I surrendered. “Fine, sore loser. You win. Whatever massages your ego.”
“I don’t care. I won.”
“Tell us then, how did your second appointment with Dr. Shepherd go?” My mom asked eagerly, relaxing into her husband’s arms.
“It went well. Apparently, I will be getting a nurse and a physiotherapist by Monday.” I explained calmly. I didn’t want to leave out any details.
“I’m not surprised. They are giving you extra care because you are a celebrity.” Lexie chipped in, not taking her eyes off the game.
“Lexie, that’s not how it works.” Mom countered, with a light laugh. “I have seen celebrities who were treated in the wards andnormal people per se, who got home care. It just depends on the severity of one’s condition.”
“Exactly, Mom. He said I didn’t need to go to the hospital all the time. Being attended to by an individual nurse and physiotherapist would ensure continuity of care and help them track my progress faster… something like that, I don’t remember how he put it.”
“Well, whatever works, is okay with us. Even if the nurse has to come live here, it would not be a problem. I just need you to get well.”
My eyes lit up at that statement. Imagining Licia Michaels having to live under the same roof with me made my heart leap.
“Come to think of it, dad. Did you know Licia is a nurse at the hospital?” I readjusted my sitting position. I had strained my legs, so it was beginning to hurt.
“Licia? Licia?” He tried remembering. “Oh, Licia Michaels.”
“Your high school, love,” my mom teased.
“Yes. I ran into her yesterday.”
“I doubt it was a pleasant meeting.”
“You bet it wasn’t, but then guess the amazing part?” I wasn’t deterred by how my meeting with Licia had turned out.
Lexie was the one who got the gist, “she is the nurse assigned to you?” Her eyes glistened with excitement.
I snapped my fingers, “exactly.”
“Just like in the movies.”
“Wow, that’s quite something. So, she accepted to be your nurse?”
I knew why he was trying to double-check. It wasn't out of place to ask, given that Licia and I hadn’t said as much as a ‘hello’ in the last twelve years.
“Not yet, dad, but Dr. Shepherd will coordinate them. He’s the Chief.”
“I would love to see your girlfriend again.” Lexie cooed.
I let out a tired sigh. “Let’s see how it goes, Lexie. It’s one step at a time. She may already be married for all we know. Besides, she’s no longer my girlfriend… I don’t even know if we could ever even be friends again.”
Chapter Three
Licia
Dr. Shepherd has got to be kidding me!
Pin drop silence enveloped the office as I stared at his face blankly after his announcement. Did he just sayI have been entrusted with Kevin’s care?I pinched myself one more time to ascertain I wasn’t in some bizarre nightmare.
“But Sir,” I protested blatantly. There was no way I was taking up this assignment. I would rather cover different shifts and work overtime than assent to this arrangement. “Couldn’t another nurse go in my stead?”
“Why so? Why can’t you do it?” Disappointment was already creeping into his voice. Though he seemed more annoyed than disappointed.
I hadn’t seen this coming. I would have prepared a tangible excuse ahead of time, but now I needed to cook up something reasonable and fast, or I was trapped.
