PATIENT CARE (Medical Romance) (Doctor Series) Read Free Page B

well being.
When she came back, James Burke was waiting, impatience evident in every line of his elegant body.” The operation was a complete success,” he announced. “We removed a large growth. The preliminary lab report indicated the tumor was benign, which is very good news.” Still in his operating room greens, he ran a hand through his silky dark hair, pushing it off his forehead. “Your mother is as yet unconscious, but she’ll be awake soon. You can see her if you wish.”
“I’m so relieved. I promised Mom I’d be there when she woke up. Oh, Dr. Burke, thank you.” Melissa felt her eyes filling with tears. “I can’t thank you enough.”
She had an insane impulse to grab his hand and press it to her lips. She resisted, but heard herself start to babble, instead. “Mom’s my only relative. My dad died when I was a little girl. I’m an only child. I don’t know what I’d do if—” She suddenly noticed how uncomfortable Burke looked, and stopped. “I’m very grateful to you for coming so quickly tonight and for doing Mom’s surgery,” she finished in a more formal mode.
“All in a day’s work,” he said with a stiff attempt at a smile. “And by some miracle we actually got into an OR immediately,” he added testily. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a meeting to attend.” He hurried off toward the doctors’ lounge.
“At ease, troops,” Louise said sarcastically. “It wouldn’t kill him just once to flip the switch from exalted savior to human being.” She snorted. “C’mon, I’ll walk you to the Acute Care Unit.”
For the next half hour, in the post anesthesia recovery unit, Melissa sat holding Betsy’s hand, and true to her promise, she was there when Betsy came around enough to realize the operation was over and everything was fine. The eastern sky was pink and Betsy had been moved to
a private room on the surgical floor by the time Melissa left the hospital and drove home.
Weary to the depths of her being, she thought about the scant two-and-a-half hours before she was due back at work, and for the first time in years she actually considered taking the morning off. She’d call Arlene at seven; if things on her morning schedule could be canceled or rearranged, she’d crawl into bed and sleep for a few hours.
It was still too early to call, plus she felt shaky and wired instead of sleepy. She washed her face, and realized she hadn’t eaten since wolfing down a bagel the previous afternoon, but when she looked in the refrigerator, she decided she wasn’t the slightest bit hungry. It was a good thing; the fridge was still as empty as it had been the night before. The light on her answering machine was blinking, but she couldn’t face even listening to messages.
Maybe she’d lie down, just for half an hour. She headed into the bedroom and saw the four garment bags she’s tossed on her bed the previous evening.  It felt as though months had passed since her shopping spree instead of only hours. She unzipped the bags, but when she started to shove her new clothing into her cramped closet she realized that she’d have to discard things to make room. Cleaning closets wasn’t any higher on her list of priorities than shopping, but it seemed the perfect mindless occupation right at the moment.
She was in the midst of trying to decide if she’d ever again wear a lime-green shirt she’d bought on sale, when the phone rang. Her heart thumped. What if Betsy...
“Melissa, it’s Arlene. I hope I didn’t wake you.”
Melissa’s heartbeat settled down.
“I called last night. You were out picking up boy toys in clubs again, right?”
Melissa explained about her mother. “She came through fine. The tumor was benign. She’ll be back home within a week. The nurses will make sure of that, because the moment Mom starts feeling better, she’ll be an impossible patient.”
Arlene express ed concern. Then she went on. ‘‘I thought you should know the doctors had a private meeting