“Dr Mills didn’t take kindly to Adam operating on May after he’d deemed her inoperable. Particularly as from all appearances the surgery was a success. Makes him look a bit incompetent to have ruled her inoperable.”
“Arrogant bastard,” Kelly interjected from where she stood at the foot of Liz’s bed.
“His father has been on the board for over twenty years,” Mona added unnecessarily. They all knew Dr Mills’s father decided every move the board made.
Dr Graviss shrugged. “Adam did the right thing, but I understand the board’s take. Operating on May was a liability.”
“Doctors do things like that every day,” Liz reminded him. “Every patient that’s operated on is at risk. The hospital board should stay out of it.”
Dr Graviss smiled at Liz’s adamant stance. “Since they’re responsible for procedures done in this facility—”
“I know,” she interrupted softly. “You’re right, of course. But, well, we all wanted to believe May didn’t have to go on in such pain, just waiting to die. No one should have to suffer that way.” She closed her eyes, memories washing over her. “Or to watch someone they love suffer that way.”
“Feel strongly about this, do you?”
“Of course.” Liz yawned, as exhaustion swept over her. “Adam gave May back hope.”
“He’s a good doctor,” Dr Graviss agreed. “A good man. Misguided at times, but always trying to do what he thinks is the right thing.”
Liz felt like the doctor was trying to tell her something significant. She closed her eyes, intent on studying what that something might be, but despite the three people in her hospital room she fell asleep.
Flustered by his latest round with the hospital board, Adam checked on an appendectomy patient and a cholecystectomy patient he’d operated on that morning. Both were doing well and he’d written discharge orders. Despite every intention to quickly leave that floor, he lingered outside Liz’s hospital room.
How was she? Not that he wasn’t keeping tabs on her. But Larry only told him so much and the man had forbidden him to go anywhere near Liz today. Did he think he was going to demand she give him a second chance whether she wanted to or not?
He’d also consulted with Dr Bell on Liz’s ankle and the orthopedic surgeon planned to operate next morning.
Was Liz dreading surgery? Looking forward to getting her ankle repaired? Had she forgiven him for ruining her life?
He’d like to see her, but now that she’d regained consciousness sneaking in wouldn’t be a simple matter of walking into the room. He couldn’t risk upsetting her, causing her stress of any kind. Larry had strictly warned him that to do so would be detrimental to Liz’s progress.
Soon, though, he would tell Liz everything that was in his heart. He’d tell her how much he missed her. How much he longed for the days when he’d been able to hold her in his arms to his heart’s content and he’d do anything to have those days back, to have the opportunity to make up to her for his foolishness.
She’d asked him to leave the last time she’d seen him.
Surely that had only been shock setting in and she hadn’t meant she didn’t want him near her.
Which was what he kept telling himself the next day as he sauntered through the hospital hallway at four in the morning.
It didn’t surprise him to find Liz sleeping. He should be sleeping, too, since he was supposed to be getting rest, but he’d been unable to sleep and had opted to come in to the hospital.
Adam stood by Liz’s bed, watching her chest rise and fall, watching the flicker of her eyes as she dreamed. Although at first glance she appeared to be resting peacefully, she moaned and despite the risk of her waking he laced his fingers through hers, clasping her hand.
As before, seeing Liz banged up from her accident brought fresh waves of helplessness, loss, guilt. Her crash had been an accident, but he’d never forgive himself for the role he’d inadvertently played.
“My sweet, sweet Liz.” He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed the soft skin.
A noise from the other side of the room had him turning. An elderly lady lay sleeping in the hospital bed next to hers.
The sight of Liz had distracted him so completely that he’d failed to notice her new roommate. From the traction equipment, she’d obviously broken her hip and was probably in a well-medicated sleep. Thank goodness, as he’d been oblivious to everything but Liz.
Still holding her hand, Adam stood over Liz’s bed, watching her breathe, wishing he could take away all her pain, wishing he could have been the one behind the wheel of her car since his future held nothing but shadows.
CHAPTER TEN
SEVERAL days following her surgery, Liz struggled to sit up in her hospital bed without jarring her ankle. Dr Bell had performed surgery and placed metal pins inside her ankle to clasp the tibia bone back into one piece. He’d said that with rest, physical therapy, and determination, she should be back to work in a couple of months. Maybe sooner.
A couple of months.