Heather

by Chris Keniston

  ***

  For the first time since Heather had marched through the double doors of the ER, she could breathe easy.

  “You’re not smiling, but you’re not frowning so I’m going to guess things could be worse.” Violet stood in the center of the waiting room.

  “He should be fine.” As heart attacks went, it could most definitely have been worse.

  “You look beat.”

  Now that the adrenaline rush was over, she was feeling the drop in energy. Not an attending physician at the small local hospital, she hadn’t expected to be allowed into the ER with the patient. Apparently there wasn’t a citizen within a hundred miles of Hart Land who didn’t know about the General’s granddaughter, the cardiac surgeon. By the time she’d hopped off the back of the ambulance, word had spread that she was coming in with the victim. From the few comments she’d managed to glean, according to her grandfather, she pretty much walked on water. Too bad that wasn’t true; it could come in pretty handy in her line of work.

  Palms flat on the small of her back, she twisted left, then right, before straightening. “They were a bit short handed.” Not that the ER doctor couldn’t handle caring for Ralph, but the on call cardiologist was delayed getting to the hospital. Since she could recognize a harmless anomaly in the test results as the mark of a more serious problem—or in this case lack of one—as easily as reading an eye chart with 20/20 vision, she casually pointed out what was obvious to her. “Without the staff cardiologist here there was a good chance Ralph would have been transported to a larger hospital.”

  “But not this time?”

  Heather shook her head. “I spoke with the staff cardiologist, he’ll be here within an hour. Ralph will have to undergo some tests and they’ll monitor him carefully but my money is on Ralph. He’s a tough old goat.”

  “Good.” Violet smiled.

  The double doors swung wide again and the bed with a groggy but awake Ralph pushed past her.

  “I hear you saved my day.”

  “You should be resting,” Heather said softly, taking his hand in hers and squeezing before letting go.

  “You heard the doctor.” The orderly pushed the bed around the corner to the elevator bays.

  Violet stepped around her sister and raised her hand to cup her mouth. “And don’t go pinching all the nurses.”

  Neither could hear what Ralph answered, but the burst of laughter from the orderly pushing him into the elevator let them know the old coot still had his sense of humor.

  “Thank you again.” Stifling a yawn and cradling a chart against his chest, the ER doctor came to a stop at Heather’s side. “Glad we didn’t need to transport him to a larger facility,” he hefted a lazy shoulder in a tired shrug, “but there isn’t a doctor between here and Boston with better credentials than yours. You should follow your own advice. Go home to your family. Get some rest. We’ve got it covered.”

  “Thank you. I’ll wait a bit till he’s settled in his room and pop in to say goodbye.”

  The doctor nodded. “Fair enough. And for the record, if you ever want to leave one of the most prestigious hospitals in the country and stop performing groundbreaking surgeries,” he shook his head and smothered a chuckle, “we’re always in need of a good doctor.”

  She smiled back at him. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “You do that.” With a casual wave to both Heather and Violet, he turned and made his way back through the double doors.

  “Wonder if he’s single?” Violet pondered out loud. “No ring.”

  Heather chuckled. “I didn’t ask.”

  “You wouldn’t be interested anyhow. You’ve got Jake.”

  “I don’t have anyone.” Though she did want very badly to hear his voice, and had the phone to her ear before she noticed the wry grin on her sister’s face. “I need to catch everyone up on what’s going on.”

  “Sure you do.” Violet’s grin widened.

  “Hello.” The sound of his voice smoothed over her raw nerves. “I was hoping to hear good news sooner than later.”

  “He’s going to be fine. No serious blockage.”

  “Thank heaven,” his tone dripped with relief. “Everyone’s doing their best to stay positive, but you can feel the worry in the air. ”

  “Go ahead and let folks know he’s on his way to a room. Will probably remain in the hospital for a few days, but the merry widows can start lining up the casserole entourage.”

  Jake burst into laughter. “Too late. Already started. Lucy is first on the list with her King Ranch casserole.”

  “I should have known.” Heather could hear the rumbling of teen voices spewing questions at Jake: Who’s on the phone? Is it about Ralph? How is he?

  “Hang on,” he muttered, either to her or the teens she wasn’t sure. “Listen,” he must have walked away from the group because the chatter had dimmed, “I need to give an update and help Callie ship the kids off. A few parents are here. No one wanted to leave without news.”

  “I’m not surprised.” Lawford really was an anomaly in modern times. “Go ahead. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

  “Will do. And Heather…”

  “Yeah?”

  “You were amazing.”

  Too tired to argue she’d only done what Callie had done, she nodded to no one. “Good night.”

  “Good night.” She turned to see Violet grinning.

  “For a smart doctor,” Violet shook her head, “you really do have a lot to learn. Let’s go home. Maybe a good night’s sleep will knock some sense into you.”

  Without a word Heather followed her sister, but she doubted seriously that a lack of sleep had anything to do with what had her out of sorts at the moment.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “You’re up awfully early.” Lucy stood at the sink peeling potatoes.

  Heather had given up on getting a decent night’s sleep. After a full day of cavorting on the lake—and didn’t that sound nice—supper with a troop of matchmaking family, an evening of card playing, a medical emergency, and then staying late at the hospital with Ralph, all sorts of things had been scrambling around in her mind. Questions, feelings, and not nearly enough answers.

  “Coffee’s fresh.” Lucy waved at the pot.

  “Thanks.” It was going to be hard going back to the sludge the hospital called coffee. Pot in hand, Heather blinked. A lot of things were going to be hard about going back to the hospital. Leaving Jake Harper behind was rapidly rising to the top of the list.

  “I’ll be putting breakfast out for everyone soon. You want to eat early?”

  Heather shook her head. “I’ll wait for the others.”

  Lucy nodded and went back to peeling potatoes. “It’s always nice when Callie’s students come to the lake. Doesn’t happen often this time of year but the laughter keeps us all young. Especially after that scare with Ralph last night. A simple day at the lake will be good for everyone.”

  “Mm.” Heather took a sip of the coffee. Lucy had a point in one way for sure – there was always something magical about the lake. That’s probably all this fluttering in her stomach was about. The lake. When she returned home, to her routine, her life, Jake Harper would barely be a memory.

  The figment of her memory suddenly stood before her. “Morning.”

  For a few seconds she actually thought she was hallucinating. At least until Lucy put down the peeler and wiped her hands on her apron.

  “The General said to tell you he’ll be down in a minute. Have you had breakfast yet?”

  His cheeks pinkened. “No, ma’am. Didn’t want to be late.”

  What was that all about?

  Puppy nails clacking on the wooden floors announced the arrival of Lady and Sarge.

  “Good morning fella.” Jake leaned over to pet Lady who had sat in front of him, tail wagging. He’d gotten in only a short scratch before she moved her nose and nudging his hand out from over her, and gave him a big slobbery lick.

  “Guess you must be
okay.” The General turned the corner into the kitchen. “Lady’s rather fussy. Doesn’t lick just anybody.”

  “’Specially men,” Lucy chimed in.

  “What about men?” Violet came into the room a few feet behind her grandfather.

  Scratching Sarge behind the ear, Heather looked up. “Apparently Lady is particular about who she keeps company with.”

  Violet shrugged and reached for the coffee pot. “I’m starved.”

  “Table is set. Violet, you grab the pancakes in the top oven. Heather, the bacon and eggs are in the warmer.”

  “Aren’t we waiting for Grams?”

  “Grams,” Fiona Hart floated into the room, wearing a nearly floor length striped broom skirt and a bright peasant top, “is here.”

  “What shall I carry?” Jake asked.

  Lucy lit up as though he’d announced she was the new Miss America. “We’ve got it all covered. You just go on inside and make yourself at home.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He turned and sidled up beside Heather. “You sleep well?”

  “Not really.”

  “Me neither.”

  She stopped short and spun to look at him.

  “Sometimes sleep is overrated.” Something in his tone told her his comment had nothing to do with last night’s excitement and everything to do with the questions batting around in her mind. He reached around her and retrieved the platter of eggs. “Let me.”

  “Thanks.” She could carry the platter fine, but the way he looked at her as though he could read her heart and soul would have had her turning over anything he asked for.

  The dogs did their underfoot routine and once again Heather and Jake found themselves sitting side by side. This time Heather wanted to lean over and thank the pups.

  “Jake and I are going to set up the volleyball net and rake the bocce court.”

  “So we’re going ahead with the plans for the day?” Heather asked.

  “Yes. Despite last night’s shake up, the plans are solid. The children deserve a little celebration.”

  Heather was happy to see her grandfather reporting for duty. So to speak.

  “Then,” he continued, “we’ll head out to the marina and pick up the paddle boats.”

  “Isn’t it a little late in the season for that?” Violet asked.

  The General nodded. “It is. We took them out of the water last month, but the kids enjoy it so much and the weather’s been exceptionally warm the last few days.”

  Last night’s scare had Heather even more uneasy about her own grandfather’s health. Considered the ticking clock until her return home for her to finally uncover the truth, she turned to face Jake.

  He gave her a curt nod, almost as if he knew what she was considering. Could it be they really did read each other so well, or was all this simply wishful thinking?

  Grinning broadly, the General took a seat at the table. “It’s going to be an outstanding day.”

  The prospect of a houseful of teens, no matter recent circumstances, seemed to have him in an especially good mood. Now that she had Jake’s support, there was no better time than the present to tackle her grandfather again.

  “Excuse me a minute.” Heather stepped away from the table and hurried upstairs. Retrieving what she needed from her room, she hurried back down the stairs and slipped quietly into the dining room.

  “Don’t think I can’t see you skulking about, young lady. I didn’t get my stripes by not knowing what was going on around me.” Buttering his toast, her grandfather didn’t even bother to turn in her direction. It was like the man actually had eyes in the back of his head.

  “General, this will only take a minute.” Or twenty.

  “Nonsense.” He pushed to stand. “We have a barbecue to prepare for. No time for anything else.”

  “Enough,” Heather barked. “This isn’t the Marine Corps. I am not a rough recruit and you are not my superior officer.”

  “I’m your grandfather.” His tone took on that military gruffness.

  She came toe to toe with the stubborn old man. “And I am Doctor Heather Preston. Granddaughter of General Harold F. Hart. Now sit!”

  Much to her surprise and everyone else in the room, the General dropped into the chair behind him.

  “Now roll up your sleeve.”

  “Never, have I—”

  “Sleeve,” she practically growled.

  Stethoscope on his arm, Heather listened and watched the secondhand on the wall clock circle around. She listened to his chest as he breathed in and out. Frowning, she took his pulse at his wrist and then did the same at his neck.

  The tension in the room grew as thick as the humidity in August.

  Shaking her head, she let go of his hand.

  “How long have you had the murmur?”

  The General shrugged. “It’s nothing.”

  “Murmur,” multiple voices mumbled in varied ranges of concern.

  Looking at her family, she shook her head. “It’s also called an innocent murmur. It doesn’t affect anything. People can have one their entire lives and still live to be a hundred. None of the things I’ve seen would have been caused by that and everything else is within normal range. I don’t understand it.”

  “I told you.” He made a show of undoing his sleeve. “I’m fine.”

  “But the cough. The dizziness. The naps.” She whirled to face her grandmother. “And giving up cigars and french fries?”

  Fiona Hart smiled at her eldest grandchild. “So that’s what this is all about.”

  Without saying a word, like a child caught with their hand in the cookie jar, Heather nodded.

  Fiona gave her husband a look very similar to the one Heather had used when she finally got the man to cooperate.

  The General snorted, before sighing. “All right. A few months ago I went in for a regular check up. Found myself getting confused, tired.”

  “And?” Heather asked.

  “Turns out my blood pressure was a little high.”

  “Harold,” his wife enunciated very clearly.

  “220 over 145.”

  “Oh, General.” Heather reached for the blood pressure cuff again.

  “You can put that down. I got the lecture on cigars, salt, fats, fried foods, exercise. You know the drill.”

  Heather nodded.

  “He gave me some pills—”

  “That he didn’t like taking,” Grams added.

  “And then Jim Parker had a stroke.” The General paused to look at all the faces in the room. “He’s fifteen years younger than me.”

  Grams patted her husband’s knee and flashed a prideful grin at her granddaughters. “Four weeks later, your grandfather had lost ten pounds—”

  Violet bobbed her head. “You do look pretty good of late.”

  “And his blood pressure is down to 130 over 80 and has been holding steady for months now,” her grandmother continued.

  “But the dizzy spells, the tiredness.” Heather waved an arm from her grandmother to the General. “Those are all symptoms of high blood pressure.”

  The General nodded. “And fluid in the middle ear.”

  Clearing her throat loudly, Grams stared pointedly at her husband.

  “I’ve developed allergies,” he added.

  “Allergies?” a few voices muttered.

  The General reached into his pocket and handed Heather a bottle of pills. Sure enough, the prescription medicine was indeed used to reduce fluid in the ear, which would explain his symptoms.

  Tenderness shone in his eyes, his hand dropped to her arm, and his voice came out so low and melodic she almost couldn’t hear him. “From one little phone call you knew something was wrong. Best darn doctor I’ve ever known.” As if realizing he was getting all mushy on her, he snatched his hand back, pushed away from the table, stood ramrod straight and groused for every person in the room to hear, “We have guests coming. Let’s get cracking.”

  One by one the family jumped to attention and carrying their e
mpty plates, filed into the kitchen. At the doorway, Jake slowed and turned to Heather. “I’m glad it’s not serious.”

  “Me too, as long as he follows doctor’s orders.” Staring at the empty doorway the General had walked through, she couldn’t decide why she didn’t feel any better. “He’s always complaining that I’m not here. That nothing is as important as family. Last night, today, that really hit home.”

  “He brags about you to everyone who will listen. He’s very proud of you.” To her surprise, Jake leaned in and gave her the tenderest of pecks on the lip. “And I love how the feeling is mutual.” Without waiting for her response, he spun about and followed the others out of the room.

  Love. The word kept her momentarily frozen in place. It wasn’t like he’d declared his undying love for her. He hadn’t done anything to imply any romantic involvement in his feelings. People loved all sorts of things. Cats, dogs, flowers in springtime. So why did her heart just do a handspring in her chest?

  ***

  “You know,” his wife slid her arm around his waist, “it’s not nice to keep secrets from people.”

  “I know.” Fiona Hart was the one person in the world he’d never kept secrets from. Well, mostly never. “There are times when it’s in the best interest of the troops to keep some information on a need to know basis.”

  “Hmm. I’m not sure I agree on this one. How do you think she’ll react when she learns there’s more to our monthly trips than a specialty yarn shop?”

  “And who’s going to tell her?” He loved his wife more than anything in this world, and trusted her with his life. Smiling down at her, he pulled her closer into the fold of his arm. “If all continues on track, she’ll never know. None of them will.”

  “Marines,” she muttered, leaning into him.

  “I love you too.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Kids were everywhere. Jake had thought the barbecue was only for the girls on the team, but apparently the invitation included boyfriends, classmates, and family members. The Point was covered with lounge chairs, folding chairs, blankets, and children of all sizes scurrying about chasing balls, dogs, and each other. Jake hadn’t had this much fun in years.