Joe shrugged it off as though it were no more than a pinprick. “Naw, it’ll be fine once we get inside and I can wash my hand and slap on a bandage.”
She gave him a dubious look, then handed over a clean handkerchief she’d taken from her purse. “Wrap this around the wound until we get indoors.”
“What about the broken glass?”
“You’d better leave it for now. At the moment we have more pressing things to worry about.”
Joe followed Lois to her apartment door. She unlocked the door and opened it for him to enter.
“I have antiseptic and bandages in the bathroom.” Lois motioned to the kitchen table. “Have a seat and I’ll get my first-aid kit.”
“I can manage,” Joe mumbled. “Just point the way to the bathroom.”
“Are you sure you don’t want my help? It’s going to be difficult to work with only one hand.”
He shook his head, although his hand was throbbing like crazy.
“The bathroom’s the first door on the left,” she said, nodding in that direction.
A few seconds later, Joe stepped into the bathroom, held his hand under the faucet, and turned on the cold water. A river of red poured from the wound. The room seemed to spin around him, and a wave of nausea rushed through his stomach. He leaned against the sink and moaned. “Guess I might need a couple of stitches after all.”
“What was that?” Lois called from the other room.
“Could you come here a minute?”
She was at his side in a flash, concern etched on her face. “You look terrible, Joe. Maybe you should put your head between your legs, before you pass out.”
“I can’t stop the bleeding. I think you were right about my needing stitches.” He smiled, but it took effort. “Guess we’ll have to postpone our plans to go up to Snoqualmie Falls for a while.”
She looked at his hand and shuddered. “It’s bleeding badly. I’d better get a towel.” Lois opened a small cabinet and withdrew a bath towel. She wrapped it tightly around his hand and led him toward the door. “I’m driving you to the hospital, and you’d better not argue.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he mumbled. Funny, he’d never felt this woozy when he’d seen blood before. Maybe he was getting soft in the head.
Lois slipped one arm around Joe’s waist, and they headed outside. “Mind if we take your truck?” she asked. “My car’s in the parking garage, and I don’t want to take the time to get it.”
“Sure—that’s fine. The keys are in my left pocket,” he said as she helped him into the passenger’s seat.
Lois pulled out the keys, hooked Joe’s seat belt in place, closed the door, and ran around to the driver’s side.
“St. Joseph’s Hospital is only a few miles from here,” she told him.
“That’s good.” Joe leaned his head back and tried to conjure up some pleasant thoughts so he wouldn’t have to think about the throbbing in his hand or the blood already soaking through the towel.
When Lois parked the truck in front of the emergency room, Joe breathed a sigh of relief. At last he would get some help.
After they checked in at the emergency room desk and filled out forms, Joe and Lois took seats and waited. Apparently, an accident involving three vehicles had occurred across town, and those people were receiving treatment now. The woman at the desk had told Joe he would be examined as soon as possible.
Lois recognized one of the nurses on duty as her neighbor Bonnie McKenzie. She knew from the few conversations she’d had with Bonnie that she worked at St. Joseph’s, was single, and dated often. Lois had seen more than a few men come to the apartment building to take out the vibrant redhead.
In a short time, Bonnie called Joe’s name.
“I’ll wait here, Joe,” Lois told him. “You go on back.”
“Oh, Lois—won’t you come, too?” Joe asked. “I’d really like it if you would.”
Before she knew it, Lois was sitting beside the table on which Joe was lying, wishing she could be anywhere else but there. Hospitals made her nervous. They smelled funny, and most of the people who came to the ER were in pain—including Joe. She could see by the pinched expression on his face that he was hurting, although he kept telling jokes while the nurse administered a local anesthetic and cleaned the wound.
“I still can’t get over the fact that Tacoma would name one of their hospitals after me,” Joe said with a wink.
“What do you mean?” asked Bonnie.
“St. Joseph.” Joe chuckled. “You know, if hospitals are places to get well, then tell me this—why do they serve such awful food?”
Before the nurse could respond, a tall man with gray hair entered the room and introduced himself as Dr. Bradshaw. Lois could see by the stern expression on his face that he was strictly business.
The doctor examined Joe’s hand and gave the nurse some instructions. “Now lie back and relax, Mr. Richey. This won’t hurt.”
Joe’s head fell back onto the small pillow. “That’s because Nurse Bonnie has numbed my hand.”
Dr. Bradshaw made no reply but quickly set to work.
Lois turned her head away and studied the wall. She had no desire to watch the doctor put stitches in Joe’s hand, even if she was fairly sure he wouldn’t feel any pain.
“This is like an operation, isn’t it, Nurse Bonnie?” Joe asked.
“I suppose it could be categorized as such,” she replied with a chuckle.
“From what I hear, the definition of a minor operation is one that someone else has, so I guess mine falls into the major operation category,” Joe said with a loud guffaw.
Why is he doing this? Can’t the man be serious about anything? Lois peeked at Joe, who was grinning from ear to ear. Nurse Bonnie was also smiling, but the doctor’s face was a mask of austerity. At least someone besides me sees the seriousness of all this.
“We’re nearly finished,” the doctor said at last.
Lois breathed a sigh of relief, but Joe told another joke. “Does anyone here know what a specialist is?”
“Certainly,” the nurse replied. “It’s a doctor who devotes himself to some special branch of medicine.”
“Not even close,” Joe said. “A specialist is a doctor who has all his patients trained so they only get sick during his regular office hours.”
Dr. Bradshaw groaned and shook his head, Bonnie chuckled, and Lois just sat there. Maybe I’m too serious for my own good, she thought, feeling her cheeks grow warm. Bonnie obviously thinks Joe’s funny, and maybe he’s clowning around because it’s the only way he knows how to deal with the pain. He could dislike hospitals as much as I do, but he sure does show it in a different way.
The doctor cleared his throat. “Bandage this fellow’s hand then give him a tetanus shot, Miss McKenzie. When I looked at Mr. Richey’s chart, I noticed he’s overdue for one.” He turned and strode out of the room.
Lois noticed that Joe’s face had turned white. He pressed his lips into a tight line as the nurse stuck the needle in his arm. Afterward, he plastered another silly grin on his face. “Say, did you hear about the guy who was always getting sick with a cold or the flu?”
Bonnie shrugged her shoulders. “That could be just about anyone.”
He nodded. “True, but this guy was shot so full of antibiotics that every time he sneezed he cured half a dozen people.”
Bonnie laughed and gave Joe’s good hand a little pat. “Be sure to keep that wound clean and watch for infection. If you see anything suspicious, get right back in here.”
Joe hopped down from the table. “Sure thing, but I live in Olympia. So if I have any problems the hospital there will probably get my business.” He glanced over at Lois and winked. It was the first time he’d looked her way since they’d come into the examining room.
“Ready to go?” Lois asked.
“Ready as I’ll ever be. Sure am glad you’re driving, though. My left hand feels like it’s ten sizes too big with this huge roll of bandage Nurse B
onnie has slapped on me.”
“It’s for your own good, Mr. Richey,” the nurse said as she led them out of the room. “Take care now, and, Lois, I’ll probably see you around our apartment complex.”
Lois waved to Bonnie and hurried out the door. She was anxious to get outside and breathe some fresh air.
A short time later Lois drove away from the hospital and headed for the freeway. “Hey—where are we going?” Joe asked. “Your place is that way.” He pointed with his right hand.
“I’m taking you to Olympia.”
His eyebrows shot up. “You’re driving my truck—remember?”
“I know that.”
“How will you get back to Tacoma? And where will you stay tonight?”
“My dad can pick me up at your house, as soon as I make sure you’re okay, and then drive me back tomorrow. I’ll stay at their house tonight.”
“Why didn’t I think of that?” Joe laughed.
Lois smiled. “You just had stitches—remember?”
Chapter 13
Lois woke up feeling groggy and disoriented. It took her a few minutes to realize she was in her old bedroom at her parents’ home in Olympia. She yawned, sat up, and glanced at the clock on the table by her bed. It was almost eight o’clock. There was no way she and Dad could drive to Tacoma for her to shower, change, and still make it in time for Sunday school. She would have to call the superintendent and ask him to find a substitute for her class. If she left right away, she might make it for the morning worship service.
Maybe I should call Joe and see if he’d like me to go with him to his church this morning. Then Lois remembered she didn’t have a change of clothes since she hadn’t planned to stay all night at her parents’ home. The least I can do is give him a call and see how he’s doing this morning.
Lois reached for the telephone and dialed Joe’s number.
“Joe Richey here.” Joe’s deep voice sounded sleepy, and Lois figured she had probably awakened him.
“Hi, it’s Lois. I was wondering how your hand is this morning.”
“It’s still pretty sore, though I think I’ll live.” He laughed, but it sounded forced. “Thanks for coming to my rescue last night.”
“You’d have done the same for me.”
“You have that right.”
There was a long pause. “Well, I should let you go. I need to spend a few minutes with my parents then hurry back to Tacoma if I’m going to make it in time for church.”
“I’d invite you to visit my church with me, but I think it might be best if I lie low today. The doctor said I should ice my hand if there’s swelling and try to rest it for the next twenty-four hours.”
“That makes sense to me,” Lois said. “Is there anything I can do for you before I head home?”
“No, I think I can manage. Thanks for offering, though.”
“Guess I’ll be seeing you, then.”
“Have a safe trip back to Tacoma.”
“Thanks. Take care now.”
“You too. ‘Bye, Lois.”
Lois hung up the phone and went down to the kitchen, where she found her parents sitting at the table, drinking coffee.
“There’s more in the pot.” Dad lifted his mug as she entered the room. Even with his paunchy stomach and thinning blond hair, she still thought her father was attractive.
She smiled and shook her head. “Thanks, Dad. I’d rather have tea.”
“There’s some in the cupboard above the refrigerator,” her mother said. “What would you like me to fix for breakfast?”
“I’ll just grab a piece of fruit,” Lois replied. “Dad, can you drive me to Tacoma right away?”
His eyebrows lifted. “So soon? What’s the rush?”
She took a seat at the table. “I’ve already missed Sunday school, and I’d like to at least get there in time for church.”
Her mother sighed. “Church—church—church. Is that all my two daughters ever think about anymore?”
Lois held back a retort. Instead she smiled and said, “Have you heard from Tabby recently?”
“She sent us a postcard from Moscow, Idaho, a few weeks ago,” her mother answered. “Her note said she and Seth were extending their time on the road.”
“I’m glad Tabby finally got over her shyness,” her dad interjected, “but I don’t see why she has to run around the countryside preaching hellfire and damnation.”
Lois felt her face flame. Not too many years ago she’d have felt the same way about her sister. But now that she was a Christian, she understood why Tabby wanted to share the good news. “Tabby and Seth don’t preach hellfire and damnation, Dad. They share God’s love and how people can know Him personally through His Son, Jesus Christ.”
Her dad shrugged and rubbed a hand across his chin. “Whatever.”
Lois grabbed a banana from the fruit bowl and stood up. “Will you drive me back to Tacoma?”
He nodded curtly. “If that’s what you want. You know me—always aim to please.”
It was harder to do things with one hand than Joe had expected. Maybe I should’ve asked Lois to come by this morning and fix me a decent breakfast. He shook his head as he struggled to butter a piece of toast. He hadn’t realized until now how dependent he was on using both hands to do simple, basic things. “Guess it wouldn’t have been fair to expect her to give up going to church and play nursemaid to me.”
Joe dropped into a chair and stared blankly at the Sunday morning newspaper. He’d come to care for Lois. But did he have anything to offer a woman like her? She was sophisticated and beautiful and blessed with a sweet, Christian spirit. She didn’t seem prone to mood swings, which probably meant she was nothing like his mother. Still, Joe was holding back from any kind of commitment. What bothered him most was that he had no secure job, never knowing from week to week, month to month, where, when, or even if he would be called to do another program. What kind of future did he have to offer a wife?
“A wife?” Joe moaned. “Why am I even thinking about marriage?” After his mother died, he’d told himself he would never marry. Even though he’d been concerned about finding a woman whose emotions were stable, he was even more worried about his inability to support a family. Like Jesus’ disciples, Joe lived from month to month on what others gave in payment for the services he rendered as a clown.
He glanced at his Bible, lying beside the newspaper. “I don’t need to waste my time on these negative thoughts,” he muttered. “I can look in my Bible for verses that remind me to have a merry heart.”
Lois slipped into the pew, realizing she was ten minutes late, but glad she’d made it to church at all. Her dad hadn’t been happy about driving her home before he’d read the Sunday newspaper. But at least they’d enjoyed a good visit in the car, though Lois was careful to keep the conversation light and away from religious things. It troubled her the way her parents were so opposed to church and faith in God and even talking about spiritual matters. She wanted them to see their need for Christ’s forgiveness of their sins.
If Tabby and I keep praying and showing Mom and Dad we love them, maybe someday it will happen.
Lois opened her hymnbook and joined the congregation in singing “Love Lifted Me.” After a few lines, she felt her burdens become lighter as she thought about how much God loved her. Enough to send His Son to die in her place.
When the service was over, Lois spotted Tabby’s friend, Donna, talking to the senior pastor and his wife. Lois waited patiently until they were finished, then she stepped up to Donna and gave her a little nudge. “How’s everything with you?”
Donna shrugged. “Okay, but I’ll sure be glad when Tabby’s back. Things aren’t the same without her, and the day care kids miss her something awful.”
Lois was about to comment, but Donna cut her off. “Tabby really has a way with children. I think she’ll make a good mother someday, don’t you?”
Lois nodded. “I agree.”
Donna motioned for Lois to move awa
y from the crowd, and the two of them found a spot in one corner of the room. “So what’s new in your life?”
“Well, I—”
“Hey, Lois, I’m glad to see you made it to church.”
Lois turned and smiled at Dan Gleason, the Sunday school superintendent.
“I asked one of our older teens to take your class, and she said everything went fine,” he told her.
“That’s great. Thanks for taking care of things on such short notice,” Lois responded.
“No problem.” Dan grinned and reached up to scratch his head. “Say, I was wondering if you’d be interested in having Carla Sweeney help you every week. She’ll graduate from high school in June and wants to find some kind of ministry within the church.”
Lois smiled. She would love to have some help with her class. Sometimes she felt she had more kids than she could handle. An extra pair of hands would be helpful when it came to craft time as well. “Sure! Tell Carla I’d be happy to have her as my assistant.”
Dan nodded, said good-bye, and walked off. Lois turned back to Donna, but she was gone.
Lois shrugged and headed for the nearest exit. It would be good to get home where she could relax for the rest of the day.
Chapter 14
Lois was sitting in front of her computer at work on Monday morning when she felt someone’s hand touch her shoulder. She whirled around and was surprised to see her sister standing there.
“Tabby! When did you get back? Why didn’t you call?”
Tabby held up one hand. “Whoa! One question at a time, please.”
Lois stood and gave her sister a hug. “It’s so good to see you.”
“It’s great to see you, too. Seth and I got in late last night, which is why I didn’t call. I decided to surprise you instead.”
“You did that all right.” Lois nodded toward the chair next to her desk. “Have a seat and tell me about your trip.”
Tabby dropped into the chair and smiled. “It was awesome, Lois. Everywhere we went there were spiritual conversions. I feel so energized—I think I could hike up Mt. Rainier and not even feel winded.”
Time to Laugh Romance Collection Page 23