“Yes. Though it has been a wonderful experience for me, they are welcome to it. By the way, do any of you know if there is a supermarket around here? There isn’t one in Ravello.”
“Sì,” Basilio said. “On the Via Matermania.” He gave her directions.
She pecked his cheek. “Marvelous! Thank you, Basilio. A domani, everyone!”
Lucca saw the caller ID and clicked on. “Prego?”
“This is Dr. Cozza’s office calling. The doctor is on the line.”
“Grazie.”
“Signore Cavezzali?”
“Sì. Your nurse said you would phone me back when you weren’t busy. I appreciate it.”
“Sorry it’s so late in the day. She told me about your surgery and the pain you’ve been having. That could be the irritation of the tissue from the plate causing tendonitis for example. Then again it could be caused by something else. There’s no way I can make a judgment until I’ve seen you and taken X-rays. I have an opening next Monday.”
“That’s fine.” Another week. Lucca would have to live with it. “But it is possible to have it removed?”
“Yes. In patients who have pain that is clearly coming from irritation caused by the metal, the chance of pain reduction is much more likely. However, you must keep in mind that if the pain is more generalized, and not clearly an irritation, the chance of pain resolution with the metal removed is more difficult to predict.”
“I understand.” Lucca gripped the phone tighter. “What are the risks?
“Obviously there are potential complications with this type of surgery. The most common problem is that metal removal can lead to a weakening of the bone where the implant is removed. Sometimes fractures form through the holes where the screws were implanted. But that may not have happened in your case and a certain amount of normal stress is necessary to keep the bone strong.”
Annabelle had said the same thing.
“The point is we want to cut down on your pain and hopefully alleviate it all together. I’ll put my nurse back on to give you a time for your appointment and I’ll see you then.”
“Thank you, Doctor.”
He hung up, excited to tell Annabelle the news. For most of the day he’d been making phone calls to various contractors for bids. The house had sat empty for fifteen years and called for a lot of repair work to be done. The bathroom needed a total remodel into a master ba
th. He made a list of items he wanted replaced or installed, like a dishwa—
The phone rang before he’d finished the thought. He grabbed for it. When he saw who it was, his pulse accelerated to a feverish pitch. He clicked on. “Annabelle?”
“Hi! How are you?”
“I’m waiting for you. That’s how I am. When can I expect you?” He didn’t want to hear that there was a problem and she wouldn’t be able to make it.
“I’ve finished the shopping and am on my way home.”
“How long do you think that will be?”
“About forty-five minutes?”
He would have to live with that. “Make it a half hour.”
“Hmm. You really are feeling closed in. I’ll hurry.”
“Not too fast. I want you to arrive in one piece. You’re an excellent driver, but you’re in Italy now.”
“I’ve driven the freeways of California all my life and so far have lived to tell about it,” she informed him with a laugh.
“That’s not funny.”
“I’m sorry. See you soon.”