Nurse to Forever Mom

“I’d like to check your incision, if I may?” Dr. Brennan asked.

Mrs. Fitzpatrick pulled her right pants leg up over her knee. Dr. Brennan went down on his heels to examine it closely. “It looks good. Now let me see you bend it.”

The woman lifted it up and down. Stacey didn’t miss how her lips tightened, but she didn’t make a sound.

Dr. Brennan stood and put his hand on her shoulder. “I’m impressed. I can tell you’ve been working hard in physical therapy. I think you’re about ready to go home.”

Mrs. Fitzpatrick’s smile was a bright one. “That’s sooner than you had said.”

“It pays to be a good patient,” he responded, grinning.

Stacey enjoyed the moment. Dr. Brennan had a nice rapport with his patient. She hadn’t seen much of that in her work in medical facilities in developing countries. There the patients came and left the same day. None of the doctors, and certainly none of the temporary nurses, had an opportunity to really get to know the patients. It was lovely to see that personal interaction in this clinic but at the same time it made her uncomfortable. She wasn’t looking to become involved with anyone on any level.

Over the next few hours Stacey found out that Dr. Brennan’s bedside manner didn’t just extend to the Fitzpatricks. He treated all his patients with the same respect and concern. Each time they saw someone new he took the time to introduce Stacey, making her feel she was part of his team, significant. That was an odd thought.

They were passing through the activity room where the afternoon sun beamed in through the windows when a weathered man sitting at a table lifted a hand in acknowledgment.

“Hey, Salty. Good to see you,” Dr. Brennan greeted him.

“Who’s that with you?” Salty wanted to know.

“This is my new nurse. Stacey Ryder. Stacey, this is Salty, our local hero.”

Stacey couldn’t miss the pink spreading across the older man’s cheeks, the wrinkles that gathered beside his eyes and the straightening of his shoulders. “Aw, ’twas nothing. Anyone would have done it.” His gruff voice was filled with pride.

“Done what?” she couldn’t help but ask.

“We had a ferry accident a few months back. Salty went out in his boat and helped save people.”

“That sounds impressive.” And she was impressed.

Salty shrugged his shoulders. “Glad I could help.”

“We’ve got to be going. See you around.” Dr. Brennan strolled on through the area.

“Nice to meet you.” Stacey hurried to catch up with the long-legged doctor.

They hadn’t made it into the hall when Salty called, “Hey, Doc, find a good woman and you’ve found a jewel.”

Dr. Brennan raised a hand and kept walking. “Thanks. I’ll remember that.”

Stacey had seen the slight flinch of his shoulders before he’d waved off Salty’s unsolicited advice. “What was that about?”

“Nothing. Salty is always dishing out his idea of wisdom.”

Dr. Brennan didn’t appear to think that particular piece of advice was very impressive. Were he and his wife having trouble? Whatever it was, it had nothing to do with her and so was none of her concern.

A few minutes later as they walked out of a patient’s room a tall, sandy-blond man wearing a lab coat came toward them. “Hey, Cody. How’s it going?”

“Well. Your staff has done wonders with Mrs. Fitzpatrick.” Dr. Brennan passed her his hand computer on which he was making notes. “As uncooperative as she was before surgery, I’m impressed by how far she’s come in such a short time.”

“What can I say? We’re good!” The man chuckled, then gave her a questioning look. “Hi, I’m Alex Kirkland, your medical director.”

“I’m Stacey Ryder, Dr. Brennan’s temporary nurse.”

“That’s right, Marsha’s out taking care of her mother. Welcome. We’re glad to have you,” Dr. Kirkland said. “Feel free to call me Alex.”

She liked him. He wasn’t quite as stuffy as Dr. Brennan. “Alex. I’m glad to be here. Didn’t I read somewhere that it was you and Dr. Brennan who started this clinic?”

“Yeah, that was us.” Pride filled his voice.

An attractive woman with a riot of red hair headed their way with a bounce in her step. She called, “Hey, Alex, you have a minute?”

Alex’s eyes lit up before he turned. “I always do for you.”

“Aw, you do care.” She joined them.

Stacey suspected there was a deeper meaning to their greeting by the way Alex lightly touched her elbow to direct her attention to Stacey.