Page 35 of A Family Affair: The Ring
An emergency room probably made most people skittish or light-headed, even fearful.Not Melanie.This environment soothed her with its familiarity, and it didn’t matter that there weren’t life-flight scenarios or patients in the hallway awaiting care.It was still an emergency room andthatMelanie understood.
What had panicked her earlier wasn’t the blood or the pain from the slivers of wood embedded in her flesh.It was being alone and trapped, not knowing how long she’d have to wait for someone to help her.Who would have believed Will would be the one to find her or that he’d contact Nate Desantro for assistance?Nate was fierce and intimidating and yet Will hadn’t hesitated to elicit his help.
Melanie closed her eyes and blew out a long breath.They’d spent three hours in the ER, which included waiting, examining, and detaching her from the piece of door.No easy task when it involved splinters of wood as sharp as porcupine needles.Will stayed with her, positioned so he could not see what the doctor was doing, gaze narrowed on her free hand, breathing measured.The paleness beneath his tan said this was not his comfort area, and if he glanced at her bloodied hand and forearm, especially the index finger where she needed stitches?It wouldn’t be good, and he might end up on the floor.
That’s what made his presence even more meaningful and special.He’d never been able to tolerate blood, needles,orstitches.Not even pierced ears.She’d only asked him for help one time when she couldn’t latch the hoop of her earring and he’d turned squeamish and pale.How was it that a guy who’d been a football star, taken hits and sprained body parts, suffered bruises and a dislocated shoulder, was unable to tolerate a tiny hole in her ear?
“If you ever get tired of city life, we could always use an ER nurse in Magdalena.”The doctor spoke as he tended to her hand, his voice gentle.“It’s not Pittsburgh, but sometimes people need a change, or they’ve had enough and want something different.”He’d glanced at her, his voice gentle.“This town has a lot to offer.”
He shared his own story of how he’d been a surgeon in Chicago, moved to Philadelphia, married a nurse, started a family… And then they both decided they needed a change.They wanted quiet and balance.A friend told him about the tiny town of Magdalena, New York, located in the Catskills.One visit and we never looked back.It’s been twenty-six years and we’ve never regretted our choice.
Melanie thought of the doctor’s words as he placed stitches in her index finger, wrapped her hand and wrist.
I’m ordering a pain med and an antibiotic.Call my office and we’ll fit you in for a follow-up.
Thank you.
Of course.And then he shook Will’s hand and said,Nice to see you again, Will.Try to keep her out of the basement.
Will didn’t smile at the doctor’s words, acted as though he intended to do just that.He drove her back to Grandma Esther’s, settled her on the couch and tucked a blanket around her.“I’m heading to the pharmacy to get your prescriptions.Do you need anything else?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
“Mind if I take a peek in your fridge to see what you’ve got there?”
“Are you saying you’ve developed culinary skills?”That would be a shocker since the Will Callahan she knew struggled to scramble eggs.
“No, but Iamsaying I’m very familiar with the prepared food section at Sal’s Market.”A faint smile and then “I’ll see you in a bit.”
Melanie settled against the pillow, listened to Will rustling in the kitchen, opening and closing the refrigerator, no doubt poking around the pantry.He’d shown her such kindness…such caring...Those thoughts stayed with her as she drifted to sleep, cocooned by the warmth of the blanket and the sound of Will in the kitchen.The rhythmic creaking of Grandma Esther’s rocker awakened her an hour or so later.She squinted at Will as he eased the rocker back and forth, dark head bent over a book.
Peace.Calmness.Contentment.
If she’d made a different choice, they’d be married...maybe they’d have a child...maybe...
Will glanced up, smiled.“You’re awake.”
She rubbed her eyes, stifled a yawn.“I was out.”
“Exhaustion will do that to you.”The smile spread, his voice dipped.“You needed the rest.”
“I guess I did.”She tried to sit up, careful not to put weight on her bandaged hand.“Ouch.”
“Hold on a sec.”Will closed his book, eased out of the rocker.“Let me help you.”He leaned toward her.“Put your good arm around my neck and I’ll pull you up.”
Big sigh.“I’m not an invalid.I can—”
“Arm around my neck.Dr.Olivant wants you to take it easy and that means ‘take it easy.’”
A mumble and another sigh as she eased her arm around his neck, her fingers brushing his hair, settling on his warm skin.“Okay.You win.”Will lifted her into a sitting position, so close she could smell his woodsy scent, so close...
“Let’s get this extra pillow behind your back.It will make it easier to sit.”
She was about to remind him she knew how to take care of injured people, but the pillow did help, and he was right; she had to take it easy for a day or two before she could start on a full recovery.“Would you mind getting me something to drink?”
“Sure.I found three types of tea, coffee, and water.Or I could make you hot chocolate, but you’ll have to tell me how much syrup to put in the milk because...I’m more of an open-the-packet-and-dump-it-in kind of guy.”
“You don’t say?”From what she remembered, Will Callahan was a microwave-order-in-eat-out kind of guy.
