Nursing in Northlake (At the Altar Book 9) Read online

  “I’ll grab something.”

  “Okay. See you then.” Heidi decided to drive through Taco Bueno on her way to her apartment. It was easier than worrying about cooking for one person.

  She checked on the downstairs neighbor before going up. “Miss Molly! How are you feeling?” Heidi asked in a loud voice, hoping Miss Molly would be able to hear her.

  “I’m fine. Don’t shout. I have my hearing aids in.”

  Heidi knew from experience the older woman would have them shut off in a minute or two. “Do you need anything?”

  “I spilled orange juice this morning, and I’m having a devil of a time getting it cleaned up.”

  Heidi smiled. “I’ll clean it up. You sit down and tell me about your shows.” Miss Molly was a soap opera addict, and her favorite topic of conversation was the lives of the people in her shows. Heidi didn’t mind listening while she helped the older woman.

  When she finished mopping, and Miss Molly finished telling her about her favorite couples, she asked, “Is there anything else you need? I got married over the weekend, so I won’t be living upstairs anymore, but you have my phone number, right? I can come over any evening you need me.”

  Miss Molly frowned. “You got married? Why didn’t I get to meet your young man first?”

  Heidi wasn’t about to explain how the wedding had come about. “It happened too fast. My parents didn’t get to meet him ‘til after the wedding either!”

  “Well that’s all right then.”

  Heidi pulled Miss Molly’s favorite afghan off the back of the couch and draped it over her lap, knowing from experience she would decide she was freezing in five minutes. “I’m going to be in my apartment for a few minutes getting some more clothes, so if you need me, let me know. I’m just going to be living up the road in Southlake, so you can call me.”

  “I will. My rotten kids wouldn’t come if I called them. I need someone to look out for me now that I’m an old woman.”

  “You know I love you as much as I love my own grandmother. I’m here if you need me, Miss Molly!”

  The older woman waved her away as she settled in to watch another of her favorite shows.

  Heidi hurried up the stairs, got enough clothes for the week and a few other things she thought she might want, and then packed it all into her car. She beat Slade home, but not by much.

  He found her in the closet in the master bedroom, hanging her scrubs beside his. He obviously wore green scrubs, but nurses at the nursing home wore pink scrubs. At least she’d be able to tell them apart.

  “There’s my wife.”

  Heidi turned to him, lifting her face for his kiss. She was surprised by how easily she was settling into married life with this man—this doctor. “You found me!”

  He grinned. “How was work today?”

  She smiled as she related the story of Mrs. McPherson’s introduction to Rhonda. He laughed, a grin lighting up his face. “That’s hilarious!”

  “How was your emergency c-section?” Heidi asked.

  “It was good. Mother and baby are fine. Father was still a little shaken up when I left the hospital, but that’s to be expected. They always hate when we have to do a c-section.”

  “You ate?”

  He nodded. “I grabbed something in the hospital cafeteria. I was hungry. What did you have?”

  “Taco Bueno.”

  “Really? You seem more like a Wendy’s salad type of girl.”

  She laughed at that. “Trust me. If I’m fast-fooding, I’m doing Taco Bueno. It’s my absolute favorite.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind!”

  “And you? What’s your fast food of choice?”

  He shrugged. “Not Taco Bueno. Probably Five Guys if I have to have fast food. I prefer to steer clear.”

  “But you’ll eat hospital cafeteria food?”

  “Oh yeah. The cafeteria at the hospital where I do my deliveries is healthy, believe it or not. Really good food.”

  “I’ll take your word for it!”

  He laughed. “You do that. Someday you’ll have to come and see for yourself.”

  “Umm…I’m never going to willingly eat hospital cafeteria food. People don’t do that!” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she remembered that her hairdresser had told her about her father taking her to a hospital cafeteria for lunch, because he loved the food so much. “Okay, I know a few people do, but normal people don’t!”

  He laughed. “I can agree with that! I promise I won’t take you there on a date night.”

  “I really appreciate that! Where will you take me on a date night?” she asked, walking out of the closet and shutting off the light.

  “I was thinking this Friday we could go to a country bar I know where there’s a mechanical bull, and they always have great bands. I want to show you how good I am on the bull, since you obviously don't believe me.”

  Heidi rolled her eyes. “Fine. You’re great on a bull. I do love country dancing, though, so I’m more than willing to go.”

  He grabbed her hand and pulled her against him. “You will not believe how good I am until you see it. Trust me.”

  She shook her head. “Whatever.”

  He leaned down and kissed her, his lips insistent on hers. “I think it’s been a really long day, and it’s time for bed.”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him back. “You know…sleep seems like just the thing. I’ll go brush my teeth!”

  He watched her walk away with a smile on his face. She may not like doctors much, but she wasn’t letting it interfere with their relationship. He just hoped it would stay that way.

  He was getting undressed when his phone rang, and he groaned, knowing immediately who it was. It was time to make love to his wife and create a baby of his own, not run off and deliver someone else’s. “Hello?”

  “Dr. Henderson, one of your patients just came in. She’s six months pregnant, and her blood pressure is two hundred over one-seventy-seven.”

  He sighed. “I’m on my way.” Most of the time he loved his job, but when it kept him from making love to his beautiful wife, he wasn’t as pleased with it.

  Heidi came out of the bathroom wearing a slinky nightgown, similar to the one she’d worn on their wedding night. “What’s the look on your face about?” she asked, obviously confused.

  He frowned. “The look is grumpiness. I want to stay here and play newlywed games with you, but I just got called into the hospital. One of my patients is having blood pressure issues. She’s not due for another three months, so I need to get in there.”

  Heidi sighed. “I’d say I’ll wait up, but the truth is I won’t. I’m tired.” She walked to him and hugged him, kissing him quickly. “Wake me up when you get home if it’s not too terribly late.”

  Slade shook his head. “I’m not going to wake you. You sleep. We’ll figure all this out as we go along.”

  She nodded, hugging him one last time before he left. “Be safe.”

  “I will. If I get too tired, I keep a couple sets of scrubs at the hospital and I can crash there if necessary.”

  “Hopefully I’ll see you in the morning then.” As Heidi watched him go, she rubbed the back of her neck. A doctor had to take care of his patients, which sometimes meant long hours. She couldn’t get annoyed when he went off to do his job any more than she would put up with him being annoyed when she had to go in on her day off to cover for someone else.

  It was the way of the medical profession, and they could both hate it all they wanted, but it wasn’t going to change. They would always be at the mercy of other people’s medical emergencies.

  She grabbed her iPad and tucked herself into bed, tapping on Netflix to watch one of her favorite shows. She was too tired to read and needed something mindless to do to help her wind down and get ready for sleep. Making love with her husband was her first choice, but he was on his way to the hospital. She’d watch her show instead.

  When the opening music for Lazy Love c
ame on, she sighed contentedly. A little bit of kissing between Jo and Dylan and her life would feel like it was back to where it should be. She’d just have to remember to pick a show where Dylan didn’t have a medical emergency of his own.

  Chapter Five

  It was almost midnight when Slade got back home and slid into bed beside Heidi. He wrapped his arm around her waist and snuggled close, closing his eyes immediately. It was nice to have someone to hold while he slept, even when they couldn’t make love.

  Heidi rolled on her side facing him, moving closer in her sleep. He smiled and kissed her forehead. Being married was definitely wonderful. He just hoped she could get past her hatred for doctors.

  *****

  After lunch the next day, Heidi walked into her office, already tired. She was working extra hours so one of the other nurses would take her shift Friday. She had several things she needed to get done before she could get everything moved to the house she was sharing with Slade. Most were just phone calls, but she didn’t want to waste her weekend with him making them.

  On her desk was the biggest bouquet of roses she’d ever seen. She leaned down and sniffed, the scent filling the nostrils. The card simply read, “Sorry to run out on you last night. Can’t stop thinking of you. Slade.”

  Heidi grinned, picking up the entire bouquet and setting it on a shelf where she could see it from her desk. Slade was shaping up to be a good husband. Who’d have thought a doctor had it in him?

  When it was time for her to have dinner, she was in her office doing some of the paperwork that never seemed to end. She rubbed her eyes, wishing she could just go home, but she needed to stay for at least another hour or two. She was hungry, though, and needed to eat something. She had forgotten to pack an extra lunch, and she wasn’t about to venture into the cafeteria there. The food wasn’t worth eating.

  She thought about ordering a pizza, making a face. It didn’t really sound good, but that was the only place that would deliver, and she didn’t want to have to leave to get anything. That would delay her even more.

  She looked up at a knock on the door, fully expecting it to be one of her nurses or CNAs with a question for her. Instead, her heart jumped into her throat as Slade stood in front of her, a Taco Bueno bag in his outstretched hand.

  “You are the most wonderful husband who has ever lived,” she said, her eyes on the bag.

  He laughed. “Are you telling me that or your tacos?”

  “You, but gimme tacos!”

  “You really do love the things, don’t you?”

  “They’re my crack!”

  Slade walked to her and handed her the bag, watching as she grabbed it, digging through for the tacos. He took the empty chair across from her, pulling out a Whataburger sack.

  She wrinkled her nose. “Whataburger? And you had the nerve to insult Taco Bueno?”

  “I like their burgers.”

  “You would.” She bit into the first taco and sighed happily. “You saved my life! I was just thinking about ordering a pizza, but I didn’t want a pizza.”

  “So I saved your life?”

  Heidi nodded. “It was a noble gesture.” She started to add that she’d be forever in his debt, but she didn’t want him to get a big head.

  “Obviously.” He bit into his burger, wishing he’d thought to get drinks. “Is there a vending machine around here?”

  She nodded. “In the staff break room. What do you want? I’ll get a drink for each of us.” She stood, digging change out of a little cup she kept quarters in.

  “Coke is fine.”

  Heidi nodded. “I’ll get it.”

  Slade stood up. “Let me walk with you. I’d like to see where you work.”

  “Just make sure you’re nice to my nurses. I don’t put up with any rude doctors in my facility.”

  He casually draped his arm around her shoulder. “Haven’t I convinced you yet that I’m a nice doctor?”

  She shrugged. “Nope. I don’t know that anyone can convince me of that.”

  “Heidi!” The call came from one of CNAs. “I need you!”

  Heidi didn’t ask any questions as she turned on her heel and jogged down the hall. She wasn’t even aware that Slade was right behind her. “What’s wrong?”

  “Mr. Jones swallowed the lid of his water bottle again, and I think it’s stuck in his windpipe!”

  Heidi hurried around behind the man, whose face was turning blue. “Did you try the Heimlich?” she asked, carefully placing her hands in position to do so. Mr. Jones was always putting things he shouldn’t into his mouth. He had advanced dementia, and they tried to keep things that were small out of his reach, but it didn’t always work. She tried two compressions, but nothing happened. “Mr. Jones!”

  Slade jumped into action. “Let me try. While I’m working on him, someone get me a straw and a scalpel.”

  Heidi nodded to the CNA who ran to do as ordered. She stood helplessly while Slade tried the same maneuver she’d just used. She hoped it wouldn’t come to a tracheotomy!

  When he constricted the man the second time, the white lid popped out of his mouth and Mr. Jones gasped for air. Heidi stepped forward. “Mr. Jones, you know you’re not supposed to put things in your mouth.”

  With Slade’s help, she got him onto his bed, and she grabbed the stethoscope draped around her neck and listened to his chest. Her own heart was still racing from the scare. She removed the stethoscope and sat beside him on the edge of his bed. “Are you all right, Mr. Jones?”

  He nodded, coughing. “I’m okay.”

  Heidi was relieved, and her eyes met Slade’s. She was thrilled he’d been there. Jenni, the CNA hurried back into the room with a knife and a straw. “I didn’t know where to find a scalpel, so I just got a knife from the kitchen.”

  “Good thinking, Jenni. I’m happy to say we didn’t need either one.” Heidi nodded at Slade. “That’s my husband, Dr. Slade Henderson.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Dr. Henderson.” Jenni looked back at Heidi. “Of all the nurses in all the land, you’re the one I would have called least likely to marry a doctor.”

  Heidi shrugged. “This one’s kind of special.”

  Jenni nodded. “Seems like it. You go have fun with him while I see to Mr. Jones. No more water bottles, Mr. Jones.”

  Heidi nodded. “I want that noted on his chart. No more water bottles in his room at all. How did he get hold of one?”

  “His daughter came to visit, and she had one. She left it on the nightstand. You know how fast he is!”

  “I do know how fast he is.” Heidi squatted in front of the man so she was looking him in the eye. “No more swallowing things. Okay?”

  Mr. Jones nodded. “Okay.”

  Heidi got back to her feet, patting Jenni’s arm on her way out, taking the knife and the straw from her to return to the kitchen on her way. Mr. Jones would forget all about the conversation in a minute. “I’ll write up the incident report, all except the part I didn’t see. You can fill that in when I’m done.”

  “I will.”

  Heidi walked back into the hall, still a little frazzled. “I’m glad you were here.”

  Slade nodded. “Me too. Can you enforce his visitors not drinking out of water bottles in his room?”

  Heidi shrugged. “I’m sure going to try. This isn’t the first time that’s happened.” She sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. “How’s your patient from last night?”

  He frowned. “I’m keeping her in the hospital for a few days. She’s over forty, and the pregnancy was an IVF pregnancy, so I’m not terribly surprised by the pre-eclampsia, but it doesn’t make it any easier on her. We need to keep that baby cooking for as long as we can.”

  Heidi shook her head. “Is it her first?”

  “It is. They didn’t start trying until she was thirty-five, and then didn’t bother seeking help until she was thirty-eight. Infertility takes a long time to diagnose and treat properly. I wish she’d have tried sooner.”

 
She understood completely. “Like when she was thirty and newly married to a hot doctor?”

  “Well, her husband’s not a doctor, but if you’re referring to me, definitely.” He winked at her.

  “Wait here. I’m going to put this in the kitchen, and then we’ll go to the break room.” She hurried in and left the knife and straw, which was still wrapped, before going back to join him. “Now we can go get our drinks.”

  When they got back into her office, the first thing she noticed was the bouquet of flowers sitting on the shelf. “Thank you for the flowers. They made my day.”

  He grinned. “You like them?”

  “Of course, I do! And you never have to apologize about going to see a patient. Of all the things I understand, that’s at the top of the list. We’re both professionals, and work comes first.”

  He sat down and took another bite of his burger. “It’s not hot.”

  Heidi laughed. “When was the last time you ate a hot meal?”

  “Oh, I eat them hot a lot,” he told her. “I eat them so fast they don’t have time to get cold.”

  She sighed. “Sounds like a medical professional to me.” She pushed her paperwork to the center of her desk as she unwrapped her second taco. “What made you decide to surprise me with tacos? Not that I’m complaining!”

  He grinned. “Oh, I know you’re not. You were too happy to see those tacos to complain. Why, it could make a man feel neglected. He surprised his new wife with tacos, and she ignores him for food!”

  She blew him a kiss as she took another bite.

  “I decided to surprise you because I missed you,” he answered simply, wondering if she’d believe him.

  She smiled, her face softening. “You sure do know all the right things to say to catch my attention,” she said with a grin. She reached over and stole one of his fries. “Thanks.”

  He shook his head. “Does being married mean I never get to eat all my own fries again?”

  Heidi thought about it for a moment before nodding. “It probably does!”

  “What was I thinking?”

  She shrugged. “I’m not complaining.” And she realized she wasn’t. She didn’t know why it felt like he was so different from other doctors, but it did. She needed to remember who he was, and not let herself fall in love with him. When a tiny voice whispered that it was too late, she chose to ignore it. Why would she listen to it when it was saying something she really didn’t want to hear?