One Sure Thing (Mamma Lou Matchmaker Series) (7 page)

“I do not appreciate your interference and in the future as long as I am in this hospital, and on call performing my duties as a trained medical professional, I suggest you stay as far away from me as possible. Is that clear?”

Before he could answer she began again.

“This is not your hospital and she is not your patient. I realize that Mrs. Gates is a relative and therefore your concern is genuine, but that does not give you the right to burst into my exam and take over.”

A cocky smile tugged at the corners of his full lips. He had just been reprimanded plain and simple. Hope ignored his smirk and continued. “I will however, allow you to visit your ‘Mamma Lou’ during visiting hours.  But as for her medical care, leave it up to the real professionals. I will not tolerate your interference.”

“Am I to understand that you are refusing my input?”

“You need to check your prescribed dosage, I think it may be too strong, ‘cause you’re just not getting it,” she said sarcastically. “You must have been number one in your med school class. Yes doctor, I am refusing your input. I don’t want to hear from you. I don’t need, nor want your help. Got it?”

“You can’t be serious.”

“As a heart attack,” she assured him.

“Then I’m afraid that you and I are going to have a problem. Because I don’t intend to relinquish my grandmother’s heath to anyone,” Raymond politely assured her.

She laughed openly, “You must be kidding.” She was just about to add more when her pager rang. She immediately unclipped it from her pocket and looked at the message and number. She clipped it back in place and began walking back toward the door, then she turned back to face him. She paused to stare up into Raymond’s heavenly hazel eyes. “Stay out of my way Gates,” she warned then jerked open the door and marched out.

***

“I think you might have gone too far this time Louise,” Colonel Wheeler said as he neared her side and took her hand. “Those two look like they’re about to do serious battle.”

Louise smiled. “They’ll be fine,” she assured him.

Colonel Wheeler shook his head in disagreement. “Fine, my dear, is when you respectfully disagree. Those two are ready to go to war. I’ve seen that same look in men under my command in two wars, a peacekeeping mission and several covert operations. That’s one furious lady. I think you might have chosen someone a bit more easy-going.”

“For Raymond? Nah, heavens no. He’s a big boy. Besides, he’s been getting too big for his britches lately, he needs to be knocked down a few pegs.”

Colonel Wheeler continued to shake his head. “That’s exactly what I’m afraid of.”

Louise thought for a moment then smiled, perhaps conflict was inevitable. Raymond is a very strong willed man but, to her credit, Dr. Adams appeared to be able to hold her own. “No, dear,” she took his hand, “I have a feeling that this will work out just fine.”

“I hope you’re right.”

Louise smiled happily. “Aren’t I always.”

Otis kissed her forehead. “Yes dear, you are. But I have to warn you, don’t get your hopes up. This time it doesn’t look promising.”

“Trust me.”

Colonel Wheeler nodded doubtfully as he thought about Louise’s last matchmaking plan. She was right about her other grandson Tony and his wife Madison. Now those two were an impossible match. But, somehow Louise found a way and everything worked out. Wheeler leaned down and kissed her forehead again. That’s why he adored this very special woman. She had a heart of gold with just enough mischief in it to make his life interesting.

Suddenly the door opened.

Raymond angrily marched in. “That woman is impossible,” he declared, as Louise slyly looked at Wheeler. “How she successfully got through med school I have no idea. She must have gotten her degree on Riker’s Island or Alcatraz. She has the finesse of a storm trooper, the temperament of General Patton and the tact of a raging bull.”

Raymond paced the floor angrily continuing to rant. “Do you believe that she had the audacity to refuse my consultation on your case? Can you believe that? She wants me to sign in and out like some kind of...of...visitor.”  Louise looked at Wheeler. Her eyes twinkled.

Colonel Wheeler nodded his agreement and relented to her matchmaking mastery.
Yes
, he thought to himself,
she had done it again
. It was only a matter of time before Raymond would realize that he was a goner. But by then, it would be too late. Colonel Wheeler chuckled to himself and wondered how long it would take for Raymond to recognize that his cleverness at eluding his grandmother’s set-ups had been a complete waste of time. He had literally stormed right into her plan.

Chapter Five

Hope slammed the patient file on the nearest desk and plopped down in the nearest chair. She perched her elbows on the armrests, closed her eyes, then swirled the swivel chair around in several complete circles. The light-headed dizzy feeling instantly distracted her.

She’d just had another useless talk with her favorite frequent flyer patient. The conversation went around in circles much like the chair she was now spinning around in. It had been futile to point out the dangers of staying in an abusive relationship. She knew her patient put her life in jeopardy each time she went back home. Yet, instead of seeing the potential for disaster, she merely validated her husband’s brutal behavior. Hope shook her head dismayed as the pointless conversation rang in her mind.

“Mrs. Jackson, Leanne,” Hope softened her tone and continued patiently, “it’s very evident that your abrasions are not accidental or self-inflicted.”

Leanne ran her fingers through her limp mousy brown hair and looked away. She shifted her frail-looking body uncomfortably in the hospital bed. “I don’t understand,” she stammered and lowered the ice pack from her brow.

“I think you do.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she insisted as she pulled on the blood stained t-shirt nervously.

Hope reiterated slowly so as not to be misunderstood. “You didn’t have an accident as you claim, and you didn’t do this to yourself, and you didn’t fall down a flight of stairs.” She moved closer to the head of the bed and lowered her voice. “Mrs. Jackson, we’re here to help you. If there’s something you’d like to tell me, please, now is the time to speak up. I assure you, no one here will judge you. There are people here who will help you, protect you.”

“Nobody can help me,” Leanne muttered. Tears welled in her eyes and tumbled down her bruised cheek. She raised her cast wrapped around her arm to wipe her face. She winced at the resulting pain. Although the swelling had subsided considerably, the discoloration
around her eye could not be helped.

Leanne looked at the print on the far wall. It was of a log cabin surrounded by a dense forest at the base of snow-capped mountains. It was the most beautiful thing she’d seen in a long time. She cried in earnest. “He,” she rasped out tearfully. “He…”

“Take your time,” Hope encouraged her comfortingly.

“He,” she began again then paused and turned to look at Hope. Embarrassment and shame clouded her face. “I fell and hit my head on the doorknob.”

Hope, holding her breath, exhaled then nodded regretfully. “I see.”

“I can’t,” Leanne looked away hurriedly. “I fell down.”

“I understand,” Hope offered truthfully. “When you’re ready, someone will be here for you. I promise you that.”

Hope slowly turned away and opened the door to leave. Just before the latch clicked she heard the sobbing again as her patient continued whispering, “I can’t. I can’t.”

The memory of their conversation swirled and mingled into a colorless blur of hopelessness. She reached up and stroked the side of her face. Old memories of a forgotten past threatened to creep up. Frustrated, Hope spun the chair around again as her own childhood memories came in a flood of dark imagery.

“No!” It began as it always had. He was drunk, she was accessible. “Don’t, please don’t.” She wailed, pleading in vain as he continued to strike out. The large fist swung high into the endless night. It hovered a moment in recrimination. Then it fell, leveling solidly against the side of her face. The cries of torment wailed as two young girls huddled in the corner listening to the screams of anguish.

STOP IT! STOP IT! STOP IT! She repeated over and over again in the child’s desperate voice. She watched the fist raise a third, fourth, fifth time.

He was drunk, she was there.

“Stop it!” Hope yelled from across the room. Propelled by anger she lashed out in a whirlwind of tiny fists as she jumped onto his back. She held tightly as the bucking beast tossed her from side to side then across the room through the plate glass window.

She heard the voices as they shouted. Darkness engulfed her as she floated in cool white light.

Hope spun the chair around sending the memories back  where they belonged, back to the recesses of her childhood. Several nurses who’d been standing at the counter talking looked over briefly then immediately went back to their conversation. Hope spun the chair several more times before she heard the familiar throat clearing of Dr. Scott Wallace.

Scott had graduated at the top of his med school class, interned at Johns Hopkins, and did his residency here at Golden Heart. Yet, with all his renown, he had little sensitivity as far as doctors were concerned. In all his years as a physician, he had yet to learn that doctors were people too with the same pain as the people they try to help.

Scott, whose facial features rivaled a Disney character, was a large man with an even larger personality. Often referred to as Big Foot, he was hairy with huge bushy brows that moved in synch when he spoke. His keen piercing blue eye, ever watchful, saw and observed everything in a single glance.

The butt of many ER jokes and pranks, he was oblivious to most things. He was perfectly suited for his position, clinical, professional and detached. His only fault, as far as Maxine said, was his inability to loosen up.

Hope smiled. Divine justice would be to send him on a blind date with Maxine. That would definitely loosen him up.

“Surely, you can find better use of your time Dr. Adams,” he chastised firmly. “This is a hospital, not an amusement park.” Dropping an octave or two, he spoke with his usual deep purposeful commanding inflection made more pronounced by his pompous, self-righteous attitude. Hope opened her eyes and with great difficulty focused them on her colleague.

She looked at him and smiled menacingly. Her first instinct was to lash out, but the spinning had left her more unsteady than she first realized. She glared at him before a broad smile spread wide across her face. Remembering an old vaudevillian response, she cocked her head to the side and said, “Don’t call me Shirley.”

Giggles and chuckles arose from the nurses standing at their station nearby. Scott gaped in stunned surprise. He expected the usual sarcastic remark. He hadn’t expected a comedy routine.

Tiny gurgling sounds emanated as words choked in his throat. She grinned politely, spun the chair a final time before stopping with her legs neatly tucked under the desk. Unable to articulate his displeasure, Scott looked to the nurses fiercely. They instantly dispersed.

“Dr. Adams, your unprofessional behavior with your patient’s guest must be reported. Your voice could be heard all the way down the hall.” Hope remained silent.

“I’m afraid I have no alternative be to inform Hugh.”

“Whatever,” she mumbled as he marched away. She knew that another reprimand had just been added to her employment record. But at this point, it was the last thing she cared about.