by Barbara Ebel
“You’re not messing up your teeth with gum after all the work we had done on them, are you?” Sara asked.
“It’s sugar free, Mom.”
-----
After exiting I-40 and traveling on a winding, hilly road with spectacular views of the lake, they all made a left-hand turn. The family was familiar with the lake since it was connected to their favorite Caney Fork River – a mecca of fishing memories.
A narrow road with a vast mixture of overhanging tree limbs brought them down a small mountain into the natural setting of a log cabin. Danny finished explaining to Sara and the girls the size and history of the place, especially how it’s location on the water was unique. They could see the sparkling, greenish water of the lake beyond the house as they all got out of their vehicles.
Varg still had his car door wide open as he buckled a pouch with a carabiner and bottle holder onto his waist; he also zipped up a packet of papers into the zippered pouch and slid a twenty-four ounce can into the drink section.
“Let’s go inside first, folks,” he said.
Danny unsnapped Julia from her car seat and carried her in his arms. He walked next to Sara who looked ready for a hike with multi-pocketed cargo pants, a lighthouse tee-shirt, and slip-on sneakers. Wearing a painter’s cream-colored cap with a fish emblem - her hair to her cheeks - she looked younger than her forty-six years and Danny could see her joy just stepping into the country air, and following Varg to the covered entryway.
“The relaxing full-length deck, of course, is on the other side of the house,” Varg assured them as he felt the ledge above the door frame for the key.
Inside, they could almost smell a crackling fire in the fireplace and chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven while they admired a view similar to the front cover of an architectural home magazine.
Annabel tapped Nancy’s arm and they headed up the side staircase and walked onto the balcony which ran across the length of the house. “We’ll be checking this place out,” Annabel said to the adults below.
“Come on, tell me,” Nancy said as they turned around, not waiting for a response from their parents.
“Well, at one of the parties the first week, I met another freshman named David,” Annabel said. “We had a lot in common. And he had this dimple in his chin and the perfect shoulders and laugh.”
“What color was his hair?”
“Dark brown. Anyway, the next week, we meet again in one of the dorm lounges. And then … he’s in my biology lab class!”
They both went off into one of the furnished bedrooms and closed the door.
Downstairs, Varg took out flyers to hand out. “The home sits on 5.5 acres of private woods and lakeshore. It’s fully furnished with upgraded handcrafted furniture. There’s eight-hundred feet of decking, porches for your outdoor entertainment, and a natural gas grill.” He pulled out his drink and motioned them through the kitchen. “There’s granite in here as well as all bathrooms. That gorgeous fireplace over there is stacked stone up to the vaulted ceiling. Upstairs are three bedrooms.” He popped open the can and took a swig as Sara and Mary examined the stainless appliances and Julia played with pillows on the floor.
“What are the property taxes?” Casey asked.
“$1496 a year.”
Casey looked at the sheet to verify and nodded at Danny but he was focused on Varg.
“You’re always drinking that stuff, aren’t you?” Danny asked.
“Yes. Would you like one? I have at least a dozen in my car.”
“No, thanks,” he said.
Sara and Mary joined them. “With your dark red hair,” Casey said to his wife, “you look warm and natural in this place.”
“Let’s go out to the deck,” Varg said, walking away.
Danny went over and clasped Julia’s hand; outside, he let go of her and she headed straight for the Adirondack chair and climbed up.
“The view is magnificent and you can tie at least three regular boats onto the dock,” Varg said.
“And swim from your front yard.” Sara beamed.
Danny looked more carefully at Varg’s dark blue can. “Exactly how much of this Blue Bridge have you been drinking and for how long?” he asked.
“You are serious,” Varg said. “Is this important to you?”
“I think so.”
Chapter 20
Regardless of what the clock said, it was past daybreak and that was good enough for Danny. He walked the upstairs center hall with Dakota and Julia and announced, “After I come back from church with Julia and before Annabel goes back to college this afternoon, I’m taking you all for Sunday brunch.”
Mary cracked open her door and squinted, her pajama top slipping off her shoulder. She yawned and said, “I’ll tell them all in an hour or two if they didn’t hear you.”
“Thanks, sis. But you know college kids sleep half their weekends away, don’t you? Make sure she’s ready around noon.”
“I will. And, one of these days, Dakota is going to follow the two of you to church.”
“Probably. Oh, and ask Casey if he’s up to going to the gym with me after brunch.”
“Will do,” she said, and closed the door.
Inside the room, Casey mumbled from the side of the pillow. “And I thought it would be like pulling out a tooth to get him to the gym.”
-----
In a back pew, Danny sat with Julia at full attention. He felt rested and content in church, like softly paddling along on a boogie board and listening to the lapping of water. Today he had earnest prayer requests for all his family members and his patients as well.
Towards the end of the talk the priest seemed to take more notice of the back end of the congregation. “Train up a child in the way he or she should go,” he said quoting scripture, “For even when he or she is old, they will not depart from it.”
Danny kissed Julia on her forehead. He hoped to be an exemplary role model but he was only half the parental picture.
-----
“This is more than Sunday brunch from your father,” Casey said when several plates of banana foster pancakes showed up at their table. “It’s also a celebration because he’s made main partner of his practice.”
“It’s true,” Danny said. “And I just hadn’t gotten around to taking you all out. Everyone is always going in different directions.”
“Especially you, Dad,” Nancy sulked. Her hazel eyes glanced to the stack of pancakes before her.
Danny nudged her. “That’s not totally true. You’re immersed with high school and after-school activities.”
“Just last week,” Sara said, “she played soccer almost every day.”
“Soccer?” Annabel asked. “You’re becoming more like a tomboy and I’m becoming less.”
Nancy yanked her hair in front of her ears as a young waiter filled her glass.
“You’re probably right,” Sara said.
“So how does everyone feel about buying the cabin we saw yesterday?” Danny asked.
“You told Varg we were probably only interested in that one and you didn’t want to see anymore,” Mary reminded him.
“Exactly,” Danny said.
“It’s simply awesome,” Annabel said.
Danny looked at Casey and Mary but both of them were sampling their brunch; the aroma of nutmeg, allspice and bananas simmered in rum that smothered the pancakes smelled delicious.
“We think it’s a great idea,” Mary said.
Casey nodded affirmatively. “It’s a beautiful place and we’d love to spend time out there. But, ultimately, it’s your decision.”
Danny finished cutting a small pancake into bite-size pieces for Julia. “I’ll talk to Varg and tell him it’s on. We’ll close as soon as possible. Then I’ll have keys made but we’ll keep a spare above the front door.”
“Then this is a double celebration,” Sara said, raising a glass for a toast.
-----
Danny and Casey went to the desk inside Serious Gyms a
nd signed in.
“Nice way to spend part of a Sunday afternoon, fellows,” a woman in her mid-thirties said at the desk. She had ironed-straight hair with one long blue streak running through it.
“It really is,” Casey said.
“I’m new here,” she said. “One of the three regulars now at the desk.”
“Do you have a name?” Casey asked.
“Katarina. Kat like a feline and ‘erina’ like a ballerina.”
“You must be resourceful on your feet. I wouldn’t want you chasing me.”
“That depends if you’re married,” she replied and smiled.
“Nice comeback.” Casey raised his left hand and wiggled his wedding band.
“The good ones are always taken.” She peeked at their names and said, “Casey and Danny, enough socializing now. We’re only open on Sundays from 12-5, so quit wasting time.”
“Thanks,” Danny said as they went to the table area, grabbed bottles from their bags and filled them at the water fountain.
“Look,” Casey said. “Your trainer, as well as my EMS car-accident patient, is already back to work!”
They sauntered over to Rob King who greeted them both with a strong handshake.
“I know I gave you the go ahead,” Danny said, “but I didn’t expect to see you here so soon.”
“I’ve easily helped out one client today and I can do the same for you. Don’t worry about me. Even recuperating, my motor and visual skills, balance and coordination are better than the average person. Why don’t I watch you do your routine and, if need be, make some suggestions?”
“Take him up on it,” Casey said while pulling on a pair of gym gloves.
“Okay.” Danny walked to the reclining bike and set it for twenty minutes.
“Are you also warming up on the treadmill?”
“No, just the bike before weights.”
“The bike is fine, but I want you to start splitting it. Fifteen minutes on the bike and fifteen minutes on the treadmill. Get that run in for more weight bearing and let’s get you light on your feet!”
Danny nodded while readjusting the setting. He glanced back at Rob who had popped a can of a power drink and gasped; it was Blue Bridge again. He stepped around the front of the machine and tapped Casey to take a look.
Casey slowed the pace and his eyes widened. He whispered, “Varg Dagmar is drinking that stuff like water, too. Which is what you’re thinking, I’m sure. But you know what?”
Danny shook his head, perplexed.
“I know I’ve seen it somewhere else. On the job … in someone’s house.”
Danny shrugged his shoulders. “Give it some thought.”
Rob stood there waiting - his broad neck and sloping shoulders facing their way - while he raised the can and took a hearty gulp, not privy to what the two men were talking about.
-----
“I’ll be here the rest of the week except for Monday and Tuesday,” Rob said when he’d finished whipping Danny through his workout.
“Aren’t I the lucky one,” Danny responded.
Casey put down two large dumbbells and wiped his neck with a towel he had around his neck. “You buy that drink here, don’t you?” he asked Rob.
The trainer nodded, then motioned towards the refrigerated cases.
“Thanks,” Danny said and they went to the front desk to sign out. Several men and one couple were leaving so they stood waiting a moment to use the clipboard.
“Katarina, how much are those Blue Bridge drinks?” Danny asked.
“Three-fifty,” she said sliding the board to them.
“Expensive,” Casey commented.
“People get addicted to them. They don’t seem to care what they cost.”
“Where do you get them?” Casey asked.
“That’s the thing. I don’t think you can find them just anywhere, but don’t ask me because I’m still new.”
“Put one on my bill,” Danny said.
“But do you know that the name refers to your old and new self after you start working out at Serious Gyms?” she asked.
They stared at her with blank faces.
“Well, the drink and the gym ‘bridges’ your transition between your old body and your new one. Just keep coming and working out.”
Casey automatically returned her smile and Danny grabbed a Blue Bridge. Both men scrutinized the can as they walked to the car.
-----
Danny slipped in the back door to the office. As he walked down the hallway to find Cheryl, he noted the sign he had put up: “If you want Dr. Tilson to pray with you, feel free to ask. God bless you!”
He bumped into her as she rounded the kitchen corner. “Monday, Monday, and here we are again, face to face,” Danny laughed.
“Good morning. And likewise.” Cheryl pointed inside to the coffeepot.
“I think I’ve had my fill between rounds and surgeries this morning, but thanks anyway. I’ve been meaning to ask you. Has any patient said anything to you about the prayer sign on the wall? No one has mentioned it to me.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Yes, you’ll be happy to hear. They contemplate about it. Some have said ‘that’s really nice of him,’ or ‘he would really do that?’ or ‘I would feel funny to ask him, but a prayer would be great.’”
“Assure them I mean it,” he said softly. “Okay?”
“No problem, Dr. Tilson.”
“Do you remember that patient a few weeks ago? The one you were in the examining room for and that I sent to Dr. Reaper? Name of Branson?”
“Sounds familiar. Want me to pull her chart?”
“Exactly.”
When Cheryl dropped off the chart, Danny reviewed it quickly and called the ophthalmology department at the medical campus.
“This is Dr. Tilson,” he said. “Dr. Reaper and I referred a patient to you named Paula Branson; she’s part of your large cohort study. I need to ask her some questions and can’t possibly call her in to do that. When will she be there next?”
He heard clicks from a computer, someone checking a schedule. “This Wednesday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.”
Cheryl popped her head in his office urging him to see his first patient. Danny hung up. “I’m on call on Wednesday and have a light afternoon in the office. Please rearrange it so I can be at the eye center by two.”
-----
It was apparent that, if big bucks had been spent on certain areas of the medical campus, the ophthalmology department rated tops.
On Wednesday afternoon, Danny walked through the main lobby of the research center and glanced up at the domed ceiling that was three stories high. The sunlight of the picture-perfect day streamed in. He thought back to his residency days when the cream of the crop in his class had gone into ophthalmology, anesthesiology and dermatology; neurosurgery ranked well, too. Danny loved his profession but being an eye doctor or a gas passer would have been challenging as well, though - in the medical sense - he wasn’t much into skin.
He found the building’s staircase and bounded two steps at a time to the second floor. “May I speak to Dr. Malone?” he asked a woman at a huge, rounded counter.
Danny was directed to a comfortable conference room and flipped through a specialty magazine while waiting. Soon a woman with high cheekbones appeared.
“Dr. Tilson, we want to thank you and Dr. Reaper for sending us Paula Branson to be included in our study.”
Danny shook hands with her. “Glad to help.”
“I am not a medical doctor but I am the PhD working on this cohort study full time. You know, a geeky analytical woman who keeps track of the numbers, spreadsheets, and all data.”
“An integral part,” he said.
“I understand you want to talk to Ms. Branson today on her visit,” she said while putting her hand into a vest pocket, pulling out a lip balm and using it.
“Yes. I have found amazing physical properties going on in several of my patients’ brains. She’s one of them. I may be crazy bu
t, in the last few days, I have become suspicious of a common thread between them all.”
“Interesting. Particularly if your possibility lends credence. But I know you are aware that Ms. Branson’s eyesight is most remarkable. They say as remarkable as any living animal, almost like an owl’s nocturnal vision except that they can move their heads around to further increase peripheral vision.”
“Yes, the results of Dr. Reaper’s testing flabbergasted me.” He laughed and his eyes twinkled at the thought. “We would all love to have binocular vision. But, please - before we see her - tell me more about the study.”
“We are doing two of the same studies in two age brackets. Ms. Branson is in the thirty- to forty-year old group. Patients like her are entered if they fit outstanding criteria of their visual acuity, refraction test, stereopsis, retinal exam, and so forth. But, mind you, she is the crème de la crème. At first, we gather data over three appointments over three months and then every six months for a year, and then on a yearly basis. We will measure the outcomes from participants in each cohort to determine relationships with specific characteristics. Obviously, we’re also interested if these people retain exceptional vision over decades. We’ll follow them for fifty years but obviously we may lose some.”
“A cohort study is easier and cheaper than a randomized, controlled trial,” Danny said, “so you should also have success from an economic standpoint over such a long time.”
“Exactly,” she said. She licked her lips and continued. “In essence, Dr. Tilson, what the ophthalmologists are looking for is the silver bullet which makes these patients see better. Perhaps we can pass the DNA secret or environmental influence on to others.”
Her pager beeped and she nodded at Danny. “They are paging me that Ms. Branson has arrived. We are on the second month’s evaluation where she gets another eye exam and more questions about lifestyle, medical history and idiosyncrasies. How about if I bring her in here and see if she’s amenable to talking to you first?”
“Sure. If she agrees, you will stay, won’t you?”
“Absolutely. You may bring something interesting to the table that we can pursue in the study.”
-----
“Why, Dr. Tilson!” Paula Branson walked in the glass door and shimmied over to their table. “They ain’t kidding you’re a good doctor. Even following up on me here, huh?”