Page 49 of Hidden Nature

“About four. I took an Advil earlier. It’s not severe enough for the heavy stuff. I’d take that if I needed it.”

Once again, she crossed her heart, and made Vincenti smile.

“I’m on RICE. Dr. Marlowe indicated I could resume light activity forty-eight hours after the injury.”

She’d expected a lecture and when she didn’t get one, couldn’t decide if she felt relieved on mildly disappointed.

But she answered the battery of questions, lifted her top, eased off her compression bandage so he could see the wound.

“It’s unlikely I’d order anything Dr. Marlowe hasn’t. If your symptoms increase, I want you down here. Otherwise, we’ll keep our current appointment for the follow-up. Understand, Sloan, a pectoral muscle strain will take a few weeks to resolve. No lifting, not even light weights, for the next couple days. I’m going to send you an exercise plan tailored to your injury.”

“All right.”

“You’re motivated,” he added. “Dr. Marlowe and I fully agree on that. And this is a setback, but only an additional two or three weeks.”

“Do you mean two or three weeks before I’m cleared to go back to work? Even desk duty?”

“This is going to add a couple of weeks, yes. We’ll reevaluate when I see you. Any increase in symptoms, contact me. Send me the spreadsheet, and follow the plan I send you.”

She ended the call, closed her eyes.

Like starting over, she thought. Day One all over again, and today wouldn’t even count for that.

Since he hadn’t ordered her to stay in bed, she got up. Went across the hall to brush her teeth. Since the movement of brushing her hair caused pain to flare, she left it alone.

She went down and found her mother in the home office with Mop snoring on the rug behind her.

“Sloan, I’d have helped you downstairs.”

“Walking’s okay. Not a lot of it. And everything else is off the table for a couple days. I’m trying not to be a baby about it, but—”

“You’re my baby.” Rising, Elsie crossed over to hold her. “He doesn’t need to see you today?”

“No. That’s a bright spot.”

“I know it’s hard for you to stay planted, but it won’t be for long. You can keep busy sitting down for a couple days.”

“Can we go outside, just for a few minutes?”

“All right. You don’t have to get dressed. We’ll just bundle up, put some boots on, and take Mop out.”

She got her few minutes while the snow fell cool and light, and the lake went to silver.

And in the cool and light, felt calmer.

“It’s so beautiful. Every season, it’s just so beautiful. Look at all the people sledding.”

“Long weekend, no school. We’ve got a lot of kids. Snowpeople contest tomorrow in the town park.”

“That’ll be fun. I remember one year Drea and I—and Hallie, Hallie Reeder—did Captain America.”

“Drea had such a crush on Captain America.”

“Probably still does. It was fun. All the Rest always brings the fun.”

“We do our best. Hallie’s engaged.”

“Really? She sent me a card in the hospital, but didn’t mention it.”

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