Page 54 of The Cottage on Plum Island
A nurse walked into the room with a medical trolly.
“I see you’ve had heart surgery,” Doctor Mulder looked at Jennifer.
“I was six at the time,” Jennifer told him. “It was a hereditary disorder, not a disease. I go for checkups at least twice a year, and so far, I’m clear and in excellent health.”
“Good to know.” Doctor Mulder smiled. “Are you taking any medication?”
“No.” Jennifer shook her head.
“Alright, let’s get this done.” Doctor Mulder started to put on rubber gloves. “We’ll draw a bit of blood to do HLA typing.” He looked at Andrew, grinning. “I’ve been warned that you have an aversion to needles.”
“Who told you that?” Jennifer glared at Andrew.
“Andrew told me about a few of your episodes when you were a child.” Doctor Mulder laughed. “Don’t worry, we’ve had far worse than a child knocking over the medicine cart.”
“So that’s why you’re taking my blood, not the nurse.” Jennifer shook her hand, shooting Andrew another glare. “I assure you I haven’t had a freak out at a blood draw in years.”
“That’s good to hear.” Doctor Mulder turned and spoke quietly to the nurse.
The nurse pushed a small table beside Jennifer.
“Could you please put your arm on here,” the nurse asked.
Jennifer complied. Her heart started to pound when the nurse put a tourniquet just above her elbow before walking back to the doctor. Jennifer turned toward the doctor, which was a big mistake when she saw the needle the doctor was readying.
She knew she should look away. It was how she coped with the regular blood tests she had to have, but it was too late. She’d seen it. Jennifer’s heart thudded against her rib cage as if it was trying to bustout and run for its life, which was what she wanted to do. Her free hand clenched on the armrest when Andrew’s hand covered it gently, lifting her fingers and threading them with his.
Jennifer looked at their clasped hands, and memories of how Andrew had always held her hand at a doctor’s appointment, the dentist’s, or when it stormed flashed through her mind.
Daddy’s got you, sweetheart. Nothing’s going to hurt you.Except him!Another voice screamed from the back of her mind, shattering the good memories.
“All done!” Doctor Mulder’s voice pulled her back to the present.
Jennifer turned and blinked in surprise as the nurse patched the hole from the needle with a cotton ball and medical tape.
“Oh!” Jennifer looked at Doctor Mulder. “Thank you.”
“Thank you for coming forward, and let’s hope you or your brother are a donor match.” Doctor Mulder stood and pulled off the gloves. He addressed Andrew. “I’ve ordered a rush on these tests, and we should have them within a few days.”
“Thank you,” Andrew said, standing and shaking the doctor’s hand. “I appreciate that.”
Doctor Mulder gave him a tight smile and turned to Jennifer. “It was nice to meet you, Miss Gains.”
Jennifer nodded but stayed seated for a few minutes as her knees felt slightly shaky when she looked at the vial of blood. She could never have been a doctor. Blood and gore made her queasy. When Caroline had cut her foot open at the beach when they were young, Jennifer had nearly passed out at the sight of the blood. She still couldn’t remember how she’d managed to help Caroline get home.
“Molly asked if you’d say hello before leaving,” Andrew drew Jennifer from her thoughts.
“I was going to pop in and say hello,” Jennifer told him, pushing herself up from the chair and forcing her legs to work. “I hope you don’t mind, but I got her a little something from the hotel gift shop last night.”
She pulled a few books from a famous young adult fantasy author from her purse.
Andrew’s brow rose, and a small smile lifted the one side of his mouth.
“I think you and I both know you didn’t getthosefrom the gift shop.“ Andrew pointed to the books. “Molly read that author’s first book that came out last year and has been waiting on tenterhooks for the next two installments of the trilogy to come out.” His eyes fell to the books. “Which are not due out for another two months.”
Busted!Jennifer shrugged. “You’re not the only one that does their homework.” She walked past him and into the corridor.
“Thank you.” Andrew’s words were filled with emotion that chipped away a little of the ice around Jennifer’s heart.
