Читать книгу White Wedding For A Southern Belle - Susan Carlisle - Страница 9
ОглавлениеKIEFER SPENT SOME of the late hours of his evening contemplating the curiosity of life. Who would have thought he would ever meet the leprechaun again and, even more amazing, be working with her. Life took funny twists. More than once as they’d stored supplies he’d thought about their kiss. Had that just been a onetime incredible kiss or would all hers be like that, causing that instant fire of desire? He’d like to find out but something about the all-business Ashley Marsh had said that wasn’t going to happen. What a shame.
He arrived at the clinic the next morning a couple of hours before opening time. A group of young men stood across the street even at that early hour. A ripple of alarm went through him and his gut tightened.
Was Marko trying it again?
Stepping out of the truck, he used his key fob to lock it and walked toward the front of the building. The roar of a car going too fast filled the air. By the time he had reached the door the men had started across the pavement.
Surely these guys were just trying to intimidate him. Since the day he’d seen his mother beaten by the homeless man she’d brought home for a meal, he’d been on guard where people were concerned. He was a realist. Some people were bad by nature. Defenseless he wasn’t anymore and he’d sworn a long time ago that he would never again watch another person be hurt.
Trash had been dumped in front of the door. Kiefer stepped in it to knock on the clinic door, all the time aware of the approaching group. His entire body was on alert as he formulated a plan if they attacked him. He vowed to get his own key today.
“Hey, you looking for Ashley?” the guy who led the men asked.
Kiefer slowly turned. “Yes.”
“You’ll need to go around back. The door to her place is there.”
Was the guy kidding him? Kiefer counted heads. Four to one. He wasn’t going to put himself into a position of being jumped. Before he had to make a decision about how to handle the situation, the door opened.
“Good morning, Dr. Bradford,” Ashley said with a smile. She was already dressed for the day in a pantsuit, giving her a professional and approachable air at the same time. He recognized this persona from TV. The one where she was determined to get what she wanted.
“Mornin’.”
She looked around him. “Hi, guys. Everything’s okay. Dr. Bradford is going to be the clinic doctor. It opens today.”
One of the guys said, “Okay, we were just makin’ sure you’re okay. Marko is spreading the word that he’s pissed about what you’re doing around here. We’ll get that trash cleaned up for you, Miss Ashley.” The guy dipped his head respectfully.
“Thanks, Wayne. I appreciate that.”
Kiefer shook his head as if confused. Then, indicating the garbage, he said, “Why do you put up with this?”
“Because this is my home. I’m not leaving it because someone doesn’t like me.”
She was a gutsy lady, Kiefer would give her that. Most of the women her age he knew were always looking out for themselves. How they could financially better their situation. Like Brittney. She’d certainly done a number on him. It had turned out she’d married him because he was a doctor and would be able to give her a good life. When she’d found out Josh’s bank account was even larger she’d moved on to him. Now Kiefer had no use for women other than a casual night out and a few laughs. He couldn’t trust one not to use him. As far as he could tell, they all wanted the same thing. What they could get for themselves.
“Come on in.” Ashley opened the door wide. “We need to get ready. Patients should be here soon.”
“Those guys said you live in the back.” Kiefer followed her in.
“That isn’t exactly right. The entrance to my place is there. I actually live upstairs.”
“You don’t mind living above the clinic?”
“It’s my building and my idea. The people around here needed a place to come for medical care and I had the space.”
Kiefer was impressed. She really was committed to seeing her ideas work, even to the point of financing them. Outside of his mother, few people he knew were that devoted to anyone other than themselves. How much Ashley reminded him of his mother made him feel uncomfortable. Did all her work to better the world leave Ashley with any room for anything more in her life? Did she have a boyfriend? Want children? Something to care about besides her political agenda?
That wasn’t his concern. He believed in helping people. His mother had instilled that in him, but he was still aware that some people would take advantage of you. His impression was that Ashley Marsh hadn’t learned that lesson yet.
She was saying, “I’m sorry I’m not going to be much help today. I have a speech to give this morning, a committee meeting with the local businesses and then a council meeting tonight.”
“I didn’t expect you to spend the day with me. I can handle the clinic. That’s why I was given the job.”
“I’d hoped to be here but these meetings were already on the calendar and couldn’t be moved. I just thought I could help smooth things over with the community. My neighbors can be mistrusting until they get to know you.”
“I’ll be fine. I’ll have a nurse to assist me, won’t I?”
“Yes. Margaret will be here soon. She was also born and raised in Southriver. She’ll be a great help. Well, I’ve got to get ready for my day.”
Ashley left him and he started working on arranging the supplies they’d not got to the night before. Forty-five minutes later the buzzer sounded and he went to the main door. He checked out the window. After last night he wouldn’t take any chances that Marko or his gang would catch him off guard. A dark-skinned, silver-haired, heavyset woman dressed in purple scrubs stood there. He unlocked the door and opened it.
“I’m guessing you’re Dr. Bradford,” she said before Kiefer had a chance to speak. “I’m Margaret Nettles. I’ll be your nurse.”
“Nice to meet you, Margaret. I’m sure I’ll be glad of your help.”
She looked around the waiting room. “Ms. Ashley has high hopes for this clinic and I agreed to help because she’s such a fine person, but I don’t know that it’s going to work out. I’ll do my part and help you do yours. Now, can you direct me to where I can put my purse? We need to get started. You already have a couple of patients waiting outside.”
“I didn’t see anyone.”
“You wouldn’t. They didn’t come across the street until they saw me. They’ll be along in a minute.”
He glanced out the door. “But we don’t open for another hour.”
“That may be so but they’ll be here nonetheless.”
Margaret was correct. He closed the door and showed her to the office. She’d just locked her purse in the desk when the buzzer sounded.
“I’ll see to that,” Margaret announced.
“I only have the one exam room set up. I thought we’d have time to work on the other two between patients.”
“I doubt that’ll happen. Despite some in the neighborhood being against this clinic, the people around here need it. They’ll come until they’re scared away. I’ll put your first patient in the exam room.” With that she walked heavily down the hall.
What had he got himself into?
A boy of about three was his first patient. The mother didn’t look much older than eighteen. Much too young to have a child. Her hair was pulled back, which added to her look of youth. The little boy was clean but his clothes were well-worn and a little small on his chubby body.
“Hello, I’m Dr. Bradford. What’s the problem today?”
“Mikey has a bad cold.”
Kiefer could see that clearly. The child had a horribly running nose and a wet cough. Kiefer went down on his heels. “Mikey, I need to listen to your chest for a minute. This won’t hurt.”
He placed the stethoscope on the boy’s chest. His heartbeat was steady but his lungs made a raspy sound. After that Kiefer checked Mikey’s mouth and ears. Both were red and irritated.
Kiefer looked at the mother. “Mikey’s going to need antibiotics for ten days. Then I want you to come back.”
The girl’s face took on a troubled look.
Kiefer stood. “Mikey should be just fine.”
“Is there something else you can do for him?”
“The medicine should fix him right up.” Kiefer looped the stethoscope around his neck.
“I can’t get the medicine,” the mother said softly.
“Raeshell.” Ashley spoke to the mother from the open door. “I’m on my way to the drugstore right now. Dr. Bradford can write that prescription and we’ll have it filled.”
How long had Ashley been standing there? Was she checking on him?
It dawned on Kiefer that the girl couldn’t pay for the medicine. “I’ll do that right away.” He stepped out into the hall.
He would make some calls when he had a chance and see about getting a few drug companies to help out. A couple of drug reps owed him favors. He’d be calling them in.
Kiefer pulled the pad out of his pocket and wrote the prescription. He then removed his wallet and took out some bills. He handed them to Ashley. “This should cover it.”
“You don’t have to,” she whispered.
“If I don’t, you will. You can’t pay for everyone that comes through here. We’re going to have to get some help in this area.”
“I hadn’t given much thought to people’s inability to pay.” She shoved the money into her pocket.
“Well, it’s time to do that.”
“I’ll be back in a few hours. Maybe you’ll have a few minutes for us to discuss it then,” Ashley said.
“I have some ideas of my own that I’ll work on as well.” Returning to the room, he told the mother, “Ms. Marsh is waiting outside to drive you to the store. Don’t worry about the cost. It’s taken care of. I’ll see you and Mikey back here in ten days. You make sure he takes all of the medicine. It doesn’t work if you don’t.”
“Thank you, Dr. Bradford,” Raeshell said meekly.
“You’re welcome. Bring Mikey back if he gets worse.”
“I will.” The girl gathered her child close and left.
* * *
By noon he almost regretted his words to Ashley earlier. He hadn’t stopped once. There was a constant stream of patients, each with varying degrees of need but none that he couldn’t handle. His worries about being bored were long gone.
Already Margaret was proving to be a treasure. She knew the people who came in and put them at ease. Maria, his receptionist, showed up around nine. By then Kiefer had already seen eight patients. Margaret handled telling Maria what to do, leaving him to see a waiting patient. If every day was anything like this one, working in the ER would look like spending a day at the beach.
Around two o’clock Ashley stopped in again. This time she was wearing a simple dress and sweater. She looked refreshing on a hot day. “How’re things going?”
“Busy.”
“I’m glad to hear it. I was afraid Marko might bully people into staying away.”
Kiefer looked at the notes he’d made on his last patient. He was going to have to start a charting system. “I don’t understand why he wouldn’t want a clinic here. The police, yes, but the clinic, no.”
“It’s all about power and control. He’s afraid I’m taking it away.”
“Doesn’t his family live in the area? Need medical service on occasion?”
Ashley brushed her hand over her skirt. “Sure they do, but he doesn’t care. Look, I’ve got to go. I have that community meeting. I just wanted to see how you’re doing.”
“Afraid I’m going to up and leave, Alderman?” He gave her a pointed look.
“I can’t say it hasn’t crossed my mind.”
“Rest assured, I’ll be here when you come back.” He wouldn’t be got rid of that easily.
* * *
It was late that evening when Ashley opened another supply box and searched the contents. Having no idea what they were, she left the box for Kiefer to see to. Her afternoon meeting hadn’t gone as well as she’d hoped. The businessmen were worried about retaliation if they participated in the block party she had planned to celebrate the opening of the clinic. They had complained about the cost as well. In her opinion, the neighborhood needed to come together, start acting as one, if they were ever going to make a real difference. She wanted it so badly and couldn’t figure out why the community leaders didn’t.
Her evening council meeting had gone better. At least she’d had the good news that the clinic was up and running. It had been dark by the time she’d returned home. She’d changed clothes once again and had come down to the clinic to start arranging supplies.
Kiefer was behind the nineteen-forties metal desk in the closet-sized office, dictating into his phone, when she went by. He hadn’t even looked up. She’d been impressed with his treatment of Raeshell and Mikey, especially when he’d offered to pay for the medicine. Despite his impulsive behavior at the party, he seemed to be a stand-up guy since he had already put in a full day and was now doing extra hours. She’d been disappointed that he’d not stayed later the night before to finish up organizing the supplies, but he’d more than done his share today.
A few minutes later he joined her in the supply room. “Hey.”
“Hi,” she returned.
“It’s been some day.”
“It always is in Southriver.” She opened another box.
“That would be a great slogan for your Welcome to Southriver signs,” he said.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
An hour later they passed each other in the hallway, she on the way to the reception area and he coming from the office. They bumped into each other and she fumbled to keep the box she carried from falling. Already aware he was a big guy, being this near him only emphasized the fact. His hands covered hers, helping her to balance the box again. He looked at her mouth. Was he going to take advantage of the situation and kiss her again? Her nerve ends danced. Something in her wanted him to, while her mind stated clearly that it was a bad idea. He was a stranger and she had no business letting him that close. She was glad for the space when he stepped back.
He said casually, “I don’t know about you but I missed lunch and dinner today. Would you join me for a pizza? I’ll have it delivered so we don’t have to stop work except to eat.”
Was he kidding? No one was going to deliver in Southriver after dark. She chuckled. “Good luck with that.”
“What?”
“Getting something delivered around here after the sun goes down. Too many drivers have been robbed.” She shifted the box so that she could see him clearly. Kiefer really was a good-looking man.
“You have to be kidding.”
“Nope. Give it a try if you don’t believe me.” She was going to enjoy proving she was right. She walked down the hall.
When she returned he called from an exam room, “Pizza will be here in thirty.”
She stepped back to the doorway. “How did you manage that?”
“I have a buddy who’s a policeman and his family owns a pizza place. He happened to be helping out tonight.”
“I’m impressed.” And she was.
In a short while the front-door buzzer that she’d had installed the day before went off. To Ashley’s amazement the pizza had arrived just as Kiefer had said it would. She hoped he always used his powers for good. Following him to the door, she said, “Check the peephole first. Never open the door after hours until you know who it is.”
“You really should consider living elsewhere.”
That wasn’t going to happen. She’d made a promise years ago and she wasn’t going to go back on it now. “That’s not going to happen. It would defeat everything I stand for.”
Kiefer looked at her for a second then out the peephole. “It’s Bull.” He opened the door.
A man as tall as Kiefer but much bulkier stood there with a large pizza box in his hands. “Well, Kie, you’re sure slumming tonight.”
Anger flared in Ashley. That was the way everyone thought of Southriver. If a person was in Southriver then it wasn’t for a good reason, one of many perceptions she was working to change. She stepped around Kiefer.
Even in the dim light she could see Bull’s eyes widen and his instant embarrassment. “Ah, I’m sorry. No offense.”
She said in a clipped tone, “None taken. That isn’t the first time my neighborhood has been insulted.”
Kiefer chuckled softly as he gave Bull space to enter and closed the door behind him. “Careful, Bull. She might take you out, gun and all.”
His warm sound of compassion took the edge off the moment for Ashley.
“Truly my apologies, Ms. Marsh.” Bull sounded sincere.
Ashley looked closely at Bull. “Don’t I know you? Aren’t you the officer who caught the guy robbing the café a couple of weeks ago?”
Bull squared his shoulders and gave her a look of pride. “That was me.”
“I appreciate that. The Gozmans are nice people. They’ve lived here all my life. I’d have hated to see them lose their business because they couldn’t pay their bills.”
Bull grinned. “Does that make up for my remark earlier?”
She smiled. “I’ll let it go for now.”
* * *
It bothered Kiefer for some reason that Bull was flirting with Ashley. Worse, she seemed to like it. It appeared innocent enough but he knew from past experience that looks could be deceiving. Brittney and Josh had managed to conceal their affair for months. But Ashley was nothing to him, so why should it matter if Bull was interested in her?
That wasn’t true. Somehow his reaction to their kiss had added an element he didn’t understand.
“Okay, neighborhood hero, I’m hungry. How about that pizza?” Kiefer pulled out some cash.
Ashley wasn’t his type anyway. He liked her high energy and understood her big heart to a certain degree, but her drive to change the world was over the top for him. Too much like his mother. If he was ever interested in woman again it would be less about commitment and more about enjoying life.
“Bull, why don’t you join us?” Ashley asked.
“Yeah, do,” Kiefer said, in a less-than-encouraging tone.
“Naw. I need to get going.” Bull took the cash and turned back toward the door.
Kiefer opened it, letting Bull exit, and stepped out as well.
“Listen, man,” Bull said, “you be careful coming and going around here at night. Also, you need to get a security light for that lot.” He nodded toward Ashley’s place.
“I didn’t get much else done around here today but I did call the power company about that.”
“Great. I’ve heard good things about what Alderman Marsh is trying to do but she has stirred up some trouble as well. I hope you don’t get caught in the cross fire.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks for the pizza.”
“No problem.”
Ashley was waiting on him when he came back in. “I’m ravenous. Why don’t we go up to my place to eat where there’s a table?”
“Sounds good to me.”
She led the way down the hall. At the end she opened a door he’d assumed was a closet. It turned out to hide a staircase. He climbed the stairs after her, getting a good view of her nicely round behind. When they reached the top they went through another door that opened into a small kitchen, which had obviously been remodeled. The brick walls and patchwork tablecloth gave the room a homey and functional feel.
Ashley placed the pizza box on the table. “What would you like to drink? I have soda, tea, beer, water.”
“I’d love a beer, but I’d better settle for a soda.” He took one of the matching chairs.
Ashley pulled two cans of soda out of the refrigerator.
“So how long have you lived here?” Kiefer watched as she filled glasses with ice and then poured the drinks over it.
“About a year. I bought the building two years ago and spent six months making it habitable. I still have work to do.” She placed his glass in front of him.
“You did the work yourself?”
“All that I could. I had to cut corners where I could.”
“I’m impressed. You’ve done a nice job, from what I’ve seen.”
Ashley smiled. She had a nice smile. Sort of made him feel like the sun had come out. “It was a labor of love. And I do mean labor.”
He flipped the box top up and took a slice of pizza. “If you don’t mind, I’m about to starve.”
“You need to pace yourself around here.”
“Isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black? You had meetings all day and still managed to check up on me.” He took another bite of pizza.
“I wasn’t checking up.”
“Really? What would you call it?”
She shrugged. “Neighborly concern.”
“We aren’t neighbors.”
“No, we’re not. I’m pretty sure we grew up as different as daylight and darkness.”
“You’re making a big assumption. We might have more in common than you think.” Kiefer leaned back in his chair. “To start with, we both grew up in a neighborhood. Are your parents still married?”
She nodded.
“Mine are too. We both went to college. We both have jobs that help people.”
Ashley raised a hand. “Okay, maybe you’re right. But I grew up in a low-income, racially diverse area, while I’m sure yours was an upper middle class, private school community.”
She had him there. “Yeah, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t both interested in the same things. I certainly have a mother who showed me the importance of helping people. You’re making life better. And I make people feel better. We have more in common than you might think.”
“Now we’ve moved into philosophy. I think that may be too deep a subject for me this late at night.” Ashley took a bite of pizza. Kiefer watched her chew. Was he ever going to get that kiss out of his mind?
“You might be right. I’ve been at it so long today I’m starting to feel loopy.”
They ate quietly for a few minutes before Kiefer stood and pushed the chair under the table. “I need to do a couple of things downstairs. Then I’m going to head home. Thanks for the nice place to have dinner.”
“I’m the one who should be thanking you. You bought the pizza and against all odds got it delivered. By the way, the local TV station is coming to do a story on the clinic tomorrow. They’ve asked to interview you.”
Kiefer wanted nothing to do with that. When his mother had been hurt and the case had gone to trial, he’d been on TV as they’d come out of the courthouse. It had been a horrible experience. He had been the child who had watched his mother being beaten nearly to death but had done nothing. The shame had been more than he could carry. Since then he’d shied away from that type of attention. He had no interest in getting involved with anyone who was always on a mission. He’d been raised by a person like that, knew the risks involved.
“I’ll see if I have time.” He headed down the stairs.
* * *
Ashley was waiting for the TV crew when they arrived. In the last year, since she’d been on the council, she’d learned to court the media but to always be wary of them as well. She needed good press to help move her ideas forward in the neighborhood revitalization. Shining a good light on what she was trying to accomplish in Southriver would hopefully not only get the city council behind the project but set a precedent for what could be done in other areas of the city and other cities in general.
It was just after lunch and she’d only seen Kiefer a couple of times that morning. No matter what they were doing their kiss seemed to pop into her mind. The more she tried to shove it away the stronger it became. She’d almost reached the point that she wanted to kiss him again so she could put it behind her and move on.
Ashley had come down early just to check in and see how things were going at the clinic. Kiefer was busy with a patient and Maria was overseeing a full waiting room. At least there shouldn’t be an empty room when the news crew arrived. She’d gone downtown for a meeting and had returned in time to grab a bite to eat before she was due to meet the TV crew. Sitting at her table in the kitchen, having a sandwich, she looked at the chair Kiefer had filled the night before.
He was a big person but had seemed relaxed in her small kitchen. It had been too long since she’d shared even a simple meal with a man. Most of the men she had dated hadn’t been happy with the prospect of living in Southriver, and she wasn’t interested in moving elsewhere. Her world was here and she needed a partner who understood that, who supported that part of her life.
Her one truly serious relationship had ended when she’d decided to run for the city council. He’d wanted her support to further his business but hadn’t been willing to do the same with her desire to become an alderman. She had been crushed by his attitude. This was a man who was supposed to love her. It hadn’t taken long for them to part ways. Ashley wanted her relationship with a man to be a partnership. She refused to settle for anything less.
Since then she’d made her views and plans clear in the beginning and they had turned off any other men she’d dated. She was starting to miss male companionship. Someone to just have fun with.
Could she and Kiefer become friends? Based on their kiss there might be some benefit sexually as well. She’d enjoyed her conversation with him over pizza. One other good thing about him was that he wouldn’t be staying in Southriver long. No outsider ever did. Kiefer wasn’t her type anyway. They could part ways without hurt feelings, she was sure.
But what if her radar was off? What if she was misjudging him? It had happened before.
Thirty minutes later Kiefer walked up the hall in her direction as she made her way toward the waiting room.
“So, how’s the alderman today?”
She smiled. “Busy.”
“Are you ever not busy?”
Ashley thought about that for a moment. “Not really.”
“That would have been my guess. You know if you don’t slow down occasionally you will burn out and not have enough energy to save the world.”
“Save the world? I’m not trying to save the world.”
“Sure you are. What you’re trying to do in Southriver is to save a part of the world.”
She’d never thought of it that way. “I’m just trying to help families in this neighborhood live better lives. That’s all.”
“If you say so.”
Ashley stepped closer to him so that no one could accidentally overhear them. That was a mistake. She came to an abrupt stop. His aftershave smelled like citrus with a hint of spice. She forced herself not to inhale deeply. He didn’t move away but instead he looked down at her. Her gaze flickered down and returned. They were uncomfortably close but she wasn’t going to back away. “Dr. Bradford, your job isn’t to evaluate me or concern yourself with what I do, but to run this clinic.”
“Why, yes, ma’am, Alderman Marsh.” He glanced behind him then leaned down as if he was going to kiss her and mumbled, “I believe your dog and pony show have arrived.” He stepped around her and headed down the hall.
What was his problem?
She had one as well. He left her tingling all over.
* * *
Kiefer tried to stay out of the way of Ashley and the reporter followed by the TV cameraman. Maybe if he remained busy, which wasn’t a problem because he was, he wouldn’t have to be involved. He’d stopped by the office to make a quick note on a patient when Ashley stuck her head in the door.
“Hey, do you mind coming in to see Mrs. McGuire? She’s agreed to let us film her. We’d like to get you doing the examination.” She turned to leave.
Kiefer wasn’t interested in being part of her publicity. He was a doctor and a professional. There were patients to see. He didn’t have time for her PR show. “I don’t think so.”
Her head popped back around the door. “What?”
“I’d rather not.”
She studied him for a second. “It’ll just be for a few minutes. No big deal.”
Kiefer shook his head. “I don’t think an examination of a patient is a place for a TV show.”
Ashley stepped farther into the room. “Why’re you being so difficult about this? I need this publicity for the clinic. To raise funds that are needed desperately.”
“I understand that but I don’t think putting a patient on TV is the way to go.”
The reporter came to the doorway. Ashley glanced back then returned her attention to Kiefer. Her face held a beseeching expression. “Please. I won’t ask you to do it again.”
Something about her look had Kiefer reconsidering. What would be so bad about doing his job and trying not to pay any attention to the camera? He did understand the need to shine a light on what was going on in Southriver. He said tightly, “Okay, but you’ll owe me.”
“Thank you,” she said, then turned to the man behind her. “Russell, we’ll go to the exam room now and meet Mrs. McGuire.”
Kiefer followed the party up the hallway to one of the two functioning exam rooms. The camera crew stopped outside the door and allowed him to enter first. Mrs. McGuire was a forty-something woman neatly dressed in a casual shirt and jeans. When he entered she looked up from where she sat in a chair in the corner.
“Hi, I’m Dr. Bradford. I understand you’re Mrs. McGuire.”
Ashley, along with the reporter and cameraman, squeezed into the room.
Mrs. McGuire looked at the group with interest. “I am.”
“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” Kiefer nodded toward the people behind him. “I’ll tell them to leave if you’re not.”
“Mrs. McGuire—” Ashley started.
“Is my patient.”
Ashley said nothing more.
The patient nodded her assent. “Now, Mrs. McGuire, what seems to be the problem?” Kiefer asked.
“I’ve been having trouble with one of my toes.” She lifted her right foot. It was covered by a sock and she was wearing a house shoe.
“Would you please remove your sock? I’d like to take a look.” As she did so Kiefer pulled the other metal chair in the room closer.
A sweet smell of infection filled the room. He reached down and cupped her calf, lifting it so that her heel rested on his thigh. Mrs. McGuire’s large toe was a deep purple color that was extending to the next one.
The cameraman took a step closer.
“How long has this toe looked like this?” Kiefer asked, trying not to let his concern show in his voice. He didn’t want the reporter to get the idea that this might be more than an ordinary hurt toe.
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe a few months.”
Kiefer nodded. She should have been seen long ago. “Mrs. McGuire, have you ever been told you were a diabetic?”
“It’s been so long since I’ve been to the doctor I don’t remember.”
Kiefer took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. Why had she let this go on for so long? Did she realize how bad it was? He turned to the reporter. “I need you to leave now. I would like to talk to my patient in private.”
“But we really didn’t get anything,” the reporter complained.
“Dr. Bradford, could I speak to you outside?” Ashley followed the reporter and cameraman out.
“Mrs. McGuire, I’ll be right back,” Kiefer said.
Ashley waited in the hall. He closed the exam room door behind him. The reporter and cameraman were walking toward the waiting area.
“Why’re you making this so difficult?” she demanded, before he could say anything.
“Because that woman in there needs to be in the hospital. She’s going to lose that toe. If she waits much longer she could lose her entire foot. I don’t think that’s something that should be said in front of a camera.”
Ashley’s mouth formed an O of comprehension.
“That’s right, oh. Now, if we’re done here I’ll see about making arrangements to have her admitted.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I’ll see that she gets there. I know she lives alone and will need a ride. That’s probably why she hasn’t been seeing a doctor regularly.”
Kiefer had to admit Ashley’s focus turned quickly to compassion and willingness to help. Despite her appearance of having a one-track mind, only concerned about her agenda, she genuinely seemed to have the woman’s best interests at heart.
She headed down the hall toward the reporter and Kiefer returned to Mrs. McGuire.
He took the chair again and explained the situation to his patient.
Mrs. McGuire surprised him with her reaction when she said, “I’m not going to the hospital. Nothing good happens there.”
That wasn’t generally true but in her case it might be. Kiefer wasn’t sure if her prognosis might be worse than he’d anticipated. At a knock on the door he said, “Come in.”
Ashley entered. “Mrs. McGuire, I’m going to drive you to the hospital.”
“I’m not going.”
Ashley’s eyes widened as she gave Mrs. McGuire an incredulous look. “Why not?”
“Because I don’t want a bunch of people I don’t know poking at me.”
“Please, Mrs. McGuire, you need to have your foot seen to. I’ll be there with you. Didn’t Dr. Bradford tell you how important this is to your health?”
“I did,” Kiefer said.
“I understand the doctor is trying to help but I’ll be all right.” Mrs. McGuire started putting on her sock. “I’ll just give it a good soak and it’ll get better like it always has.”
Kiefer leaned forward, capturing her gaze. “That might work for a little while but not forever, and when it stops you’ll be in bigger trouble. Please reconsider.”
Ashley placed her hand on his shoulder. He was far too conscious of it remaining there as she said, “Dr. Bradford, would you let me speak to Mrs. McGuire for a second?”
“Sure.” He left. What did Ashley have to say that couldn’t be said in front of him? As he went into the next exam room he saw the reporter and cameraman still standing in the waiting room.
A few minutes later Ashley stopped him in the hall. “If you’ll make all the arrangements, I’ll take Mrs. McGuire to the hospital as soon as we go by her house and pack a bag.”
Ashley could work miracles. “What did you say to get her to go?”
She grinned. “What’s said between two women stays between two women.”
“That’s not been my experience.”
She looked at him with her chin tilted to one side. “Why, Doctor, I do believe you’re a bit jaded.”
“No, I’ve lived long enough to know differently. But it doesn’t matter. I’m just glad you convinced her.”
