"He insisted on cleaning out those damn gutters himself and slipped off the ladder. He hit his head and blacked out for a minute. The hospital is going to scan to make sure his back and neck are okay."
“What did the doctor say?"
"Oh, honey, I don't know. We got here a couple of hours ago. We're still in the ER."
"I'm on my way," I say, grabbing my wristlet with my ID, keycard and some cash. Jacket. Where's my jacket? I grab a University of Pennsylvania hoodie.
"Are you sure, Sophie? You don't have a class?"
"No, I don't have any classes this afternoon, Gram. I'll be there soon."
Chapter 6
I walk into the front entrance at Baldwin Memorial Hospital, grateful I found someone at my dorm with a car willing to drop me off. My grandmother called while I was en route and said they'd taken Grandpa to radiology and she'd be waiting in the ER. I check in at the visitor desk and am given directions to the ER and find my grandmother sitting in a little curtained-off room flipping through a magazine.
"Sophie, honey, thank you for coming." Gram hugs me.
"Of course. Are you okay?”
"I'm fine, I was on the ground where I belong. Your grandfather, on the other hand, may have a concussion."
"Grandma! A concussion is serious."
"Well, we're in the right place to have it checked out. How is school?" She pats the empty chair next to her and I obligingly sit and update her on all the happenings at school.
My grandfather is eventually wheeled back into the room with word that they'll be back with the results "soon." Then we wait. And wait some more. I give Grandpa all the same updates I gave Grandma between nurses bustling in and out and the never-ending waiting.
Grandma finally agrees that she would like a coffee after I've asked her several times. I think she just wants something to break up the waiting at this point.
I head back to the main entrance in search of a hospital cafeteria. I'm standing lost in the lobby looking for a helpful sign with an arrow to point me in the right direction when I feel a hand on my arm.
"Sophie. What are you doing here? Is everything okay?"
It's Luke. His hand is still cupping my elbow and his eyes are concerned.
"Yeah," I say, but I shake my head. "I'm fine. It's my grandpa. He fell off a ladder. We're just waiting for some test results. I'm getting my grandmother a coffee, if I can find the cafeteria." I'm babbling. Luke has dropped my elbow and put his hands in his expensive suit pockets. "Why are you here?" I ask, confused.
He smiles at me. "Hospital. Doctor. I hang out here a lot."
"Oh. This is your hospital? But you're in a suit. Why are you never in scrubs?"
"I'm not usually in scrubs unless I've got surgery. And I don't schedule surgeries for Wednesdays, because the board meets on Wednesdays." He tugs on the end of my braid. "Would you prefer I wear scrubs when getting coffee, Sophie?"
"I, um. No. The suits are fine." I'm flustered.
"Come on, I'll walk you to the hospital coffee shop. It's got a better selection than the cafeteria." His hand on my back maneuvers me to a hallway off the lobby. The coffee shop is just around the corner. I must have been too distracted to notice it earlier. "Is your grandfather okay?"
"I don't know. I think so? He had a CAT scan a couple of hours ago and we've been sitting in the ER waiting on results."
Luke nods. "Okay."
I'm twisting my phone around and around in my hands. "Thanks for helping me find the coffee shop," I offer when he continues to stand there looking at me.
"Are your parents here Sophie?"
I look away. "No. I don't have—" I look at him. "No, it's just me and my grandparents."
He places a hand on my wrist, stilling me from spinning my phone yet again. "It's going to be fine, Sophie."
"Right." I offer a weak smile. "Thanks." I get in line to get my grandmother the coffee she doesn't really want, and watch Luke walk away.
***
I'm back in the ER with the coffee for just a few minutes before a doctor enters the curtained room.
"Sorry to have kept you waiting. I'm Dr. McElroy and I have the results from the CAT scan. They look good but I still want to keep you overnight for observation. You have a slight concussion and I want to keep an eye on that." She smiles at each of us like concussion-watching is her favorite pastime. "We're going to get you moved up to a room in just a minute. And Mrs. Tisdale, you're welcome to stay the night in Mr. Tisdale's room if you like. The couches open to very comfortable beds if you want to be nearby."
The doctor excuses herself as my phone beeps.
Your grandfather is being moved to a room for the night for observation. Dr. McElroy is an expert in her field & is only admitting him as a precaution. Let me know if you need anything. Luke
I stare at my phone, dumbfounded. This is nice? Creepy? I look up. I feel like I'm being watched. How does he know so much? More importantly, how did he get my phone number?
Dr. McElroy breezes back into the curtained room with an orderly and announces they're ready to move us. I look at her with more interest than before. She's in standard-issue scrubs and a doctor's lab coat, but I can't help but notice how beautiful she is. Huge blue eyes framed by dark lashes so thick I wonder if they're fake. They look real. Her dark glossy hair is cut in a stylish bob. There's not a stray hair out of place.
I find myself wondering if this is the kind of woman Luke goes for. Accomplished. Polished, even in scrubs. My curiosity questions if they've slept together. They work in the same hospital. The staff are always sleeping together, at least on the medical dramas I watch on TV. They could be sleeping together currently for all I know. The thought causes a wave of discomfort to flash through me.
We sat waiting for hours. Then I bumped into Luke and within minutes Dr. McElroy was at our side. Is Luke doing a favor for me? Or is Dr. McElroy doing a favor for Luke?
The orderly is a tiny girl who introduces herself as Kaylee. She doesn't look big enough to maneuver an occupied hospital bed through the halls, but she unlocks the bed wheels with a confident flip of her foot and weaves us out of the ER with an ease that belies her size.
I express my admiration at her strength and she laughs. "I'm a mom," she tells me. "A grown man in a rolling bed is easier than toddlers in a double stroller, trust me."
I laugh and drop back as she works the bed around a tight corner and onto an elevator. She pushes the button for five and chats with my grandmother while I check my phone again. I should reply. Right?
Thank you.
You're welcome, Sophie.
How did you get my number?
Hospital database. You're listed as an emergency contact on your grandfather's file.
That seems like a misuse of the hospital database. And a violation of HIPPO laws.
HIPPO!
Damn autocorrect! HIPPA.
I think your admonishment lost its luster at the word hippo.