Page 66 of Tumbleweed Temptation
“You have all your patients on here?”
“No, I just added his because I’m kind of concerned. He told me the symptoms he had that prompted him to come in, but I couldn't get them to replicate, and his vitals were fine, but...”
Mr. Canales answered the phone, his voice coming through the hands-free system.
“Hey, Mr. Canales.” Austin raised his voice a little to compensate for the road noise. “I just wanted to check and see if any of those symptoms you mentioned have returned.”
“I just left there half an hour ago.”
“Yeah, but.” Austin glanced over at Ginny, apology written all over his face. “Can you come back in?”
“Come back in? What for?”
“There are a couple more things I wanted to check. I just want to be a hundred percent.”
Ginny knew Mr. Canales lived alone, which was probably why Austin was worried.
“I thought you were heading for the big homecoming game.”
“Yeah, we were, but there are a couple more things I’d like to check. If I’m satisfied, we can still get to the game.” He seemed to be saying the last to her, not to Mr. Canales.
She nodded. What was she going to do? He was a doctor, and he would not forgive himself if he missed something with his patient.
Mr. Canales agreed, and Austin used the next driveway to turn around and head back to Broken Wheel.
“I’m so sorry,” he said. “I should have insisted you go with Con and the others. I don't want you to miss the game, but I can’t stop thinking about Mr. Canales. He doesn’t seem like the type to come in to the doctor unless he was concerned. And that I couldn’t find anything worries me. I just want to be sure.”
“Austin, don't worry about me. I haven't been to a homecoming game in years. It won’t bother me to miss this one. I was just excited that we were all going. And I know you wouldn't be able to enjoy it unless everything is good at home.”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
Mr. Canales was waiting for them when they reached the office, and even Ginny could see the man wasn't feeling well. He was pale, and sweating when he got out of the car.
Austin was out of the Jeep in an instant, opening the door, not guiding Mr. Canales in, exactly, but kind of hovering. Ginny followed in case he needed help.
He didn't take Mr. Canales all the way into the exam room, instead had him sit in one of the chairs in the waiting area. Austin disappeared into the exam room and returned with a stethoscope and a blood pressure cuff. He pressed the stethoscope to the man’s chest, frowning as the man took the deep breaths Austin instructed. He then strapped the cuff to the man’s arm and took a reading, making note of it on the palm of his hand.
“Hey, Gin, can you call the hospital in San Angelo?” His voice was gentle and even. “Let them know we’re on our way with a possible heart attack.”
Ginny bolted behind the counter and picked up the phone. She remembered Marianne had posted the number to find easily, made the call as Austin helped the older man to his feet and out the door.
“I’m going to need you to drive my car,” he told Ginny, his voice calm and soft. “I’m sorry, but I need to sit in the back and monitor him.”
“No, of course, I’ve got this.” She took the keys from his hand and hurried around to the driver’s side and opened the door. By the time she familiarized herself with the vehicle, Austin had Mr. Canales situated, and she backed out of the slot and headed down the road to San Angelo.
“Should I call Javi, or something, to escort us?” she asked.
“I don't think we need to do that, but if we get pulled over, just let them know.”
She was amazed how calm he was, when her own heart was ready to pound out of her chest. She pressed the gas pedal a little closer to the floor, and appreciated the horsepower under the hood.
But they arrived at the hospital without incident, in record time. She dropped Austin and Mr. Canales, who had barely spoken on the drive, so she hadn’t even been sure he’d been conscious. She found a parking place, and headed into the hospital. She didn't even know where to look, so she sat in the main lobby and pulled out her phone. She texted Austin her location, then turned her attention to the plethora of texts she’d received while she’d been driving.
She let Poppy know where they were, that they wouldn't be making the game.
Only then did she realize she was still wearing her mum.
She started to take it off, feeling foolish, but then, where would she keep it? She didn't want to lose it. Ridiculous, she knew, but Austin had gone through a lot of effort to get it for her. She wanted to treasure it.
