Page 40 of Hearts on the Table
“Jasmine. You don’t have to do this alone.” I wheeled the chair back in her path, reaching out my hand. She studied me, only hesitating for a moment before she let me guide her into the chair. “If anyone asks, I’m down on six.” The nurse at the desk nodded and watched as I wheeled Jasmine into the elevator.
“Thank you, Lainey,” she muttered, reaching up to touch my hand where it rested on the chair handles.
“No sweat. We got this.” I squeezed her hand. We stayed like that the whole ride down.
???
“Three hours?”
The nurse shrugged. “Sorry.”
I breathed through my nose, telling myself it wasn’t this nurse’s fault that the maternal ward was understaffed and apparently busting at the seams with preggos. I made my way back to the waiting room as one waddled by. I’d left Jasmine with a promise that I’d “work some doctor magic” to see if I could get us a room. My magical white coat had failed me.
Her face fell when I shook my head. “They’re not working with a full staff right now. I know they’ve hired some people, but everything’s just taking a long time. I got a look at your records, though. This is a very mild concern. There’s a reason they’re not prioritizing you. That’s a good thing.”
Jas wilted. “You should go. Who knows how long this is going to take?”
“The nurse said it could be up to three hours before they’re able to call you back.”
“Three…?” Her eyes filled with tears and her forehead fell to her palm. “Oh, my God. What if something’s really wrong and we’re just sitting herewaitingand something bad happens?”
“Hey.” I stepped closer, fully about to tell her to frack this place and check into the hospital across the street. Mercy’s cardiac ward was in shambles right now, but that didn’t mean its OB department was. I could call in the referral myself and check their wait times while I was at it.
“Lainey?”
Blood drained from my face as Katie edged into my line of sight. She glanced between me and Jasmine. “Everything okay?”
I surveyed her coat and scrubs, the iPad she held in her hand. “I didn’t realize you’d already started here.”
“First week.”
Jasmine tried to cover up a sniffle, and my attention whipped back to her. I glanced at Katie again. That little voice from earlier started peeping up. This time, I didn’t want to listen. I whined back.Do I have toooooo?
Jas sniffed, and I caved. If anyone owed me, it was Katie. At one time in my life, she’d been the one I trusted to move heaven and earth if I needed it. Maybe that version of her was still in there. And if not, I would mercilessly make use of the fact that she’d ruined my life to cash in a favor.
I grabbed Jasmine’s hand. “My friend’s doctor has some concerns about preeclampsia. But she can’t be seen for hours.” I locked eyes with my former friend.
“I’ve got some time.” Katie practically jumped at the opening. “Let’s get you a room, Ms…?”
“Reese. Jasmine Reese,” Jas snuffled. “I don’t want any special treatment or anything. I just don’t know what to think right now. The waiting is killing me.”
Katie’s turn to lock eyes with mine.Reese. She recognized the name. “Let me see if I can grab your file. Come this way and we’ll get you sorted.”
We followed Katie to the nurse’s station. Jasmine dabbed at her eyes. “You know her?”
“We went to school together.” I realized once the words were out of my mouth just how clipped and cold they sounded. Jas looked nervous, so I grudgingly added: “She’s a good doctor. You’ll like her.”
Katie led us to an exam room tucked in the back of the hall. Jas assured us the whole way there that she was happy to wait, but her watery voice said otherwise.
“It’s fine. It’s my first week and my caseload is light. I’ve got some free time.” Katie gestured inside the room. “We can set up in here. Hospital policy usually only allows family in the exam room…”
“She’s family. She’s going to be my sister-wife someday.” Jas brought our joined hands to her chest. I could read the hesitation on Katie’s face, but she smiled for Jas.
“You know, maybe I did see in your file that someone requested a cardiac consult, if anyone asks.” She waved us in and gestured for Jas to get comfortable on the exam table. “How do y’all really know each other?”
I was impressed, despite myself. The Katie I knew would never have bent hospital policy, especially in her first week.Then again, the Katie I’d known also wouldn’t have sex with my boyfriend for months and lie to me about it. People change and whatnot.
“Lainey works with my brother-in-law in the cardiothoracic department,” Jas explained, easing onto the bed.
