Page 21 of Tumbleweed Temptation
“I understand that. For the most part they have to go up there for their prescriptions anyway. I know some of them get them by mail order, but a lot can’t. And I was told I don’t have a budget for a nurse. So I’m doing what I can do with the limitations you have placed on me.”
Mr. McKay frowned. “We put a lot of money into this, got grants from the state to help us out.”
“I know, I understand, and I am grateful. But the truth remains, I don't have an option.”
“You don't know how to take blood? Only a nurse can do that? What kind of schooling do you have that you don't know how to take blood?”
“I can, in an emergency. But it isn’t one of the skills I have.”
“We have two nurses in town. Have you talked to one of them about being your receptionist? We might be able to add a bit to the receptionist’s salary, if she’s also a nurse.”
“I did talk to them, but neither of them wants to leave their current position. I think the home health industry pays pretty well out here.”
“What about if we have one of them come in once a week, or even once every two weeks to do blood tests? Would that work?”
Austin considered a minute, then nodded. “That’s actually a pretty good idea. I’d need to set up an account with the lab, and we’d have to be able to get a shipping arrangement that won’t contaminate the samples.”
Mr. McKay frowned. “I can have someone look into that for you.”
Austin nodded. “That would be a big relief. Thank you.”
Mr. McKay pushed to his feet. “I’m glad we were able to come to some arrangement.”
The man opened the office door to leave.
“Mr. McKay, have you made an appointment?” Austin ventured.
The big man looked over his shoulder at Austin. “I don't need one.”
“Sure you do. I’m going to venture you have high blood pressure, at the very least. Come in, have a physical, we’ll see how you’re doing.”
Mr. McKay held Austin’s gaze steadily. Austin could read the stubbornness there. Then he walked out without another word.
His own shoulders relaxed when the man left the front of the office, and Austin was able to get back to his other patients.
*****
THE REST OF THE WEEKran more smoothly, and he was relaxing, thinking all the bumps in the road were smoothed out, when Melissa came into the office the following Wednesday just before lunch, in tears.
“What’s going on?” he asked, jumping to his feet.
“I hate to do this to you, but Michael is sick and I have to pick him up from school.”
Panic filled his head. He could not run this office by himself, and he would piss off a ton of people if he canceled their hard-won appointments. “Can’t your mother-in-law pick him up and take care of him?”
“She said she won’t take care of him if he is throwing up, and I just don't really have anyone else. I’ve never needed anyone else. I’ve always been there.”
“Well, I mean, what do you want me to do? You can bring him in here and I can try to get to the bottom of what’s wrong with him. But even if I had some medicine to give him, it will take a while to take effect.”
“I have to go home, Austin. I’m so sorry to do this to you.”
For a moment he considered asking if her mother-in-law would trade places with her, but it would take some time to explain to Mrs. Dunfry what she needed to do, and he didn't know the woman at all.
“I’ll call someone, I guess.” He’d still have to teach someone, but he’d rather it be someone he knew. The only people he knew were people from school, and they all had jobs. But maybe someone knew something.
He spent his lunch hour on the phone. Poppy was teaching. Javi was on patrol, Marianne out of town visiting her grandkids.
Sofia, thank God, wasn’t busy, with only one guest at the motel, so she came over literally five minutes before his first afternoon appointment. He hadn’t eaten, but, well, he’d survived that in med school. He’d survive it here.
