47 - Noah

47

Noah

“Okay, hold still,” I instructed while carefully holding the circular saw. “Almost done. Just the last little part… boom!”

The saw cut through the last bit of plaster, and the arm cast opened like a clam shell.

“Whew, that stinks!” I said, waving my hand in front of my nose dramatically. “Are you sure we put this on six weeks ago, and not six months?”

“It was six weeks!” Josie said with a laugh. “I’ve been counting down every day.”

“She has,” her mother said. “Trust me.”

“I know you’re eager to get back to rock climbing,” I said while wiping down the skin. “I just need to check the scans and make sure everything looks good. But I’m sure the bone knitted without any problems. I’ll be back in five minutes.” I stood and sniffed the air. “I’ve never smelled a cast that pungent!”

“Stop it!” Josie said with a giggle.

“Thanks, doctor,” her mother said.

I smiled, and left the examination room. Today was a good day. For the last six weeks, every time I’d seen Josie around town, she’s asked if it was time to get her cast off. Nothing brightened my mood more than seeing my patients healthy and happy.

Theresa poked her head into the hallway. “Doctor? Jack called twice while you were in there. He says he’s been trying your cell phone.”

“He knows my phone is on silent when I’m working,” I said without slowing down. “I’ll call him back when I’m done with Josie and the patient in room three.”

“He said it was an emergency. He sounded…”

I stopped, and turned around. Theresa was frowning.

“He sounded flustered. Or… scared? Honestly, I’ve never heard him like this before. I think something’s wrong.”

I looked at my phone. I had a voicemail and seven texts, all from Jack.

I put my phone away. “I’ll call him back as soon as I’m done with Josie.”

I reviewed the X-rays, then rejoined my patient in the examination room. “I’ve got great news. Your bone transplant was a success. You’ll be able to run on all fours like a horse immediately.”

“No!” Josie whined. “I didn’t want a bone transplant! I wanted my arm to heal!”

“Oh.” I pretended like I was confused while reading the document in my hand. “That’s a relief, because this is a perfectly healthy human arm. You’re all cleared to climb again. As long as you’re careful and don’t fall.”

“Yay!” she squealed.

I turned to her mother. “Everything looks great, but have Josie take it easy for a few more weeks. Even though the cast is off and the knitting is done, it won’t return to full strength until the three-month mark. And obviously she will need to build some strength back up in it.” I glanced at Josie. “Maybe try the easier climbing routes for a while?”

“I don’t do the easy ones. I’m really good.”

“I’m sure you—”

The door flew open, and Jack burst inside. Ash was right behind him, which alarmed me even more.

Theresa appeared behind them, looking angry. “I told you he’s with a patient!”

“We have to go,” Jack told me. “It’s Melissa.”

A vice gripped my heart. “What happened? Is she okay?”

“Ash!” Josie squealed, hopping up and tackling him in a hug. She barely reached his belly. “My arm is healed! I can start climbing again!”

“Hell yeah,” he said.

Josie’s mother gave him a look.

“I mean.” Ash winced. “ Heck yeah. I said heck.”

Jack cleared his throat at Ash, then turned back to me. “Melissa is okay. But she’s leaving town. Right now.”

The vice around my heart loosened, then a different kind of pain squeezed it.

“I think I know how you feel about that woman,” Jack told me, with a firm certainty shining in his eyes. “You need to make a decision right now. Are you going to let her go, or are you going to come with us and put up a fight?”

It was the easiest decision I’d ever made.