Her phone vibrated in her pocket. She took it out and answered it. “Dr. Kirby.”
“Any updates on my daughter?”
Sky looked around the room as if the man was hiding behind the lockers. “I thought I told you not to call me at this number?”
“Two things. One, I don’t take orders very well. And, two, why wouldn’t I call this number? It’s the best one where I can reach you.”
“Mr. Kneeland, I am on my way into surgery now. You of all people should want me calm. Harassing me right before I put a scalpel in my hand is not a good way to accomplish that.”
He sighed heavily into the phone. “I hate feeling helpless.”
Sky massaged her forehead. The despair in his voice touched her. “Look, how about you make yourself useful and Google me. I may not be a household name like Dr. Henson, but my credentials are pretty damned impressive if I say so myself. I am now hanging up. I have a really important patient waiting for me.” Sky pressed the end button and turned off her phone. She placed it in her locker and shut the door.
“It’s go time.”
Chapter 7
After sixteen hours, Charlie Kneeland’s surgery was over. Sky and Noah walked out of the operating room physically exhausted. However, the most challenging part of their work still lay ahead.
Sky pulled off her surgical cap as they approached the room where Bella and Kane were waiting for updates about the procedure.
“Dr. Kirby?” Cassie called out to her as she exited the O.R.
“Yes?” Sky wasn’t able to keep the exhaustion out of her voice when she responded.
“I just wanted to thank you for allowing me to assist. It was a great education, and I learned so much. Is it okay if I make a few copies of the things I want to review from the surgery and get a copy of your final report to compare to my own notes?”
Sky was impressed with her work ethic. “Of course. I’ll have someone e-mail it to you. Make sure you study up, so next time, you’ll know what I need before I ask.”
Next time. Cassie was on cloud nine and beamed. “Absolutely! Thank you again for the opportunity.” She backed away and headed toward the locker room.
“I guess she didn’t think much of my skills.” Noah laughed but deep down it bothered him. He had been rendered invisible during Sky’s exchange with Cassie. It happened a lot when they worked together. He played off his jealousy with a smile that didn’t reach his blue eyes. “You were brilliant today.” Noah reached out to touch Sky’s hand, but she snatched it away. He stared into big beautiful brown eyes, pleading with her to forgive him in the hopes that they could share this experience together. Maybe, it could serve as a reset for their relationship.
Sky glanced away. It would be so easy to confuse the energy derived from performing what she hoped was a successful surgery and misdirect it to something, or someone else. Sky refused to allow that to happen. Slowly, she exhaled. “Let’s just get this over with.”
Disappointed, Noah forged ahead. He used the back of his knuckles to tap on the door. When there was no response, he knocked again a little harder before pushing the door open and slowly walking inside.
Bella and Kane were fully clothed and laying across a bed sleeping. Noah coughed in an attempt to wake them. “Excuse me. Mr. and Mrs. Langston?”
Sky had no idea how they could even nod off at a time like this.
Bella’s head snapped up. Anxiously, she roused her husband awake. They sat up and got out of bed. Bella’s voice shook slightly. “How is my daughter?”
Sky knew the woman was terrified, but what she didn’t know was the source of it. Was it the fear that Charlie might die or that she might live to tell a few secrets? Sky shook her head to chase away those thoughts.
Noah was relieved to be able to give her the news. “Charlie is a fighter. She is tough. The surgery went well.”
Sky folded her arms across her chest and remained silent as she watched their reaction to the news.
“Will she be alright?” Nervously, Bella rubbed her hands together.
Noah responded. “We won’t know for a little while yet. There is quite a bit of swelling. Once it goes down, we’ll know if the nerves have fused together properly and are talking to each other.”
Kane squeezed his wife’s hand when he asked, “But, is she going to live?”
His concern seemed forced. Sky narrowed her eyes. “I hope so because I’d like to ask her how she got those bruises all over her body. They certainly didn’t come from tonight’s accident.” Sky leveled suspicious eyes toward Bella and Kane. “Any ideas on how it could have happened?”
“Bruises?” Bella stuttered. “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Kane replied. “We don’t know anything about any bruising. Charlie was fine before tonight. If there were some unusual marks on her body, more than likely, it came from this hospital.”
The tension in the air was thick. Noah attempted to bring it down. “Charlie’s
