One Sure Thing (Mamma Lou Matchmaker Series) (6 page)

“Yes, just overnight. Is that a problem?”

“No. I don’t mind staying.”

“Good. I’ll have someone from admitting come with the necessary forms. An orderly will escort you to your room as soon as one is available and the paperwork is complete.”

“I didn’t pack anything.”

“No problem. A nurse will have a hospital gown once you get to your room. And since you’ll probably only be staying overnight I wouldn’t worry about going home and getting anything. We’ll have everything you need for your stay already in the room.”

Louise considered her answer. An overnight stay was a start but she would definitely need more time. “What happens if I have pains after I leave here tomorrow?”

“As I said, there’s nothing to be overly concerned about. I don’t foresee any major problems. And, unless you’re experiencing further discomfort, you’ll be released tomorrow.”

“But, if I’m feeling poorly you’ll keep me a few more days?”

“Yes of course, but I seriously don’t foresee that happening.” Hope scanned the chart one last time and added a brief notation. “I see you have your personal physician listed, a Dr. Raymond Gates.”

“Yes, my grandson.”

“Do you have the phone number or any way to contact your primary doctor?”

“I’ve already called Raymond,” Colonel Wheeler interjected still holding Louise’s hand. “He was at Haven House. He’s on his way.”

“I don’t believe I recognize the name. Is he local?"

“Yes, he practices in Manhattan."

“Fine, I’ll make sure that someone is available as soon as Dr. Gates calls. If not, I’ll contact him later.”

Instantly, as if a tornado swirled in, the privacy curtains surrounding the bed blew open and a man dressed in jeans and white shirt standing over six-feet tall breezed in. “Don’t bother,” the deep baritone voice interrupted the hushed tones in the exam room like an ax cutting through wood. “He’s already here.”

Chapter Four

Few things witnessed in the Golden Heart Medical Center ER had ever taken Hope by surprise. Yet to her complete astonishment, one magnificent sight had just burst through the curtains of her patient’s room. Dr. Raymond Gates.

Without saying a single word he looked around for a few seconds to assess the situation. After a brief nod of acknowledgement to Colonel Wheeler, he moved straight to the bed and stood by Louise’s side. He lovingly picked up her hand and engulfed it within his gentle embrace. Leaning down to eye-level, he stroked her forehead with his thumb while he gently moved a few loose silver stands to the side. With heartfelt and soulful devotion they communicated with their eyes. She assured him that she was fine and he assured her that he would make certain of it. The smile she bestowed upon him was priceless.

He looked over to the empty bed beside Louise then took a few moments to scan the rest of the room. The look of condescension in his eyes was evident.

Hope stood completely flabbergasted by the Dr. Raymond Gates’ arrogance. It wasn’t until a few seconds later did she realize that she’d actually been standing there holding her breath the entire time.

Then, without missing a beat and as smooth as silk on a gentle summer’s breeze he slipped the chart from Hope’s fingers and began scanning the pages.

“Who’s running this?”

“Excuse me, who are you?” Hope asked as she pulled the chart from his grasp and placed it in its pouch at the foot of the bed.

“I want a private room immediately,” Raymond demanded, as he moved directly to the foot of the bed. And with way too much familiarity, he leaned around Hope’s waist and took the chart again. After taking a second to scan the vitals he moved back to Louise’s side and observed the beeping monitors. He reached down and picked up Louise’s hand, rubbed his thumb gently over it then smiled assuredly. “Hi sweetheart, how are you feeling?”

Louise smiled brightly and nodded weakly. “Better, much better, thanks to, Dr. Adams here.” She sighed heavily with just enough dramatic flair to raise Hope’s brow with curiosity. “I think that maybe the trip to the Botanical Garden Flower Show yesterday, the all-day shopping at the African Bazaar, plus the dinner at Dennis’s restaurant last night, might have been a bit too much for me.”

Raymond picked up her other hand. “Mamma Lou, you have to learn to slow down. You’ve been overdoing it. You have to promise to take better care of yourself.”

Louise held her head up. Her clear eyes smiled lovingly at her grandson. “Yes, I know, I promise.”

Raymond nodded his reply then instantly went back to arrogant-doctor mode. He continued reading the neatly printed notes on the chart. He frowned. “Your blood pressure’s elevated. Have you been taking your medication Mamma Lou?”

“Every day, I make sure of it, that and the cholesterol medication,” Colonel Wheeler added affirmatively.

“Are you being admitted?”

“Yes,” Louise answered.

“Excuse me?” Hope said moving closer to the bed, pulling the chart from his hands a second time. Raymond looked up, and seemingly for the first time noticed that they were not alone in the room.

He looked at the lanyard and nametag hanging from around her neck. “And you are?” Raymond asked with sincere interest. A sly smile tipped his full lips.

“
I
am Dr. Adams, the attending physician, and whoever you are, you need to leave now.”

Louise spoke up immediately, “Dr. Adams, this is my grandson, Dr. Raymond Gates. He’s my personal physician.”

Hope grimaced and tried to be diplomatic. “Doctor,” she nodded through gritted teeth. “As a courtesy, I’ll be happy to have an orderly show you to the waiting room or the doctor’s lounge. But you need to leave this room,
now
.”

With complete unwavering confidence, Raymond looked at Hope as if she’d lost her mind-dismissing her as if she were an annoying gnat. He focused his attention back to his grandmother. “That won’t be necessary doctor. What tests have you ordered so far?” He reached for the chart again. Hope stepped back blocking his attempt.

“I’m not accustomed to having someone review my patient’s medical records. As a family member you are welcome to wait in the family waiting room. As a doctor you are welcome to wait in the doctor’s lounge. And that’s it. I’ll be in shortly to update you with the results of our tests.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

“I’m afraid you have no alternative.”

Suddenly Raymond laughed at the notion of being put out of his grandmother’s hospital room. “You are joking right?”

Hope placed her fist firmly on her hip and then tilted her head slightly. Being laughed at was the quickest way to get on her bad side. “Sir, you are interfering with the health and welfare of my patient and I
will
have you removed by security if necessary.”

Raymond laughed again. This time Colonel Wheeler lowered his head and chuckled. Louise pulled at Raymond’s hand to get his attention. “Raymond, dear, why don’t you and Otis wait outside?” She looked over at a fuming Hope, “I’m sure Dr. Adams will be out in no time to speak with you.”

Raymond held his hand up to cut short his grandmother’s remarks as he glared at Hope. “Doctor, I’m going to tell you how this is going to work.
I
am now the primary physician here. Either you can work with me or not at all, your choice. Is that understood?”

Hope smiled for the first time since Raymond had entered the exam room. “Now, doctor, let me to tell
you
how this is going to work.” She stepped up to his face. “You will quietly leave this area now, allow me to do my job and patiently wait in the designated area, end of discussion. Is
that
understood?” Her head rolled for added emphasis.

“You have no idea who I am do you,” he looked at her in complete disbelief. His eyes sparked with a mischievous amusing glint.

“And you doctor obviously have no idea who I am. I am the attending physician and at the moment your worst enemy.”

Eye to eye, they stood at an impasse. Both refused to back down. The intense moment lasted too long as each stared at the others image. Interrupted by the sound of an intercom page, Hope looked away almost relieved to have the spell of Raymond’s hazel eyes broken.

Otis looked at Louise, whose expression was that of pure self-satisfaction. A questioning expression sparked his eyes. He’d seen that look before. It was the same smile he’d seen just six months ago when her other grandson, Tony married Madison Evans.

Suddenly, the realization that she had other patients in need of her attention occurred to Hope. She needed to end this standoff now. “Dr. Gates, a moment of your time, please,” she requested as diplomatically as she could.

Raymond, still amused, turned to her. Her expression was so placid and so yielding. He couldn’t refuse. “Yes, of course doctor,” he agreed readily. “I’ll be delighted.”

Louise reached up and grasped Raymond’s arm questioningly. Raymond turned back to Louise. He bent down and kissed her cheek whispering, “Don’t worry. You’ll be fine,” he winked at her and touched her cheek lovingly.

Louise held onto his hand and squeezed it slightly, “Be nice,” she warned in a loud whisper.

Raymond looked genuinely surprised by her concern, “I’m always nice.” Louise gave him a warning glare. Raymond’s dimples danced across his face. He knew her expression all too well and relented. “I will, I promise.”

Seconds later they left the room together. Hope led the way and for the first time noticed the attentive eyes of the nurses at the station looking her way. Apparently, she wasn’t the only one wowed by Dr. Raymond Gates’ handsome appearance. She looked around to find a discreet corner to have a civilized discussion, but quickly realized that it would be impossible with all eyes still trained in their direction.

Abruptly she turned to Raymond. “We’ll have more privacy in one of the quiet rooms. Smiling joyously Raymond nodded curtly and waited for her to lead the way. Hope ushered him through the corridor past admissions and triage. Eyes followed the two as Raymond strolled casually down the hall, her in hospital scrubs and him in a classic casual designer attire.

After a few turns they arrived in front of a door with its shade pulled down. Hope paused, knocked, opened the door slightly and peered inside. Finding it empty, she turned and held the door open for Raymond. “In here.”

Raymond took the weight of the door and with gentlemanly grace, waved for her to enter first. She did. Then with questionable thoughts and a raised brow of interest, he watched the slight sway of her hips against the white medical jacket. Before she turned he jauntily walked in and took a seat on the arm of a nearby sofa as she went to stand by the door. He looked around at the lifeless still life prints, the drab putty colored walls and the brown tweed furniture. It was the typical quiet room decor, designed as a place for family members of seriously ill patients to relax.

Hope stayed at the door, her back turned for fear that if she faced him she’d rip his smiling face off. Patiently she counted to ten then to twenty. With each ascending number she willed the tension in her neck and shoulders to dissolve. She was well on her way to thirty-five when Raymond spoke.

“Doctor,” he began with the condescending tone that irked her, “in the future, please refrain from frightening patients. That’s a very dear woman to me in there. I take exception to her discomfort by your unprofessional bedside manner.”

Unable to hold her temper any longer, Hope responded. “Then maybe you should have thought about that before barging into
my
examination room with
my
patient and second guessing
my
diagnosis. I don’t know where you studied medicine but, where I studied, physicians don’t behave like assholes toward other physicians. I’m sure you’re reasonably competent in you field, but this is my ER and I run it how I see fit.” Raymond opened his mouth to respond, but Hope promptly threw her hand up to still him.