Page 19 of Sunset Tides
Apparently, Lucy had missed the attending neurologist because she was a young-looking woman with pretty, cascading curls and muted blue scrubs.
Lucy was embarrassed by her sexism, but she didn’t let shame hold her back long. Once she realized her mistake, she cornered the pretty Dr. Baker and resumed her interrogation right where she’d left off.
The doctor was kind, and probably overly patient, but no matter how much Lucy pressed, she wouldn’t admit Claire was in danger.
“Don’t you think she should stay a bit longer? Another week or two?” Lucy asked.
Up close, Dr. Baker looked older and wiser than Lucy initially realized. She also had kind eyes and a warm smile. “No, that’s not necessary. We’ve ruled out any neurological causes and your mom is okay to go home. She can follow up and…”
Lucy stopped listening after hearing “no.” She didn’t mean to, but from the first moment she’d seen Claire in that hospital bed, she knew something was terribly wrong.
Yes, Claire was smiling and calm and normal looking, but that was exactly how Claire would go out – with a smile on her face while assuring everyone she was okay.
Lucy couldn’t let that happen. Someone had to stand up for her! But despite her pushing and questioning, Claire was discharged on Sunday, and everyone acted like it was great news.
Both Lillian and Rose had rushed to the hospital after getting Lucy’s panicked texts. Now that Claire was allegedly healthy, they both thought it was funny to tease Lucy about how scared she’d gotten.
Lucy refused to accept any criticism, jokingly or not. “Next time someone is having a stroke, I’ll make sure my first thought is to remember to be cool about it.”
Rose snorted a laugh, but Lillian was more sympathetic. “I know you worry,” she said, “but I truly think Mom is okay.”
After Claire left the hospital with Chip to get lunch in Bellingham, the rest of them walked out to the parking lot, a gray sky hanging above like an omen. Would it rain? Would it hold? Would Claire make it back to the island or have to be air-lifted off the island again?
There was no way to tell. Lucy let out a sigh. “We’ll see. Do either of you want a ride to Orcas Island? My apartment has a second bedroom. You’re welcome to stay.”
“I wish I could,” Rose said. “I only have one more day off work for the rest of the year, so I need to get back home. I’m going to try to catch a flight tonight.”
Lucy shrugged. “Next time.”
Lillian broke into a smile. “I can come. My job is fully remote now, so I don’t have to rush home.”
Though Lucy would love nothing more than to have a guest, Lillian had a long-term boyfriend back in Texas. “What about Mason? Won’t he miss you?”
“He’ll be okay on his own for a while,” Lillian said. “He’s traveling for work right now, so he won’t even notice.”
Good enough. “Okay, great!”
Marty stopped by Lucy’s car, a book bag slung over his shoulder. “Anyone headed to the airport?”
“I am,” Rose said.
“Marty.” Lucy shuddered. “I can’t believe you’re going to fly back to Orcas when there’s a perfectly good ferry an hour’s drive away.”
He nodded solemnly. “You’re right. It’d be better if it took three times as long and involved both a car and a boat.”
“Well, don’t you just know everything,” Lucy snapped. “Not just the best way to travel, but that Claire didn’t have a stroke – ”
“They know Mom didn’t have a stroke because they checkedmultipletimes,” Lillian said gently.
“Why are you so stuck on the stroke thing?” Rose asked. “They gave us good news. There was no stroke. Why can’t you accept it?”
“Because,” Lucy hissed, “they never should have used the word ‘stroke’ if they didn’t know what they were talking about. You can’t just put ‘stroke’ into people’s heads and expect it to go away!”
“That’s true,” Marty added. “You can’t put a stroke into someone’s head and then take it away.”
Lillian and Rose laughed.
Lucy gritted her teeth. It was fine if they wanted to joke around, but Lucy knew she should have kept a closer eye on Claire. This had all happened when she was distracted. From now on, she wouldn’t let herself get caught up in things that didn’t matter, like farms, and men with expensive suits.
