big bore IV is coming out tonight too.”
-----
Annabel and Stuart raced around all night between the ER and the medical wards and never made it to their call rooms. The best they did was sit down a few times on the couch. Dr. Schott postponed rounds for a short while so everyone could go freshen up, maybe even put on a fresh pair of scrubs.
With the pressure of the final exam over, Annabel knew after she made it home, she’d crash into bed as soon as possible. She took the allotted time and jumped into the shower in the call room, dressed, and headed back for rounds. Along with Dr. Burg the night before, they had taken Jae Nixon’s central line out. His electrolytes and blood counts were no worse for wear and they had written to have him transferred to a regular room in the morning.
Dr. Mejia joined them. All decked out in a sport’s coat and a crisp tie, he strolled up front with Dr. Schott. “Too bad you missed Dr. Enno’s lecture yesterday,” he said. “You should ask her for some kind of handout.”
“Rumor has it that it was a hit,” Donn said. “It better have been since I held up the fort here without my residents and students.”
Dr. Mejia turned his head toward Annabel and Stuart. “Bet you’re both going over to get your grades after this. I’ll let the cat out of the bag … you both passed.”
Annabel pumped her fist and Stuart nodded.
“I’m sure you want to know your scores,” Dr. Mejia said. “I’m not divulging those.”
They turned into the first room in the hallway off of the nurses’ station. Jae Nixon’s new room.
Jae grinned at the group and pointed at the lightweight checkered pajamas he was wearing. “Patty Caye left these off for me yesterday. I feel like a real person with one foot in the hospital and one foot going home.”
“Those legs will be leaving us before too long,” Dr. Schott said. “One step at a time.” He turned to Annabel. “How’s he doing this morning?”
“He was being moved, so I missed seeing him,” she said. “May I listen to Mr. Nixon now?”
“Yes, go ahead,” Donn said.
Annabel took her stethescope and listened to Jae’s lungs and heart. She checked his pulse and evaluated his respiratory rate.
“As good as before,” she said and smiled.
“Mr. Nixon,” the attending said, “you are fortunate. Not that you contracted the Powassan virus, but that you are recovering and have no neurological damage that we are aware of. Today we’re going to have a physical therapist evaluate you. A little therapy to motivate your muscles wouldn’t be a bad idea.”
“Thanks. On all counts. And I’m indebted to Dr. Tilson.”
After rounds ended, Annabel hitched a ride with Stuart over to the office. She scored well on the test. On par with Stuart. She couldn’t ask for more than that.
“What about Bob Palmer?” she asked the woman sitting at the desk.
The assistant licked her finger to separate a clump of papers. She was obviously proud of her role in holding the most desirous information of the day.
“Bob Palmer passed.” She turned her mouth down and showed Annabel the result. He hadn’t passed by much, but she was thrilled nevertheless. He would be too.
“Thanks,” Annabel said.
Outside, she called an Uber driver, and when she got home, she dived into bed before texting Bob.
CHAPTER 32
Annabel slept off her call with a long nap and woke to her darkening apartment as the afternoon light faded outside her window. She rubbed her eyes and reached over for her phone. There was no message from Bob. She texted him right away.<
br />
I crashed after coming home. You passed your test! We all passed.
She went into the bathroom, threw water on her face, and studied herself in the mirror. Her long hair needed a trim and her face could use some color. Having the entire upcoming weekend off after her medicine rotation, perhaps she could take a hefty outdoor run or walk and pick up some sunshine.
Her phone dinged and she glanced down.
I figured you were sleep deprived! Super! So what did I score?
Annabel twisted a lock of hair. Passed with a seventy-eight.
Yikes. That was close. Not like me.
Under the circumstances, she wrote, you deserve to give yourself some latitude.
So true. Anyway, all I have to do now is make up my missed ward time.
And that’ll be easy! Later…
Annabel went into the bedroom and put her phone to bed on the charger. She studied the tree outside her window before closing the blinds. With no breeze outside, it was placid and sleepy, like it waited for the true stirrings of spring. In essence, she felt as tranquil as the view outside her window. Fulfillment from the third year of medical school rotations was beginning to escalate and she realized that she was beginning to think more and more like a doctor.
She closed the blinds and turned back to the kitchen, where she threw together a sandwich and a glass of milk.
-----
Late the next morning, Annabel peeled away from a nurses’ station and headed to the cafeteria for lunch. On the ground floor, however, was the physical therapy department. Therapists sometimes worked with patients in the hallways near their rooms, but she’d never stepped into their central work room. She deviated passed the cafeteria entrance and read “P.T.” on a sign outside a large double door. Stepping inside, a few chairs made up a waiting area, and a man at a central desk signed in the outpatients.
She glanced around for Jae Nixon. A male therapist stood alongside the ranger as he walked slowly on the treadmill. He wore a gray T-shirt with a national park emblem. His biceps flexed as he held the hand grip, but his arms lacked the sharp tone they had when he first appeared in the hospital. His scissor-sharp haircut had also grown out and appeared less defined and sculptured.
“Well, look at you,” Annabel said.
Jae furrowed his brow and nodded at her. “He’s killing me. Like making a bear run a marathon after sleeping for a month.”
“No, no, no,” the therapist said. “We’re going to do thirty minutes max. Only ten minutes of walking here, and the rest of the time, we’ll work on your muscle memory. Give those arms and legs something to do. But I can see your analogy with a sleeping bear.”
Jae tilted his head toward Annabel. “She’s a medical student that egged me on to wake up.”
“Aren’t you the lucky one?! She’s pretty enough to wake up to.”
Annabel’s cheeks reddened. The therapist, as well as Jae, were both appealing on the eyes and flirting with her. She smiled at the compliment and didn’t take it as sexist. Harmless flirting, she thought, was good for the soul and a person’s ego.
She waved her hand at them. “I couldn’t resist popping in. Dr. Schott said if you handle today and tomorrow’s P.T., your lab work is normal, and you’re eating and feeling acceptable enough to go home, then we’re springing you.”
“Then I’m almost out of here. I believe work is not out of the question next week … but I would take it slow. They still have enough coverage at the park through this weekend.”
The therapist slowed the pace of the treadmill down further and then it stopped. Jae stepped off.
“Since you students are off this weekend, why don’t you and your friend visit the Taft National Historic Site? Volunteers or Patty will be giving tours and I could show you around too. I won’t overdo it. I promise.”
Annabel gave it serious thought and rubbed her hands together. “What a perfect idea. I’ll ask Bob Palmer.”
Jae gave her a thumbs-up.
“Now … I’ll get out of your way.” She paraded to the cafeteria, piled a salad on a plate, and went to a table. First things first, she thought. She couldn’t wait to text Bob with Jae’s recreational idea.
Want to go to that national park with me on Saturday where my patient works? He wants to show us around. I’ll drive!
She drizzled a packet of blue cheese dressing over the salad fixings and kept one eye on her phone.
Sounds great, he answered. Pop into my apartment first. I have something for you.
? Pick you up at one.
-----
Friday afternoon was both joyous and sad as Annabel and Stuart mingled in the office with Donn, Melody, and Chineka. The two students had chipped in for two boxes of cream-filled donuts that morning and one box still sat half full. All their work for the day was finished.
“I’ve never had this high an attrition rate on my service.” Donn shook his head. “The loss of fifty percent of my students was a big deal. Except for Jordan, however, I’m proud of the work you all did. If I become an attending and stay with the university, I’ll most likely run into either of you in your first year of residency. Your stepping stone to whatever specialty you go into.”
“Thanks for everything,” Annabel said. “It was a long couple of months and we learned a lot from you three and our patients.”
Sitting on the couch, Melody crossed her legs and dangled a brown buckled heel off the end of her foot. “Annabel, thanks for being so conscientious. You too, Stuart.”
“I second that,” Chineka chimed in. “We had the darnedest cases the last few months and you both performed admirably. And Annabel, how is it that you lure in the most difficult, yet provocative cases? You’re like the epicenter of the team with your involvement with Jae Nixon, your entanglement with that Parkinson’s patient and her daughter in the beginning of the rotation, and even the cops that got involved.”
“Well, I knew them from before.”
“There you go. See what I mean?”
“Actually,” she smiled, “I’m dating one of them.”
“Really?” Melody asked. “Hell if I make time to date.”
Annabel shrugged. “But it hasn’t been that long.”
“Yeah. Right.” Melody rolled her eyes.
Donn rubbed his beard, contemplating the donuts. They heard a familiar sound in the hallway. The tip of Alejandro appeared in the bottom of the doorway and the rest of it followed. Dr. Enno came in. A small silver clip clung to the front of her hair bun and a clump of wispy hair draped over her forehead.
“I didn’t want to miss saying goodbye to the students.” Shania acknowledged them with a warm smile.
“Thanks for coming,” Donn said. “We appreciate all you did for us.”
She stood well-planted next to the table, holding her cane, as Donn relented and picked up a donut.
“It was wonderful that our star infectious disease patient went home yesterday. Couldn’t have been a better outcome. And now we know to keep our antennae up for patients presenting with more tickborne diseases.”
Everyone nodded and then Donn pointed to the box … for Shania to help herself.
“Well, I’m heading out.” Annabel slid off her white jacket and draped it over her forearm and picked up her backpack. Stuart grabbed his things as well and extended his hand to Donn. His handshake was his good-bye.
Annabel searched Shania’s expression and beamed at her. “It was a pleasure working with you. Thank you.”
“Likewise. As an attending, sharing a patient’s course with a student from the beginning to the end is beneficial to both. It reminds me of a Native American saying, ‘We have walked together in the shadow of a rainbow.’”
Annabel’s heart warmed. Medical education was something else. She narrowed her eyes and nodded. In another moment, she and Stuart peeled away.
-----
Saturday morning, first Annabel called home to tell them her rotation was officially finished, she passed, and she had something fun on h
er plate for the day. She explained to her father that one of her patients had harbored an unusual disease. When they finished talking, she told him to say hello to her aunt and uncle and young cousins. She didn’t ask to speak to Nancy. Her sister needed to figure out herself that siblings were important to each other and that Annabel had done nothing wrong when it came to her problems with Jordan.
She was ecstatic it was a beautiful day. Since her front window with her soulful tree faced east, late mornings in her apartment were the best time of day if the sun was unobstructed by clouds. She caught up with laundry and uncluttered her backpack. She filed away notes and stored medicine books on her shelf.
Soon enough, she thought, she needed to replace study materials. There were still many rotations to go through, but now she had surgery, psychiatry, and internal medicine behind her.
She’d lounged around all morning in pajamas and now she showered and changed into a rose flannel shirt and tucked it into a pair of crisp blue jeans. As she brushed her hair in the mirror, she wondered about Bob’s comment. He had something for her.
She mulled that over as she left and passed Travis’ quiet apartment downstairs. Why not surprise Bob with something as well? Something not expensive, a little humorous, and maybe even useful. She knew exactly what that would be. After hopping into her SUV, she made a stop on the way to Bob’s and armed herself with what she wanted.
Annabel parked at his apartment complex and sprang over to his door. After ringing twice, the door swung open. He wore jeans like hers and greeted her with a smile.
“Every time I see you,” she said, “you look more like yourself.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” He stepped aside and she entered. He walked to the counter. “It’s not wrapped, just camouflaged with a garbage bag over it. A present. For helping me out … a lot.”
She put down her own bag and slipped off the white trash bag. Underneath was a bulky box - a single-cup coffee maker.
“This is really thoughtful of you, but you didn’t need to.”