My Christmas Doctor

Her cute little nose wrinkled up and she grinned. "You are? Really? You aren't just saying that?"

"Not at all. In fact, I'm hoping you'll sign my copy for me before you leave."

She giggled. "I'd love to."

"Great, well, I'll let you order your breakfast, and I'll check back in with you later this afternoon. If you keep up this pace of recovery, we'll move you out of intensive care and into a regular recovery room this evening." I patted her hand and felt a zing of pleasure at the touch, but I set it aside and smiled at her. "And get some rest. Doctor's orders." I winked at her as I headed out of her room.Chapter 5JaneAfter Dr. Chase left, I ordered the meal he'd suggested. I was pretty hungry now, as it had been more than twenty-four hours since I'd eaten. After a glance at the list he'd given me, I'd added a couple of bananas to my order. I could always hold on to one for a snack later if I was still hungry.

Thankfully, whoever their cook was did an amazing job on the omelet because it was delicious. I just hoped lunch would be as good as it was. Lara, the nurse who'd been assigned to me this morning, returned, and brought me a yellow legal pad and a pen.

"Dr. Chase asked me to bring these to you, but he wanted me to make sure you don't over-tax yourself with writing? He says you're a famous author."

I smiled. "I don't know about that. I do okay, I guess. And I won't over-tax myself. Writing is relaxing to me, but if I get tired, I promise to stop."

She arched a brow but smiled. "Well, I'm going to check back in on you in about two hours, give you another dose of potassium and draw some blood. And if I think you're over doing it, I'm going to make you rest."

I laughed. "Yes, ma'am."

The phone in the room rang and I looked at it like it was an unusual object. Who would be calling me here? I picked up the receiver and said, "Hello?"

"Janie!"

I sighed and my head dropped back against the pillow. "Mom? How did you know to call this number?"

"You're in the hospital and that is what you want to know? You should have told me you were unwell! You should be back here in Akron where I can be there by your side, taking care of you! Not stuck in some big city hospital!"

"Mom, I'll be fine. I am well cared for by Dr. Chase and the nursing staff." I glanced up to see Lara motioning that she was going to leave me alone and I half wished she'd order me to get off the phone. "How did you even know I was here?"

"That uppity young man from your apartment building called me yesterday morning at the crack of dawn! Scared me and your father half to death! I've been trying to get through to your room for the last twenty-four hours, but they wouldn't forward the call to your room until now! What kind of hospital is this that they won't let a mother speak to her daughter in the hospital?"

"Mom, I was in the ER, and then they transferred me to intensive care, I completely passed out. In fact, I'm still in the intensive care unit. I couldn't have spoken to you even if you had gotten through to my room before now!" I could feel my chest tightening again and I closed my eyes, pulling up images of that calming beach and the waves from the show on the Travel Channel.

"You have me worried sick, Janie, and I can't be there at your side!"

"Mom, I'm fine. The doctor said my potassium was low and that virus I had back in October brought on an attack of pericarditis, which has been reoccurring."

"So, you're okay?" She sounded as if she didn't believe me.

"I will be fine."

"Then why are you still there? Answer me that!"

I could feel another headache coming on. "Mom, they have to wait until my potassium is stable and stuff." I didn't want to go into the part about the membrane around my heart, it would just make her go ballistic. "They'll release me when Dr. Chase is sure I won't have another attack. In fact, they are moving me out of intensive care to another room later, assuming I continue to recover. I'll call or text you the room number once I know. For now, I'm really tired, so I'm going to rest, okay?" I hoped she'd get the message and let me off the phone.

"You should be here. It's a good thing I ran into Aaron and told him what was going on."

I sat up in the bed, panicked. "Wait, you what? You told Aaron I'm in the hospital? Mom—" I was seething and nearly shouting. A sharp stab of pain hit my chest and I gasped at it as the heart monitor started beeping loudly.