Escaping the Past

But he just heaved a sigh and looked directly into her eyes. His slate grey gaze was slightly disconcerting in its intensity. “You did the same for me when you called and told me to come home.”

Lou jerked her gaze from his and raised a fingernail to nibble on it. It would be nice to find out the prognosis for Mrs. Wester. The floors dinged by slowly on the display until the doors opened and they stepped out. The doctor was hunched over the nurses’ station with a pen in hand. He looked up and scowled as they approached.

“Your mother, Dr. Wester, is suffering from congestive heart failure.” Brody’s indrawn breath and swear were all Lou needed to realize the seriousness of the situation. “I need to ask you some questions.” The ER doc motioned to a chair and indicated they both should sit.

“How long has your mother had a cough?”

Brody looked toward Lou and she replied, “About two months. It has gotten worse in the past week. She coughs more when she is lying down.”

“And her shortness of breath?”

“She hasn’tt been very active in the past few months. She just said she was extra tired.”

“I can see why. Her x-ray showed there is fluid in the lungs and her heart is enlarged.”

“Can I see it?” Brody asked.

“Sure.” The ER doc moved over to the lighted x-ray viewer and switched it on. He hung the x-ray on the viewer and pointed with a pencil to the right side of the heart. “You can see here that blood has engorged the right side of the heart.”

Brody nodded. “You can see the blood backed up in the veins. Damn it.” He swore.

“Your mother’s fingertips and toes were blue when she arrived…”

Brody cut him off mid-sentence. “Indicating a loss of blood flow to the extremities.” Brody sighed again. “What’s your recommendation?”

“I would suggest using a combination of diuretics like Lasix, vasodilators, ACE inhibitors, and calcium channel blockers,” the doctor replied.

Brody nodded. His jaw tight enough that it was ticking.

“I know it’s not easy for you, son, being a surgeon and not being able to help someone so close to you.” The ER doctor squeezed Brody’s shoulder gently.

“You have no idea,” Brody responded as he extended a hand to shake.

“Let me know if you need anything. You can go in and see her briefly in the ICU, but she needs to rest.”

Brody wiped his hand over his face as though he could wipe away the frown lines that now marred his features as the other doctor walked away. Lou reached out her hand to touch his shoulder.

“What did all that mean?” she asked gently.

“It means my mother is dying,” he breathed in response.

Lou’s hand fell from his shoulder as her world narrowed to black.

****

Lou felt a tickling breath on her cheek as her name was spoken softly.

“Lou…wake up, sleeping beauty.”

Lou stretched her body only to find she was reclining in Brody’s lap in a chair in the waiting room. One of his arms was behind her back, supporting her and his other hand was holding her wrist, checking her pulse as he counted the seconds.

“What happened?” Lou sat forward in his lap.

“You fainted.” Brody mouth quirked like he was holding back a grin.

“I do not faint.” Lou laid a hand on her chest. Of all the ideas!

“Then how else did you get in my lap? You didn’t crawl there, as pleasant as that may sound.”