“I haven’t been at the clinic for weeks. She was doing so good when I last saw her a couple of months ago. What if she didn’t see anyone and has been waiting for me to return?” Jess groaned. “I let her down.”
“You can’t know that.” Lena risked taking one hand off the wheel to squeeze Jess’s thigh. The muscles were like steel. “From what you told me about her, it seems as if she has a great relationship with everyone at the clinic. Don’t you think someone would have noticed if she wasn’t okay?”
“Maybe. I don’t know.” Jess exhaled.
“What is this free clinic anyway? Is this part of your job at the hospital?” Lena asked to keep Jess talking.
“No, the hospital has nothing to do with it. It’s for people who have neither insurance nor any other means but need regular treatment. They offer everything you need for basic care. Medical appointments with doctors and PAs, nurses who do outpatient visits, physiotherapy treatments. I know some people from my hospital who volunteer their time, but most work somewhere else. And we have several retired or disabled staff, especially former military. They couldn’t work full-time anywhere else but fill in a few hours at the clinic when they’re able to.”
Lena wouldn’t have expected to see Jess in such a setting, but maybe she had underestimated her. “How often do you go?”
“Depends on my schedule. Once or twice a month.” Jess pointed to a sign. “Take the next exit. We’re almost at the hospital.”
Parking wasn’t too difficult, as most of the staff garage was empty on a late Sunday afternoon. Lena sighed with relief after she’d maneuvered the oversized SUV into Jess’s slot.
As soon as the wheels stopped turning, Jess jumped out and strode to the exit. At the steel door, she waited for Lena, rolling back and forth on her toes. Wordlessly, she held the door open, then caught up after Lena passed her, led the way to a back entrance, and opened it with a card fished from her wallet.
Behind the unmarked door, they stepped directly into the emergency room with the unmistakable smell of disinfectant and background beeps and voices.
Jess didn’t stop until she reached a counter where a couple of women in blue scrubs worked at two computers. “Mrs. Jameson. Which room?”
If the two were surprised to see Jess in dirt-stained jeans and a T-shirt, they didn’t show it. The older one glanced at the computer. “Room five, Dr. Riley.”
“Thanks.” Jess strode deeper into the department, past an area with curtained stalls to a quieter side corridor.
Lena tried not to look right or left. She wasn’t squeamish when it came to her own blood, but she didn’t want to know what lurked behind those curtains.
As they rounded one more corner, Jess almost collided with Diana. In blue scrubs and tied-back hair, she looked older and more serious than she had at the café. “Hey, Jess. Lena. Good to see you.” She smiled at both of them.
“How is she?” Jess’s grimace might have been her attempt to smile back.
“Much better. The diuretics are working.” Diana shrugged. “Maybe I called you too soon.”
“No, absolutely not. Aortic stenosis is like that. I’ll go and see her now.” Jess wiped her hands on her jeans, then looked down as if she only now noticed how she was dressed.
“She’s in room five. Maybe you can convince her to stay at least overnight.”
Jess nodded. “I’ll see what I can do. But she’s pretty independent.”
“That’s an understatement.” Chuckling, Diana shook her head. “I hope I’m that feisty when I’m in my eighties.” The admiration in her voice was obvious. “Call me if you need anything. Or want any tests done.”
“I will. Thanks.” Jess turned to Lena. Her gaze flickered over Lena’s face like clouds chasing over a sky. The care and fear Jess had shown in the car seemed muted now as if she was slowly gaining back her control. “Do you want to wait in the coffee shop? Or drive home?”
Her expression was difficult to read, and Lena had no idea what Jess preferred. “If you think it’s okay, I’ll tag along.” And to be honest with herself, she was interested to see Jess’s interaction with Mrs. Jameson.
With a nod, Jess strode toward the room. She mumbled something that might have been “thanks,” but Lena wasn’t sure.
Room five was tiny, with barely space for a gurney, a desk, and a couple of stools. Only the desk light shone, bathing the room in a warm, golden light.
The woman beneath the sheets was frail, and even though an oxygen mask covered her mouth and nose, her complexion was grayish. But her smile was wide and genuine when she recognized her visitor. “Dr. Jess. What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be with your little one?”
“Hey, Mrs. Jameson.” Jess wheeled one of the stools over and sat at her side. Her voice shook a little. “And shouldn’t you be at home scolding the neighborhood kids? What if they play ball in your yard again?”
“As long as they don’t trample my flowers.” She chuckled, but it sounded a bit breathless. “Who is your lovely companion?”
“This is my neighbor and, um, friend, Lena. We were on our way home from picking apples together when Dr. Petrell called me.”
“It’s good to meet you, Mrs. Jameson.” Lena stepped closer and stretched out her hand.
The older woman’s grip belied her frail appearance. “Take a seat, my dear. Friends of Dr. Jess are my friends too.”
As Lena arranged the second stool next to Jess, she glanced at her from the corner of her eye. Jess’s posture was more relaxed than in the car, but worry lines were still visible around her eyes as she studied the monitor above the bed.
A green EKG was all Lena recognized, but she guessed the other colorful numbers meant much more to Jess.
“Mrs. Jameson, Dr. Petrell told me you want to go home tonight.” Jess’s voice was careful, with a hint of a question.
“I’m sure I’ll
