“What do you really think, Doctor?” Judith inquired, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue.
“I think,” Dr. Garnett responded carefully, “that
we’ll have to wait and see. The blade went very deep,
and there was quite a loss of blood before he reached
the hospital. The good part is that the weapon missed
his vital organs.” He tried to give Judith a smile of
comfort, but his attempt seemed forced. “Nurse Chinn
will get you a sedative,” he said, nodding at Heather. “I
know this has been a terrible shock.”
Sister Jacqueline moved closer to the bed. “I’m very
sorry about all this. I didn’t realize until just now that
Mr. Flynn was your husband. I didn’t see him when he
was brought in. I do know that Father McConnaught
has administered the Sacrament of the Sick. I’m sure
that will help in your husband’s recovery.”
sick at heart. It used to be Extreme Unction or the Last
Rites, but had been renamed, and in some theological
feat that defied her understanding, revamped as an encouragement to heal rather than as a signal of impending death. On the other hand, she had asked to be
anointed before her own surgery. Maybe Father McConnaught’s efforts wouldn’t be wasted on Joe. She
mustn’t lose hope. That, Judith understood, was what
the sacrament was all about.
Moving away from Judith, Renie eyed Dr. Garnett.
“I assume they haven’t caught whoever stabbed Joe?
My husband didn’t mention it, and I couldn’t quiz him
closely because I didn’t want to frighten Judith.”
226
Mary Daheim
“I don’t know any of the details,” Dr. Garnett said.
“I’d just come from attending to Dr. Van Boeck and
had to scrub up immediately to operate on Mr. Flynn.”
The surgeon, who looked so weary that his mustache
seemed to droop, started for the door.
As beset as she was with her own troubles, Judith
managed to take in the wider world. “How is Dr. Van
Boeck?”
“He’ll be fine,” Dr. Garnett said without turning
around. “Unfortunately.”
“He doesn’t like his boss much, does he?” Renie
said, directing the remark to Sister Jacqueline after Dr.
Garnett had left.
The nun’s fine features puckered slightly. “They
have differing philosophies on some issues. It’s common among medical professionals.”
“You’ll keep me posted on Joe?” Judith asked Sister
Jacqueline as Heather returned with the sedative.
“Of course.” Sister Jacqueline’s smile seemed
tense. “Once he’s out of intensive care, I’m not sure
what floor he’ll go to. We’re terribly crowded here,
too. Maybe tomorrow we can release some of the patients who are ready to go home. Right now, we
