Page 25 of Hearts on the Mend

“Can you go check on Elijah? He’s terrible at asking for help, but I can tell he’s struggling with the pulse ox.”

When I step into triage, I smile at the young man in the chair. “Hi, I’m Cassie. What brings you in today?” I motion for Elijah to scoot so I can take a peek at the patient’s chart.

“I don’t feel good.” He pulls his coat tighter, shivering. His black hair is cut short, and his big brown eyes are glassy. “This cold came out of nowhere, and it’s kicking my ass.”

“That time of year.” I scan his chart, then peek over again at him, my gut hit with the sense that something else is happening. His skin is mottled, and his heart rate is too high. “Let’s get you seen by a doctor. We’ll get you tested for both strains of the flu and COVID first to start.” I pause, glancing up from the keyboard. “Hanging in there?”

He opens his mouth like he’s about to answer, but his eyes go flat. Then he slumps forward, bracing himself on his knees.

“Elijah, get a gurney. Now.” I shove the keyboard aside.

“What?”

“Code White!” I shout.

I catch him just as his body goes rigid, the first tremors of a seizure racking his lanky frame. Beaz, one of the residents, rounds the corner at a dead sprint and helps me guide him to the floor.

Thirty minutes later, after the seizures have stopped and he’s been intubated, he’s moved up to ICU. Turns out he might be fighting a cold, but the cut on his leg had become infected after he waded through his flooded basement during last week’s cold snap. Sepsis.

I’m at the sink, scrubbing my hands clean when my phone rings. I let it go until whoever it is calls right back. School flashes across my screen.

Shit.

“Everything’s okay,” the school nurse starts, “but I have Ruby with me, and she has a very high fever, isn’t feeling well, and needs to go home.”

I’m the worst mother in the world. “Can you give her some Tylenol?”

“Mrs. Whitman, she can’t be in school with a temp over one hundred. School policy.”

“I’m in the middle of my shift at the ER. I can’t duck out and pick her up.”

“You don’t have anyone else you can call?”

“We’re new in town. I haven’t…” I pinch my brows, crashing out in the employee lounge room. I should have known arranging before and aftercare around school wasn’t enough. But the local Boys & Girls Club had a waitlist. I need to find another sitter or nanny to help with emergencies. Like today. “I will make a few phone calls and get right back to you.”

My mom and stepdad are hours away in New York. I call Matt, who doesn’t answer, of course. Not that I’m surprised. He’d claim otherwise in court, but I know if he picked up, he’d find some excuse to avoid helping. For years, Matt told me I was better at looking after Ruby when she was sick. Said the same thing a lot, actually. I’m better at knowing her schedule, how to get her down for a nap, what she likes and doesn’t like to eat, her teachers’ names.

But it was never that I was better. It was because he never wanted to try.

Tracy braces her arms on the door to the break room, leaning in quickly with a handful of empty bedpans. “Cassie, Dr. Reed needs you.”

“Sorry, it’s about my daughter.” I wince. This is not how I wanted to show up during my first week at the hospital. “I need a minute to arrange for someone to pick her up from school.”

“She okay?”

“Fever.”

“I’ll help Dr. Reed for now and will see who can come in early. Go ahead. I remember those days. Felt impossible to get ahead of anything.”

My stomach is a gurgly jumble, and I’m not sure if it’s just from too much caffeine or me waiting for the line to connect.

I can’t believe I’m doing this.

Chapter 9

Nolan

How the fuck did I end up here?