“I thought you ran a private care home, but you work here?” she asked.
He smiled. “I own it, but my wife actually runs the home. I am the primary care physician there and I maintain an office here. I’m only here three days a week and when I occasionally cover for other doctors. I’ve always been very interested in geriatric medicine. The home and making sure the people there get the best attention is my main focus.”
Rabbit nodded in understanding.
“Okay, Lizzy, how are you feeling?”
“Better. Calmer.”
“Good. Today, I am going to do a few tests, along with some blood work and we’ll get that chip out of your neck. It’ll be just a small incision but it’ll be sore for a few days. I’ll have to put one or two stitches in it that you’ll need to have removed. Dr. Woods will come around and I’ll introduce you to her. If you like her, she’ll set you up with an appointment for a full physical. Does that sound okay?”
Rabbit nodded and I squeezed her hand gently in silent support.
“I will have a nurse in with us at all times. It’s up to you if you want Joshua in the room with you as well.”
I looked over at Rabbit. It was her call. I would do whatever she wanted. She smiled nervously at me. “I think I need to do this myself. But if I needed him to come back in he could?” she asked quietly.
“Without question.”
I saw her deep breaths and how she seemed to steel herself, straightening her shoulders. “All right.”
I smiled. My brave girl.
Daniel stood up. “Let’s get started then.”
I sat beside Adam, nervously watching the door. Daniel’s office was in a relatively quiet part of the hospital but there were still a fair number of people around. Before I left the office, Dr. Woods came in and introduced herself to Lizzy and me. She was an older woman, tiny in stature, but with a firm handshake and kind, knowing eyes. I had left then to give them some privacy and when the doctor came out, she stopped and shook my hand saying she would see me when Lizzy came back next time. Her eyes had widened when she took in the appearance of Adam beside me. I did a quick introduction and her eyes narrowed as she stared up at him. “You’re going after the bastard who did all this?” she asked. He nodded silently. She handed him her card. “If you need something, let me know. Nail him.” She looked over at me and smiled. “I’ll take good care of her, Joshua.” She turned and walked away quickly. Adam looked at me. “I like her. Little fireball,” he chuckled. I agreed. Daniel had done well in choosing a doctor for Rabbit.
I was surprised a few minutes later to see Dave come around the corner talking with a tall woman. He headed directly for me with his hand outstretched. “Joshua!”
I stood up and shook his hand. He introduced the woman beside him as Trina, the new head of the psychiatry department in the hospital. We conversed briefly and it struck me that this part of the hospital was an unusual place for him to be. When I questioned him, he had the grace to look slightly embarrassed.
“Did Daniel ask you to ‘bump’ into me?” I asked, feeling both slightly annoyed yet grateful.
Dave nodded. “Joshua, I would never have thought I would see you standing here in the hospital of your own volition. It’s an amazing breakthrough for you.”
“It’s not that easy, Dave.”
He regarded me. “No, I don’t imagine it is. But perhaps a great stepping stone to continuing?”
Suddenly, it was all clear. I turned to Trina. “It would seem a meeting has been orchestrated here.”
She smiled, her dark eyes flashing with both humour and understanding. “I’m aware. When I heard your story, I really wanted to meet you. I asked Dave to ‘arrange’ an introduction.” She stepped forward. “I knew Maggie O’Donnell well. She was a great doctor and a mentor to me.”
I regarded her quietly for a minute and made a decision. It was time to try again. “Maybe we should sit down and talk later, get to know one another a little.”
Her smile was brilliant. Her card appeared in my hand with her private contact information, and after a few more pleasantries, she and Dave walked away.
I sat down heavily. Today was turning into a long roller coaster ride of emotion and I was starting to feel overwhelmed.
Beside me, Adam spoke up. “Big day, Joshua.”
I nodded silently.
“It’s good to have friends that care enough about us that they are willing to risk our anger to help, isn’t it?” he stated mildly.
I looked over at him. I had done the same with Rabbit; bringing him in, hoping against hope she would let him help her. And, she had.
I smiled. “Yeah, Adam. It’s a very good thing.”
Adam looked down at his phone at an incoming text message and then exploded in sudden anger.
“Motherfucker! I thought he was smarter than this. Goddamnit! What the fuck is he thinking?” His voice was low and furious as he stood up.
I looked at him in concern. “What happened?”