Page 53 of Fractured

Coming around the corner of the NICU, I see Katrina as I approach the nurses’ station.

“Hi, Kat. I can’t believe you came to visit us on Thanksgiving.”

“Sure, Katrina. I brought you a pie. Did you get anything to eat?”

“Yeah. I get all of my meals here now. I’ve never eaten so well.”

I grimace, realizing I’ve found something to be grateful for. While I complain about the offerings in the cafeteria, this sweet girl is just thankful to have a warm plate of food. I never question where my next meal is coming from, just whether I’ll have time to eat it around the chaos that is the ER. I need to be a lot more grateful for the basics I have every day. The other stuff will work itself out. It just has to.

* * *

Thirty minutes later, I’ve returned to the ER, and Jake is sitting where I left him. I tell him I’m going to grab some plastic utensils when I notice a stretcher come through the ambulance bay doors with a small child strapped to it. I’m immediately drawn to the sweet swollen, red face of the child who appears to be kindergarten age.

“Hey, Huggie, who do we have here?”

“Hey, Kat. This is Caden. Caden’s mom thinks he must have gotten into something in the kitchen made with peanuts. He has an allergy, and they don’t keep nuts in the house, but they had guests over who brought treats.”

Caden’s mom is holding the child’s hand, looking fearful. “I gave him the EpiPen at home, but I didn’t want to take any chances.”

“No. Of course. You did the right thing. They’ll get you and Caden settled, and I’ll come to check on you in a bit.”

I walk to the nurses’ lounge to retrieve my plastic utensils, knowing that most likely we’ll be watching Caden for the next few hours to ensure his symptoms have improved and it’s safe for him to go back home.

Walking back to where Jake is seated with my care package from Mel, I notice Donovan has arrived a little early for the night shift. He’s holding a plate of something and leaning over the nurses’ station counter talking to Jessica.Hmm, she always seems to smile a little brighter when he’s around, I think to myself. Man, I’d give anything if somehow that Ashley chick wasn’t in the picture, and these two could make a go of it.

Jess has been on and off again with Holt for over a year, from what I hear. But she can do so much better than that fire academy playboy. She says his behavior is all for show, but I think he still has a lot of growing up to do. I’m not sure he’s mature enough for someone like Jess.

As I approach the physicians’ workspace, I see Jake sitting there and remember I need to talk to him about this crazy shit with the zolpidem. As that thought comes to me, I practically slap myself on the head.You need to get your own situation settled and stop worrying about anyone else.

“Jake, you got any time free next week? I wanted to see if we could grab a drink. I need to talk to you about something, but I don’t want to do it here.”

“Sure, Kat. I’ll look at my schedule and text you. Is that okay?”

“Yeah.”

“Everything all right? Did you hear back on the test results yet?”

“No. Not yet. I’m surprised they take so long.”

“Can we talk at the house?” he asks with an odd expression.

“What do you mean?”

“You’re still coming over Sunday, right? It’s our yearly Friendsgiving dinner. Mel has spent more time planning that than she did today’s meal.”

“Oh, I’d almost forgotten about that. Sure. But I’d rather talk just you and me. Not make a big production. Do you think we could sneak away for a bit to talk without Mel getting upset that she’s having to play hostess all by herself?”

Waving a hand at me, he chuckles. “She loves every minute of it. If we have to, we can run to get whatever she forgot. She always sends me back to the store at least twice.”

Laughing along with him, I can easily picture that. I’m usually distracted by all of the chaos. They have a large group of friends, and every year I never know who’ll be in attendance.

“Kat?”

“Hmmm?”

“Mel wanted to invite Nick, but I told her not to. At least, not until I talked to you first.”

Feeling a bit forlorn about Nick, I try to hide the sadness I’m feeling. I want so much to go to him, but I need to take care of some of my baggage first.

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