Everlasting (Unrestrained 6)

I shrugged. "It's really just a matter of personal preference how a physician chooses to communicate with his or her patients. I think she's doing better than yesterday, but she's still sick. She's been rehydrated, and her oxygen sats are better, but she still has an infection. If this new combination of antibiotics is going to work, we should start seeing more profound improvement by tomorrow."

'Thanks for coming by and letting us know," Amanda said. She gave me a quick hug, and I left to go back to the ER.

I did stop by the staff room on my way there, to pick up a fresh cup of coffee, and there were several staff sitting on the two sofas in the seating area. When they saw me, conversation stopped and heads turned.

"Hey, Drake," Nick, one of the staff physicians said. He left the group and came to stand beside me in the alcove where the coffee machine was located. "We heard you've tendered your resignation. I hope it's not because of Christy. She's a busybody of the worst kind."

I turned and had to decide whether I wanted to talk to him about it or just write it off and not say a word. Nick had always been a nice person to me so I didn't want to be rude. It wasn't because of him that I was leaving.

"It's not just Christy," I said and stirred my coffee. "I have a lot going on right now. I need some sanity and the long shifts were taking me away from family. But thanks for the heads-up on Christy."

"No problem," Nick said. "I speak for a number of us. We'll be sad to see you go and especially if Christy's big mouth had anything to do with it."

"It really isn’t primarily Christy. My mother's very sick and right now, my priority is to spend time with her in case she doesn't recover."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that."

I nodded and put the lid on my coffee. "Thanks. And thanks for the kind words. Now, I've got to get back to the ER."

"Cheers," Nick said and raised his coffee cup.

I smiled and left the staff room, making my way down the hallways to the ER. For the rest of my shift, I tried to focus my entire attention on my cases, and tried hard not to notice any quiet conversations taking place just out of my earshot and the surreptitious glances at me from the nursing staff.

In the end, I was glad I made my decision to quit my position. I could feel the weight of responsibility sliding off my shoulders as the end of my shift neared. I'd be able to spend all my time with Kate and Sophie, and with my mother – at least until she recovered or died.

When my shift was finished, I stopped in to my mother's room and checked on her. It was just after three in the morning and the ward was quiet. She was sleeping, her breathing easier, and for the first time, I felt some hope that she was in fact getting over the infection. If so, it would be wonderful. Even if she was in the later stages of Alzheimer's, I would get a chance to see her, talk to her if not with her, and of course, meet my other brothers.

I left the hospital with a sense of relief, and happy to face five full days off before I'd finish the month off with one last five-day shift cycle.

Then, I would be completely free to spend as much time as I wanted on my family – all of them.

I couldn't wait to get home to my own family, to Kate and Sophie, and as I drove along the highway back to our house, I felt relief that my mother just might survive.

After I parked the car in our driveway, and made my way inside, shutting on the alarm system and taking a quick shower, I walked to our bedroom and stood beside the bed. Kate was alone in the bed, so I went to Sophie's room and saw her lying on her back, her eyes open and her pacifier in her mouth. When I saw her eyes, I thought I should step back so she didn't see me, but I was too late and she latched onto me with her baby blues.

She waved her arms excitedly and rolled over, crawling over to the side of the crib.

"Hey, baby," I said and picked her up. "You're awake."

I rocked her, hoping I could put her back into her crib without taking her into our bed, but soon, Kate showed up in the doorway.

"I already tried," Kate said, smiling at me. "I put her in her crib about fifteen minutes ago. I must have fallen asleep."

"I blew it, in other words."

"You know what they say – let sleeping dogs and babies lie. Why don't you bring her into our bed? She'll fall back asleep soon enough.

"Okay," I said, "but I was hoping for alone time with mommy."

Kate laughed lightly. She led the way back down the hall to our bedroom. "You're going to have to wait until tomorrow night for that."

"Are Elaine and Dad going to take her overnight?"

Kate crept into bed and I put Sophie down on the bed between us.

"Yes," Kate said and pulled covers up over us. "They know you'll want to spend time at the hospital and that we need time together."

"Good," I said and kissed Sophie. The three of us snuggled down and soon, Sophie's eyes were closing and she fell asleep. I watched Kate as she snuggled down more deeply in the bed. She fell back asleep quickly but for me, sleep was a long time in coming.