Marcia wrinkled her nose at the two of them and shook her head. She laughed, “I did not pick dating Lloyd because of Commander Hall, that is the furthest from the truth.” They all chuckled, and the entire group of people enjoyed getting to know Tony and Staci, and by the time they called it a night to head back to their own homes, Erin had encouraged Staci to take a container with most of the leftovers in. There wasn’t much, but it would serve her for a couple of meals. Before they left, Lois had promised to call her Saturday morning to set up a time to comeover and teach her to cook. She gave Staci the task of writing out a list of things she wanted to learn how to cook, and Lois would help her with that task.
CHAPTER 12
“Mr. Garret,”Staci said to Reid as she went out into the reception area at ten on Monday morning.
“Please call me Reid,” he said, and stood there awkwardly, but Staci didn’t try for small talk to make things even more awkward.
“Okay, Reid then, I take it you’re here to see me about your leg?”
“I am.”
“Would you like Caleb to join us?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Reid said as he followed her down the hall, but Caleb heard them and came out of his office.
“I have time.” He quickly followed them, and it was Caleb that told Reid to remove his pants, and Staci stepped out of the room to gather some of her things. When she returned, she saw that Reid had ona pair of board shorts, and she nodded in understanding.
“Okay, tell me what you’re experiencing, then I’m going to want to watch you walk in a circle, then up and down the hall. If you can, please raise the leg of the shorts so I can see how the prosthetic moves against your natural skin.” She nodded as he hiked the fabric up, and watched as he did as she asked. When he returned to the beginning, Staci dropped to her knees and started looking over the prosthetic, poking, prodding, and moving it around. She took measurements, and then had him sit on the exam table.
“Do you mind?” she asked as he settled. “I’d like you to remove the leg.”
Reid did, without looking at either of them, and kept his head down as she ran her gloved hands over the stump, and he jumped when she touched a red spot. “That’s where it rubs me raw.”
“Got it,” she said as she rose and went over to the side of the room, opened a cabinet, and returned. She held up the tube she had and explained that it was for things like that and asked if she could put some on. He agreed, then sighed in relief when the pain immediately lessoned.
“Don’t worry, I’ll send this tube home with you. There’s an ingredient in it that is a topical pain reliever. I see that you are doubling up on the socks, like you said, but it is not good.” She looked at himand nodded. “Which I know you know. It’s good that you came to me now.” She looked at Caleb with a nod, then back at Reid. “Please, don’t be offended, but I’m going to be putting my hands all over your leg to get measurements, and I’m going to be asking you to move this way and that. That’s why I wanted Caleb here. It might not sound like it, but I will be putting you through your paces.”
“Do what you have to, Dr. Hardt.”
“Please, call me Dr. or Staci.”
“How about Dr. Staci?” Reid asked with a grin, and she nodded. For the next forty-five minutes she was true to her word and put him through what he thought was torture. When he realized what she was doing, he nodded and went along with her. He sat there when she stepped away, winded, and looked at Caleb with a shake of his head.
“What?”
“Damn, pardon my language, but damn, that was intense, I didn’t expect something like that. I don’t think the people that gave me this leg were that intense, they only measured my thigh.”
“I’m thorough because I am good at my job. I want my patients to have the best quality of life they can with a new prosthetic and not have what you’re currently experiencing a few years down the road. I’m not perfect, not by a long shot, but I am good at what I do, and trust me, you’re not going to find anyone better.”
Caleb nodded, then spoke. “Have you talked to Jake Cogburn?”
“All the time, but what does he have to do with this?”
“Did he tell you about his new leg?”
“Actually, he did, he loves it and can’t stop praising the manufacturer.”
“Thank you,” Staci said. “I was the one that made it. With help from Caleb.”
“Really?” Reid asked in shock. “Then what do I have to do?”
“First, take this salve and put it on twice a day, before you put your leg on, and after you shower at night. Don’t be afraid to use it liberally. Unfortunately, you’re going to have to continue to double up on the socks until I can get a new leg made for you. If something happens and you can’t manage the pain, come see me. I can get started on this leg right away.” She finally looked him directly in the eye, and nodded as she reached out and laid a hand on the end of his stump. “Trust me, when you get your new leg, you won’t regret it. I only ask one thing of you.”
“What’s that?”
“Don’t keep asking me how it’s going. The prosthetics I’ve made in the past I never saw the patient after I took my initial measurements. I happened to be at a conference when someone approached me to work with Jake. I forget the name off the top of my head, but he flew Jake to me, and I did with him whatI just did with you. Caleb helped me when he had a free moment.”
“I don’t need any credit, I tightened a screw here and there, or held a rod that she put together.”
