Christmas Treasures (9781101558720)

by Kinkade, Thomas; Spencer, Katherine

  “Great. I’ll put you in the appointment list. Rowan, right?” the woman asked.

  “That’s right. I did want to mention—”

  Before Regina could finish, the woman interrupted. “Thanks. Come fifteen minutes early for the paperwork, okay? See you soon, Mrs. Rowan.” Then she hung up.

  Regina sighed. She wanted to tell the receptionist that she didn’t have insurance. What kind of a medical receptionist didn’t ask that question?

  Regina thought of calling back, but realized that she had no other alternative. She had to get Brian looked at by a doctor. She would simply have to be prepared to pay for the office visit. She just hoped it wasn’t too expensive.

  At promptly twelve forty-five, Regina and Brian entered the doctor’s office. A few patients sat in the waiting room, but the receptionist was nowhere to be seen. Regina sat Brian down and found a picture book for him, then returned to the front desk.

  After a few minutes, a woman with dark curly hair and brilliant blue eyes bustled out to the desk. She seemed harried and distracted. A man who appeared to be a doctor followed. He wore a white lab coat and a stethoscope around his neck.

  “I told you this morning, I can’t come back tomorrow,” the woman was saying. “I’m sorry, honey. I’ll call another agency. I’ll let you know what they say.”

  “All right, let’s hope for the best.” The doctor picked up some files from the desk and disappeared into the back of the office again.

  The familiar tone of the conversation told Regina that these two were more than just boss and employee. She felt pretty certain that they were husband and wife.

  The reluctant receptionist finally noticed Regina standing by the desk and looked at her with a charming, contrite smile.

  “I’m so sorry to have kept you waiting. Can I help you?”

  “I’m Mrs. Rowan. We spoke over the phone this morning?”

  “Yes, of course. You made an appointment for your son.”

  “That’s right.” Regina took a breath. “I wanted to tell you over the phone, we don’t have any insurance right now.”

  The receptionist seemed unfazed, and Regina felt instantly relieved. At some doctors’ offices, they made a big fuss and embarrassed you. Or turned you away.

  “Just fill out the information on this sheet, medical history and so forth. On the back, also . . . and this one, too.” The woman handed her a second sheet. “The office has a fee for service. It’s a sliding scale,” she said simply. “Or we can bill you and you can pay us when you’re able.”

  Regina was surprised at that offer. The receptionist seemed to read her thoughts. “Dr. Harding is most concerned about patients getting the care they need.”

  “That’s a generous policy,” Regina replied.

  “My husband is a very generous man,” the receptionist said. “He’s a good doctor, too.”

  Regina smiled and returned to the seat next to Brian. As she filled out the forms, another part of her mind was piecing together the situation here. Obviously Mrs. Harding was not the regular receptionist and was only helping her husband for the day.

  That meant they needed someone. Even temporarily. Regina had never worked in a medical office, but thought she could do it. She had worked in plenty of offices and knew general procedure and most of the computer programs that were usually used.

  She finished the paperwork quickly, then walked back to the desk, working up the courage to ask if there was a job here. Even a day’s pay would help her family.

  She handed back the clipboard and papers. “Thanks,” the receptionist said, looking it over. But before Regina could ask about the possible job opening, a nurse came through the door to the inner office. “The doctor can see your son now, Mrs. Rowan. I’ll take you back.”

  Regina took Brian by the hand and followed the nurse down the narrow corridor to an exam room.

  Dr. Harding was waiting for them, washing his hands at the sink. “Hello there. I’m Dr. Harding,” he said, introducing himself. He helped Brian up onto the exam table. “Not feeling very well today, are you?”

  Brian shook his head. He was unusually quiet today.

  Dr. Harding gave him a sympathetic smile. “All right, let’s see what’s going on and how we can fix it for you.”

  The doctor asked questions about Brian’s symptoms, noting them on a chart. Then he took Brian’s temperature with an electronic thermometer. “One hundred and two,” he said. He examined Brian, listening to his heart and chest and looking down his throat and in his ears.

  Brian was uncomfortable with that part, but didn’t fuss too much. “It’s almost over, honey,” Regina soothed him.

  “You’re doing great, Brian,” Dr. Harding told him. “When we’re all done, you can pick out a few toys from the treasure chest. Would you like that?”

  Brian nodded eagerly, distracted from his woes by the offer.

  New toys, even inexpensive small ones, would be very welcome, Regina thought. When they left Pennsylvania, they hadn’t been able to take a lot of the children’s belongings, only their very favorite toys that could fit in the car. Brian was definitely getting bored with those choices.

  When the exam was over, Regina helped Brian put his sweatshirt back on while Dr. Harding brought a test for strep out to the nurse. When he came back, he showed Brian a cardboard treasure chest in the far corner of the room, and left him to figure out his reward for surviving the ordeal.

  “We took a test for strep, just in case. Right now, it looks as if he has an ear infection. I’m going to give you a prescription for an antibiotic and another for ear drops, and there are some other instructions for care. Motrin for the fever, plenty of fluids . . .” The doctor reviewed the usual care for colds and flu. “If you have any questions, or if his symptoms don’t improve in a day or so, just call the office.”

  Regina was soon zipping up Brian’s jacket, putting the prescription slips in her purse, and thanking Dr. Harding for his kind attention. Then she was out in the waiting area again, which had become much busier. Dr. Harding followed.

  Dr. Harding’s wife now looked quite overwhelmed, trying to answer several calls on the multiline phone at once while checking patients out and checking patients in and giving the doctor the proper charts for his appointments.

  “How’s it going out here, Molly?” he asked his wife.

  “How does it look like it’s going? I’d have more luck sitting in for the day as an air-traffic controller. Did everyone in town get sick overnight? Is this some sort of plague?”

  Dr. Harding grinned. “Calm down, honey. It can’t be that bad. Cynthia seemed to manage just fine.”

  “Really? Then why did she quit without any notice?”

  So they did need help. And not just temporarily.

  “Do you need some office help?” Regina cut in with a burst of boldness. “I have some experience,” she added.

  Molly looked at her as if she’d just dropped down from heaven. “Are you looking for a job?”

  Regina nodded. “Yes, I am. We just moved here. My husband and I are both looking,” she added.

  “Have you ever worked in a medical office before?” Dr. Harding asked with interest.

  “No,” Regina said honestly, “but I do have a lot of office experience.” Regina briefly reviewed her relevant job experience and the computer programs she knew. She’d had so many jobs since she married Richard. Off again, on again, in and out of the workforce as their income and circumstances demanded.

  “And I can give you references,” she added. “We just moved up from Stover, Pennsylvania. If you’d like, I can come back for an interview . . .”

  “Wait here a minute, would you?” Molly cast her a quick smile, then tugged her husband into the back office.

  Regina checked on Brian, who was totally entranced by his new toys, a plastic car and a neon-green Slinky. He didn’t even notice the delay.

  The doctor’s wife soon swept out to the reception area again. “We can offer you a tem
porary position for now. Would that be all right?”

  “Absolutely.”

  Molly looked pleased—and greatly relieved. “Can you be here tomorrow at eight forty-five?”

  Regina’s heart nearly broke out into a tap dance. “Yes, I can. No problem.” It would be problematic, getting out of the house that early and into town, but she couldn’t risk being anything but positive.

  “Okay, then you’re hired. You can give us your references tomorrow and all the other information we’ll need to put you on the payroll.” Molly told Regina what the hourly wage was for the job. “Would that be all right with you? To start, I mean?”

  The salary was very generous, Regina thought. She hadn’t made nearly that much in her last job.

  “It’s fine. Thank you very much, Mrs. Harding.”

  “My last name is Willoughby, but call me Molly, please.” Molly shook her head and grinned. “We’re not formal around here.”

  “Please call me Regina. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.”

  “I’ll be here. At least for a few minutes to show you around. Then I have to get back to my own job,” she added.

  “What type of work do you do?” Regina asked, curious.

  “I own a catering company, Willoughby Fine Foods. We also have a food shop on Water Street. Come by some night when you don’t have time to cook dinner.”

  “I will,” Regina promised, though she guessed that the store was expensive.

  Regina left the office and bundled Brian into the backseat of her car. She stopped at a drugstore to get his medicine and then headed over to the middle school to pick up Madeline.

  Tomorrow, Madeline could take the bus. Mrs. Oakes had told them where the stop was. A lucky thing, Regina realized, because with her new job, she wouldn’t be able to drive her daughter both ways to school each day.

  Regina reached the school just as the bell rang. She parked on the curb and watched for Madeline. Her daughter was one of the first to leave the building. She was walking with two other girls who both waved good-bye as they headed for the school buses. Regina thought that was a good sign.

  Madeline climbed into the front seat and fastened her seat belt. Regina didn’t want to pounce on her, but couldn’t help it. “How did it go? Do you like your new teachers?”

  “My teacher for my core subjects, Mrs. Finch, is pretty nice. And today we had a double period of science and gym. We played basketball. Almost no one got rebounds, but it was fun. The gym teacher asked me to practice with the girls’ team.”

  Madeline seemed quietly proud of that compliment. She was very athletic and had played guard for the girls’ team back in Stover.

  “Nice. Are you going to?” Regina asked, trying not to sound overly eager. Do it, do it. Please? That would be a great way to make new friends, she wanted to say. But she practically bit her tongue. Regina already knew that Madeline was liable to do just the opposite of anything she said. Not because she was a bad kid, but because she was a tween, and it was her job and sworn duty to be contrary.

  “Maybe,” Madeline replied. “Did you see those girls I walked out with?”

  “Are they in your class?”

  Madeline nodded. “Jen sits next to me and Alyssa is in my math group. I sat at Jen’s table during lunch. She called me over.”

  “That was very thoughtful of her,” Regina said, feeling overwhelmed with relief that some nice girl had taken pity on her daughter.

  “Jen has a horse. She said I could come over and ride it sometime. Could I?”

  “I don’t see why not,” her mother replied. “I told you you’d make friends easily.”

  “It’s not a sleepover invitation, so you didn’t win,” Madeline replied.

  “I didn’t win yet. The week isn’t over.” Regina smiled and Madeline had to smile back.

  Madeline grew quiet again; she watched out her window as they drove back to the house. Just beyond town, the scenery became rural, with hardly a house in sight. The road was edged by brush and trees, the boughs heavy with snow. Every few minutes, the landscape would open and a wide snowy field would come into view, or a pond edged with trees and brush.

  Regina had been back and forth on this road all day, but only now noticed how serene and scenic it was. Maybe because her heart felt a bit lighter, certainly lighter than yesterday morning when she and Richard had driven this same route, coming over to meet Warren Oakes.

  All in all, their first day in the new house had been a good one, Regina reflected. Madeline liked her school and was starting to make friends. Brian had gotten medical attention, and some new toys, from a very caring doctor. Most amazing of all, she had a job, at least for a while.

  Even Richard would have to admit they’d taken a few steps in the right direction. Well, he probably wouldn’t actually say it out loud, Regina knew. But he would have to admit it to himself. Cape Light might be a brief stop. But not an unpleasant one.

  “BEN? CAN YOU WAKE UP?”

  Carolyn sat on the edge of his bed, her hand resting on his shoulder. He thought he was at home, in his own bed, but as his eyes slowly opened and he felt the tug of tubes and the pain in his legs and chest, he remembered.

  The room was cast in the shadows of late-afternoon light. “Are you all right?” she asked with concern. “Do you need anything?”

  “Some water would be nice.” His mouth felt dry as cotton. It must be from all the medications. Carolyn handed him a plastic cup with a straw sticking out the top, and Ben sipped. “How long was I asleep?”

  “About two hours, give or take.”

  “And you sat here the whole time? How boring for you,” he said sympathetically.

  “I came prepared with my knitting. Did you think I was going to let you out of my sight for one minute today? No chance of that,” she said firmly. “I would have let you sleep longer, but Reverend Boland just called. He said you’re not to worry about a thing. He’s found a temporary minister who can start at church this week. He wants to come and visit, but I told him that you’ll be home in a few days, and it would probably be best to come then. Was that all right?”

  “Yes, dear. That was fine. As long as he’s found someone to step in at church.” Ben took a breath, then shifted under the sheets. He suddenly felt restless and confined. It was so annoying to get sick like this, so undermining. “Did he say who’s coming? Maybe it’s someone I know.”

  “He did tell me the name. I wrote it down somewhere . . .” Carolyn got up and went to the chair where she had been reading. She found a slip of paper stuck in her book. “Here it is. Reverend Isabel Lawrence. Does that name ring a bell?”

  “Isabel Lawrence? A woman?”

  “I guess so, dear. I’ve never heard of a man named Isabel, though you never know these days.”

  Carolyn was clearly amused by his reaction. He could have been more politically correct about it, he realized. He was all for women’s rights and female equality in the workplace and every place. This choice had just taken him by surprise, that’s all. He had nothing at all against female ministers. The truth was, he didn’t know many.

  “Did he say how old she is?”

  “No, dear. He didn’t really say much at all, except that she should get to town by Thursday, and he would find someplace for her to live before then. And he said he would talk to the deacons and make sure that a few members of the congregation would welcome her and give her some orientation.”

  “Oh, of course. That goes without saying. I’ll put in a word, too.” Ben’s mind jumped to the church leaders he would call. Isabel Lawrence would be warmly welcomed, he had no doubt.

  “There’s a lot I need to tell her,” he said. “Maybe she should come here first, before she goes over to the church.”

  Carolyn gave him a thoughtful look. “The doctor said you could be released in a few days, Friday or Saturday. Maybe you should wait until you’re back home to talk to her.”

  He knew that look. It meant he was acting as if the old stone church were g
oing to tumble down to the ground without him. “All right. If you think the church won’t fall down by then, I suppose I can wait to see Reverend Lawrence.”

  “It might tremble a bit, but I don’t think it will cave in completely,” Carolyn told him. “I’m sure your very responsible trustees and deacons will spot any warning signs and prop it up in time.”

  “I’m sure they will. I have to take care of myself now, I guess. That’s the priority. The sooner I get well, the faster I can return. The doctor said that I’ll be able to return to all of my usual activities with a lot more energy than I’ve felt lately,” he reminded her.

  He had been glad to hear that, though he found it hard to believe. He couldn’t imagine being back to work in six weeks . . . or even six months. His mood seemed to swing between happiness at being alive and fear because he felt so weak. Like an old man.

  This, too, shall pass, he reminded himself. It will take time to get back on an even footing again.

  “Dr. Chandler did say you could go right back to the church when you recovered. If that’s what you want to do.”

  He knew what his wife was hinting at, but didn’t know how to respond.

  “Even ministers retire, Ben,” she added, before he could answer. “I know you’ve had a great shock and this isn’t the time to make any big decisions. But have you thought about that possibility at all?” she asked gently.

  “I have thought about it,” he admitted. But each time he did, his mind automatically rejected that path. It felt too much like giving up. Even when he felt so weak that merely sitting upright wore him out. “I’ll tell you honestly, Carolyn: To retire now, because of the heart trouble, makes me feel as if the decision has been taken out of my hands somehow.”

  “Well, maybe it has,” she said quietly. “Maybe someone else is making the decision for you. You’re the minister,” she teased him. “You would know better about that than me.”

  Ben smiled but didn’t say more about it. He’d thought of that possibility, too. He had been plucked by the hand of God and set on the sidelines. Given a good scare, to boot. Practically forced to pause and reflect, to reconsider what he’d done with his life so far and what he was going to do with the rest of it.