One Sure Thing (Mamma Lou Matchmaker Series) (34 page)

The black and white film easily confirmed what Hope had suspected. The arm was fractured. She studied the thin hairline crack and traced it along its path down the fibula. She made a notation in the chart, and then clicked off the light screen. It had taken her fifteen minutes to do that simple task.

But she couldn’t help it, her mind was filled with thoughts of Raymond. For the last few days all she thought about was him and his marriage proposal. She had finally convinced herself that he wasn’t serious then he showed up at the chapel with a diamond the size of a subway car.

Maxine came up and sat down beside her. “I heard an interesting rumor this evening.” When Hope didn’t answer Maxine continued, “Hugh’s son, Nolan, just settled a malpractice suit out of court. Seems young doctor Wescott was cited by the California Medical Board for wrongful death and gross negligence.”

Hope wasn’t at all surprised. She always knew that he wasn’t a good doctor. She was just sorry that someone had to suffer for his incompetence.

“It’s also out that he was once married to someone on our ER staff. You.”

The cat had been let out of the bag. “Yes, Nolan and I were married for eighteen months. We got married right out of medical school.”

“Everyone’s stunned that Hugh is your father-in-law.”

“Ex-father-in-law,” Hope said emphatically.

“That really explains a lot.”

“Explains what?”

“The animosity and the resentment.”

“I guess it was pretty obvious?”

“Oh, please, you could cut the hostility with a butter knife.”

“That was us, one dysfunctional family.”

“I also heard that Nolan is coming here to practice.”

That got the reaction Maxine expected. “Here where?”

“Hugh was in meetings all day to have Barclay Med hire him in administration services.”

“There goes the neighborhood.”

Maxine walked away laughing.

Hope kicked her chair back and spun the chair several times. Scott walked by, looked at her sternly, and then kept walking. Hope delved back into her reports. Ten minutes later Maxine came back and stood by her side. “Whatever it is, I don’t want to hear it,” Hope said before Maxine could open her mouth. She’d had enough bad news for one day. Maxine didn’t budge. She looked up as Maxine sat down beside her. She smiled broadly.

Hope looked at Maxine, and then took a double take. Maxine was smiling. There weren’t a lot of things to cause Maxine to smile, so when she did everyone took notice.

Hope looked at her watch. “I have one hour left on shift. I’m afraid to even ask,” hope said.

“Leanne Jackson is here.”

Hope moaned inwardly and buried her face in her hands. “Not again, she’s only been discharged a few weeks.” Hope was in the middle of her shift so the last thing she wanted to deal with was a battered woman. Suddenly Hope looked up. “How bad is she?” Maxine smiled. Hope realized that Maxine hadn’t used her usual euphemism. And more importantly, she seemed actually pleased to deliver the news of Leanne’s arrival. Hope looked at her suspiciously. “Why are you smiling?”

“Mrs. Jackson would like a moment of your time.”

“Mrs. Jackson?” Hope winced. She’d never heard Maxine refer to Leanne as anything other than
frequent flyer
.

“She’s in one.”

“I’ll be right there. I have to take care of a hairline fracture in seven.”

“I’ll take care of seven. You need to get to one now, before she changes her mind.”

The cryptic remark was more bewildering than confusing.

“What are you talking about?” Hope asked standing up.

“Just go to one.” Maxine reached down, grabbed the X-ray and chart and headed to examining room seven.

Hope went to one and curiously opened the door. She had no idea what to expect. She peered into the room. The lights were dim. She looked around. Not seeing anyone sitting on the table she turned to leave then caught a glimpse of someone sitting in the back corner. “Leanne?”

“Dr. Adams?”

Hope opened the door wider and stepped inside. She pulled her stethoscope from around her neck, folded it and put it in her pocket. “What can I do for you?”

“You said that you’d help me.”

Hope walked over and sat in the chair next to the visibly broken woman. “Are you in pain?”

“No.”

“Do you want to tell me what’s going on?”

Leanne sat quietly for a long time. She stared out into the distant seeing things only she could see. For the first time in a long time she was at peace. She sat still soaking up the harmonious quiet.

“Leanne? How can I help you?”

“I…I…I left him,” she stuttered bravely. “I need a shelter or something, someplace to stay.” A tear slowly crept down her face as the enormity of her decision became clear. “You said I could come to you when I was ready. I’m ready. I need help.”

Hope sank back into the chair. She reached over and placed her hands on top of Leanne’s. A tear rolled down the side of her face. She was overjoyed by Leanne’s bravery.

“I can have someone from Women’s Intervention come down to meet you and take you upstairs.” Leanne instantly hesitated and backed up. Her fearful expression broke Hope’s heart. “Or,” she pause a moment, “would it be okay if I went with you to Women’s Intervention and stayed for a while?” Leanne nodded her head nervously. Hope smiled and took her hand. “Come on, let’s get you safe.” Together they walked to the crisis intervention center on the next floor up.

Since visiting hours had ended hours earlier, the hospital halls were practically empty except for medical and custodian staff. Hope made small talk as they took the elevator up. As the doors opened Leanne jumped seeing a man dressed in a blue work uniform attempt to get on the elevator unaware that they were getting off. Hope placed her arm around Leanne’s shoulder and steered her forward.

“It’s okay,” she muttered into Leanne’s ear. “Hi Angelo, how’s your wife?” she said aloud to the confused looking electrician.

“Hey Dr. Adams. She’s getting bigger and bigger. They say no twins this time, but I don’t know. I’ll tell her that you asked for her. Be careful down the hall, I need to put in a couple of new fluorescent bulbs.”

“Thanks Angelo.” The elevator door closed as Hope and Leanne walked down the hall. Hope explained that Angelo and his wife, who had already had two sets of twins, were expecting another child. Leanne actually smiled when Hope mentioned that he had started to raise money for their education from the staff.

Hope stopped at a closed door with a small plaque on the wall that read,
Intervention Services
. “Shall we?”

Leanne nodded. So Hope opened the door and they stepped inside. Several woman milling around glanced up when Hope entered.

“Is Doctor Murray here?”

“I’m here,” she called from the back office. “Hope? Is that you?” She asked as she came around the side of the partition. She smiled heartily until she saw the terror in Leanne’s face. She also saw the victory in Hope’s. Maxine called. “Come on back.”

The three women walked to the office. “Please have a seat.” Leanne sat as Hope stood by her side.

“Dr. Murray, this is Leanne Jackson. She would like to seek shelter in a woman’s center as soon as possible.”

Both doctors smiled and nodded the victory of Leanne’s newly rediscovered freedom. “Hello Mrs. Jackson.”

“Hi, Dr. Murray,” she said timidly.

“Please call my Charlene. May I call you Leanne?” She nodded. “Good.” Charlene took a seat next to Leanne on the comfortable sofa. She smiled welcoming easing Leanne’s fears. “First of all Leanne. Would you prefer to stay with your family or at a friend’s house?”

“I don’t have any family and I don’t have any friends. Lamont saw to that.”

“Well you do now honey, you do now. Let’s talk a bit and get to know each other. I’ll start if you’d prefer.” Leanne nodded again. “Okay, first of all I want you to know that I know and understand your pain. I know exactly what you’ve been going through and I know what you’re feeling right now. I was right where you are not too long ago.”

Leanne seemed to brighten when she realized that she wasn’t alone in her suffering. Charlene continued with her story as Leanne listened with open emotion.

After ten minutes or so Hope excused herself and quietly left the room. She’d just closed the door when she heard a great deluged of joyful unused tears begin to flow. Leanne was welcomed with open arms to a safe place where she could be cared for, protected, and have her spirit healed.

As Hope returned to the ER, her thoughts centered on her mother’s pain and the suffering she endured for so long. In silent reflection she prayed that peace had finally found it’ way into her heart as her soul rested in final freedom.

The sadness of knowing that there were women all over this world who were in the midst of this horror prompted her to quicken her step. With purpose and determination, Hope began to realize her calling.

Hope pushed through the ER doors greeted by shouting and fighting. The tirade of obscenities instantly turned in her direction.

Lamont Jackson was livid and the simple victorious smile on Hope’s face told him what he had already suspected. Leanne was here and Hope knew where she was.

“Where is she?” he yelled and pointing across the room as soon as he saw Hope enter the area. “What did you tell her?”

“Get him out of here now!” Scott instructed. The security guards, who had recently arrived, instantly jumped into action. They blocked him, grabbed his arms and tried to restrict his assault. They grabbed him back and held him securely. But his aggressive strength propelled him forward with all three guards in tow.

“I want to see my wife now!” Fowl mouthed and belligerent, he screamed as the three guards physically restrained him and dragged him from the treatment room. “You can’t keep me from her. Where is she? I know she’s here. Leanne?” He roared at the top of his lungs. “Leanne?”

“I’ll be back,” he screamed, then pointed across the room to Hope. “I’ll get you. I warned you to stay out of my business.”

As the doors solidly closed behind him, the echoed sound of his taunts and threats still drifted in the fowled air. Everyone turned to look at Hope. Her expression was that of disgust and exhaustion. She was just plain tired of abuse, threats and fear. She walked over to the nurses’ station as everything slowly began to get back to normal.

Chapter Twenty-five

The graveyard shifts were getting more strenuous, or maybe they just seemed like it. Hope stood at her locker after slamming the door close. She collapsed down on the sofa and tied her sneakers. She sat back and looked across the room at the small space. The walls, lined with blue painted lockers on one side and a single barred window on the other. They seemed to close in on her.

Each day became harder and longer made even worst by Raymond’s absence in her life.
This is ridiculous
, she bemoaned. She gathered her belongings and passed through the empty halls with one destination in mind.

She waited a split second before the automatic door opened with the familiar swoosh. She looked up at the musty sky. It was early, not quite dark, yet past dusk. The city was alive, preparing for the exciting evening ahead. It was the weekend and life in the Big Apple was filled with thrills. Everything was as it would be. But in the ER, nothing was ever as it should be.