Page 108 of The Choices I've Made
“Then, we’d better enjoy it while it lasts,” I instructed, not caring in the least if a million of those freakish white crabs joined us.
Today was perfect.
Molly had once again outdone herself in the area of food, pulling out some leftovers from a boxed dinner she’d made for the West Coast couple who were involved in Penis-Gate. They had booked a kayak lesson and hadn’t felt like coming home to shower, so feeling incredibly embarrassed, Molly had made them dinner to go.
Free of charge, of course.
“You should have charged them double,” I said. “That was a good picture.”
She nearly spit out her food. “I can’t believe you sent me that. When you said you needed to primp, I did not know it meantthat.”
I laughed. “Well, I definitely wasn’t picking out lipstick shades or finding my best side. Because, let’s face it, every side is good.”
“You’re incorrigible.”
“Only when I’m around you. Besides, sometimes, you need a little spontaneity in your day, especially when you’ve treated your third urinary infection. What is it with the elderly on this island, Molly? Is it something in the water?”
She giggled, and then a finger went up next to her face, like a lightbulb had suddenly gone off in her head. “That reminds me. Did Terri come by to see you? She wasn’t feeling well yesterday.”
I nodded, taking a bite of my sandwich. “Yeah, she did. She’s fine. Nothing serious.”
A noticeable sense of relief spread across her face. “Thank goodness. I was worried about her. Nothing ever seems to get that old broad down, but yesterday, she just seemed off.”
I wished I could tell her more, but doctor-patient confidentiality prevented me, even if it was Terri. It was nothing more than one of those urinary infections I’d mentioned. But she’d had several in the last year, so I’d ordered some lab work just to be safe. A round of antibiotics, and she’d be as good as new.
“She’ll be fine. Even the devil himself couldn’t take Terri down.”
There was a comfortable silence between us as we ate and watched the waves billow in. The sun began to set behind us as the water grew dark. Pulling Molly into my arms, I felt more content and happier than I had in years.
“Why a heart surgeon?” Molly finally asked as we sat together, listening to the roar of the ocean waves. “Is it because of your mother?”
“Yes,” I answered honestly, maybe for the first time. “I’ve wanted to be a doctor ever since I could remember. That’s nothing new. Practically the entire town knew I wanted to take over the clinic when I got older. Of course, that’s because I went around and told anyone who would listen.”
“You were a very precocious kid.”
“I seem to remember an equally precocious little girl who’d bring her Easy-Bake Oven to church functions and serve cookies to all the old ladies to test out her culinary skills.”
“Hey!” she said, turning in my arms. “Those ladies said I made the best Easy-Bake Oven cookies they’d ever had!”
I laughed, loving her just a little bit more in that moment.
If that were even possible.
“But all that changed when my mom died. All the symptoms had been there, Mols. I saw her file.”
“You did? But how? You weren’t even eighteen.”
“I snuck a peek when no one was around. For months, she’d been complaining to my dad of fatigue, loss of appetite, and shortness of breath. He had checked her out and said it was nothing more than seasonal allergies or a touch of asthma.”
“Jake,” she said, her warm hand on mine.
“He should have known. She was his wife. He should have run every damn test there was. If you were sick, that’s what I would do. I wouldn’t rest until you were better.”
“But, sometimes, it is just allergies.”
“And, sometimes, it’s heart failure.”
“Is that what you tell your patients?” she asked, looking up at me with those deep blue eyes.
