“Good morning,” Helen said, taking a seat in a high-backed chair in front of his desk.
“If you’ve come to share the GNS survival statistics with me, I’ve seen them,” he said. “It’s a little early in the day for gloating, isn’t it?”
“That’s not the purpose of my visit, Hollis. I wanted to let you know that your name has been removed from the list of those under consideration for the chief of neurology appointment.”
He leaned forward and curled his fingers around the edge of his desk.
“If you’re waiting for me to act surprised, you’ll be up way past your bedtime. I’ve been expecting some sort of juvenile retaliation like this for days.” He tossed his pen down on his desk and said, “I’ll stay on as acting chief for a few months while you recruit somebody because unlike some others around here, I have manners. I’ve already had several offers far better than the position I presently hold.”
“I’m afraid it’s not that simple, Hollis.”
“I beg your pardon.”
“There are those who are concerned you engaged in unprofessional behavior during the GNS crisis.”
With protruding eyes, he asked, “Really. Who thinks that?”
“I do,” Helen said unequivocally.
“The notion’s absurd and you know it. This is nothing but a witch hunt.”
“How many families did you ask to undergo a brain biopsy?”
“What’s that got to do with anything?”
Helen renewed her question. “How many?”
“Five or six, I guess. I felt the more information we had the better.”
“Did you promise any of them preferential treatment if they cooperated?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“It’s a simple question. Did you tell them they would be amongst the first treated with Vitracide if they agreed to the brain biopsy?”
“I don’t recall specifically, but supposing I did—what’s the difference? The country was in a crisis. I did what I felt I had to do. The families were desperate for answers. The times called for bold action, not your Pollyanna approach to things. And as I recall, there were a number of physicians and board members who wholeheartedly supported me.”
Helen couldn’t help rolling her eyes.
“I might have been able to overlook your gross insubordination toward me and maybe even the way you quietly leaked some key facts to the press against my instructions, but unethical behavior in the care of our patients is not something I’m prepared to ignore. In case you’ve forgotten, we’re not in the business of promising families preferential access to medications.”
“If that’s the extent of what concerns you, I think you should rethink things and—”
She held up her hand. “I’m not finished. The manufacturer of Vitracide contacted the FDA. They claimed that even though the drug was never administered, you used undue pressure to control its national distribution.”
“Let them try to prove it. My position is that I’ve done nothing unethical or inappropriate,” he responded with an uncaring shrug. “Any other news or advice you have for me, Dr. Morales?”
“As a matter of fact, there is. You’ll have to appear in front of the Professional Conduct Committee to answer allegations of improper and unethical behavior. You will be afforded full due process as prescribed by the medical staff bylaws. You will have ample opportunity to present your side of things.”
“I remind you, Dr. Morales, that I am a tenured professor at this university.”
“Tenure is an honor. It doesn’t imply blind exoneration for unscrupulous conduct.”
“I’m not without influence in this state,” he was close to shouting now. “If you force me, I’ll fight you all the way to the governor’s mansion.”
“You’re not a gubernatorial appointee, Hollis. The one who hired you was me.”
“I’ll tell you what really galls me about you. When was the last time you laid hands on a patient? I’m guessing . . . what, fifteen years ago? But that doesn’t stop you from having the unmitigated audacity to sit in judgment of those of us with the courage to face dying patients every day.” He picked up a report from his desk and began reading it. “You’re a disgrace to our profession. If you have any further communication for me, take it up with my attorney.”
“Why, Hollis,” she responded with a knowing grin as she came to her feet, “you may sling all the accusations at me you like, but if you’re spoiling for some ugly fight, you can forget it.”
“I know exactly what you’re doing,” he said with a snicker. Helen noticed a sheen of sweat on his forehead that hadn’t been there when she walked into his office. “You’re trying to force me to resign.”
“That’s a decision only you can make. But it’s an option I would urge you to consider carefully. You understand if Southeastern State decides to terminate your academic appointment, we would be unable to support any application you might make to another medical school.” Helen started for the door. “As I said, if I were in your position, I’d seriously examine all of my options.”
96
When Jack walked into Tess’s room, she was sitting in a chair talking to Mike.
“What do you think of this girl?” Mike asked in a voice drenched in pride. “She’s acting as if nothing ever happened to her.”
“She’s certainly as beautiful as ever,” he answered, walking over to Tess and kissing her on the forehead. “How are you feeling, shorty?”
“Like I’ve overslept everything on my agenda for a month. Your best buddy over here keeps telling me I have you to thank for saving my life.”
“He’s always been prone to exaggeration. How’s your headache?”
“Better. I’d say it’s now similar to a three-martini hangover.”
“I’m pretty sure it will be gone in a few more days.”
Mike said, “We’ve been talking for over an hour. It’s unbelievable. Her memory’s perfect.”
“Really? Did she remember last year when you forgot your anniversary and called me in a panic to—”
“Easy, buddy,” Mike said with a short laugh. “That’s privileged doctor-patient stuff.”
Tess tapped on the armrest of the chair next to her. He sat down.
“When are you going to tell me all the details of what happened to me?”
He pointed at her abdomen. “How about when baby Katie goes off to college?”
She shook her head. “You’re as bad as Mike.”
“Sinclair stopped in for the first time yesterday,” Mike said with a disapproving smirk. “At best, I’d call it a drive-by visit. He acted like nothing happened.”
“Tess is fine. No need to dwell on the past.”
“I hope you’re kidding because as far as I’m concerned that son of a bitch should be—”
“Let it go, Mike.” He turned his glance and attention back to Tess. “Did Madison do an ultrasound this afternoon?”
“Uh-huh. She said everything looked great.” With a coy smile she added, “Mike’s been telling me you have a little thing for her. She’s really cute, Jack.”
“It’s too bad he’s afraid to ask her out,” Mike said. “Even his mother called him a coward.”
“My mother? You’ve been talking to my mother about Madison?”
“Of course. Let’s see. How did she put it again? Oh yeah. She called you the Hindenburg of relationships.”
Jack rubbed his hands together and said, “Okay. I think I’ve heard about enough of this. If you don’t mind, let’s talk about something else.”
“Mike tells me you’re going back to Columbus tonight, and that he’s flying back with you.”
“As much as I like hanging out with you guys, I’m afraid I have to get back. Do you mind if I take a quick look at you before we leave?”
Jack completed his exam in about
ten minutes. There wasn’t the slightest hint of any permanent neurologic injury.
“When can I go back to work?” she asked.
He shook his head at her. “Take a few weeks off. You’ve earned it.”
They talked for another half hour about a host of different things. Jack promised Tess he’d be back to check on her in a week. He couldn’t help noticing that Mike kept stealing peeks at his watch and stalling.
“You about ready?” Jack asked him.
“This isn’t a scheduled airline. We can go anytime. If you want to hang around awhile longer, we can. I think Madison said she might stop in again.”
“Nice try. I’m fine to go now.”
Tess motioned him to lean over. She reached up and hugged him around the neck. He could feel her tear-soaked face against his cheek.
“Thank you for everything,” she whispered in his ear. “I’m the luckiest woman in the world to have two guardian angels like you and Mike in my life. I love you.”
Speechless for the moment, an affectionate smile came to his face. “I’ll be back in about a week to check up on you.” He looked over at Mike. “Ready?”
Mike was a nonstop chatterbox all the way to the airport. He was unmistakably back to his old self. Jack smiled the whole time thinking how nice it was to have his best friend back.
97
Jack didn’t arrive home until eleven o’clock. The flight back to Columbus was uneventful but he’d said an emotional good-bye to Mike at the airport. After dropping his luggage in the entranceway, he strolled into the kitchen, opened the refrigerator and reached for a beer.
It was unseasonably warm and he decided to go out on the balcony. From the tenth floor, he had a great view of the Ohio State University campus and the Short North. He realized his involvement with GNS was far from over. To the contrary, it was just beginning. In the weeks and months to come, there would be scientific papers to write, lectures and seminars to attend and dozens of meetings with state and federal medical agencies.
He thought his mind would still be racing with the events of the past few weeks, but it wasn’t. He stared out beyond the lights of the city. His view seemed infinite. The scattered clouds were made silvery by the vibrant light of the moon. He took a slow sip of the beer, and for the first time in a long while, it seemed he was able to take a breath without feeling it catch.
• • •
Three hundred and fifty miles away from where Jack stood, Connie Recino sat beside her daughter in the intensive care unit at Illinois Memorial. It had been four days since her surgery and just over twenty-four hours since she had received the strep preparation.
Catching herself in a yawn, Connie quickly smothered it with a cupped hand. She gazed back at Maggie. Even though she was heavy-lidded from complete exhaustion, Connie suddenly became wide eyed when she saw her daughter’s lips moving as if she were trying to speak. She craned her neck forward and set her gaze squarely upon Maggie’s face. It took her only a few seconds to be sure—Maggie was trying to speak. Connie reached over to the bed control and raised the intensity of the overhead lights. It took only a few more seconds more for her to realize her daughter was mouthing the word mother over and over again.
Choking back a sea of tears, and speaking to Maggie as if she were three years old, she whispered, “Welcome back, angel. I love you.”
• • •
Two days later, Maggie was sitting in a chair watching television and brushing her hair. When her husband walked into the room three months earlier than she expected, she dropped the brush. A few seconds after it hit the floor and long before she could have pushed herself out of the chair, he was kneeling at her side, gently pulling her head to his chest.
98
THREE MONTHS LATER
The elevator came to a smooth stop at the eighth floor. With a box of peanut brittle tucked under his arm, Jack made his way down the central corridor of Southeastern State’s obstetrical unit.
To say the least, it had been a tumultuous three months. In addition to his clinical responsibilities at the medical school, he had made four trips to Florida to visit Tess. He had also attended more meetings and debriefings on GNS than he would have imagined possible.
Jack had just walked past the nursing station when he saw a man approaching. Jack didn’t need to study his face. His distinctive limp and paunchy silhouette instantly revealed his identity.
“When did you get into town, Doc?” Bud Kazminski asked.
“I just arrived.” Jack extended his hand. With a reserved grin, he asked, “I assume you’re not here visiting a friend?”
“Sherry delivered this morning—a healthy eight-pound boy.” Kaz’s grin was uncontrollable.
Jack shook his hand again. “That’s great news, but I thought she wasn’t due for another couple of weeks.”
“So did we, but Sherry’s never one to do anything in a conventional style or on schedule.”
“Is she still feeling okay?”
“Thanks to you, she is.”
Jack said, “I saw your latest story on GNS in the Sunday paper. I thought you told me you weren’t going to write any more articles.”
“My editor had other ideas,” he answered. “You know, I once did a story on a guy who had been rescued from a mountain top after being struck by lightning. A total stranger carried him down on his back two miles to a hospital. I interviewed the victim. Do you know what was the most interesting thing he told me?”
Jack shrugged. “I have no idea.”
“The guy was forever plagued by his inability to sufficiently thank the man who had saved him. I could never quite figure it out myself until about three months ago.” Kazminski took a few steps forward and placed his hands on Jack’s shoulders. “Thank you, Dr. Wyatt.”
“I . . . I really don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything,” Kazminski assured him. “Are you here to see the Ryans’ baby?”
“I am.”
“I assume you heard about Sinclair.”
Jack shook his head. “Only that he had resigned several weeks ago.”
“The hospital gossip has it that he hasn’t been able to find another position anywhere in the country.” Kaz shrugged but said nothing further on the topic. “I won’t hold you up any longer, Doc. By the way, I’m sure Sherry would love for you to see the baby. If you have time, stop in and see what your good work has accomplished.”
“Of course,” Jack promised. “If you don’t mind me asking, any progress with Lisa?”
“I’d say there’s been a noticeable thaw over the last couple of months. We had dinner together the other night for the first time in a very long time.”
“That’s great to hear,” Jack said with a broad smile.
Jack started back down the hall. He snuck a look back over his shoulder. Kaz was still watching him. Smiling broadly, Jack tossed him a final wave followed by a celebratory fist pound.
99
Jack knocked twice and then pushed open the door to Tess’s room. She was sitting in a recliner cradling Katie Michelle Ryan to her chest. With a gleam in his eye and a prideful grin, Mike hovered over the two women in his life, looking as proud as Jack had ever seen him.
“Hi, Jack,” Tess said. “Where have you been? We expected you a couple of hours ago.”
He walked over and placed the peanut brittle on her nightstand. “I brought you a month’s supply of your favorite junk food.” He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. “That’s some beautiful baby, shorty. You did well.”
Mike pointed to himself and then gave Jack a bear hug. “Don’t I get any of the credit?”
“Congrats to you too, Papa.”
“I hope you’re planning on staying for at least a few days this time,” Tess said. “We really haven’t had a chance to visit with you.”
“We�
�ll see. How are you feeling? Have you had any more of those headaches or—”
“I’m fine, Jack. I’m the most grateful patient you’ll ever have, but it’s time to stop worrying about me. Every time you and Mike look at me, you make me feel like you’re staring at somebody on borrowed time.”
“Okay, I’ll ease up,” Jack said.
“Have you been in touch with Madison?” she asked with a nonchalant inflexion in her voice, tucking a pink blanket snugly around little Katie.
With a forgiving frown, he shook his head. “Why is that the first thing you two always ask me?”
“Because you never give us a straight answer,” she explained. “It’s a shame. You guys make such a cute couple.”
“I think you’ve already mentioned that to me about a million times. It’s too bad your illness didn’t erase that part of your brain that’s obsessed with fixing me up. Madison and I are colleagues—and that’s where it ends.”
“Please, Jack. Everybody knows you have a huge crush on her.”
“Really? Who’s everybody?”
“Well, your mother for one.”
“My mother was cut from the same cloth you two were and doesn’t—”
“I’m willing to bet Madison doesn’t even know you’re in Florida,” she said.
Jack looked over at Mike and gave him the kind of knowing smile only the two of them could understand.
“Don’t look at me for help. I’m on her side,” Mike said holding his hands up in surrender.
Just at that moment, the door opened and Madison walked in. Jack absently cleared his throat.
“Hi,” he said, with a wave of his hand.
“How did your meeting with the president go? I heard he awarded you some kind of hero’s citation,” she said, walking over to Tess. “And how’s that gorgeous baby?”
“She’s perfect.”
“We’ve completed all of our tests. Katie couldn’t be any healthier. You guys can take her home in the morning.”
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