“Congestive heart failure.”
I sigh.Yep, that’s what I expected.“Stage?”
“Put it this way, you won’t talk him into gettin’ any help and there’s no point in tryin’. He’s not interested in prolongin’ his life, sweetheart. He just wants enough time to tie up loose ends, his words not mine.”
Something I learned early on in my medical career is that it goes against everything in my nature not to try and help people. If there’s a way to treat them and ease their suffering, I want to do it. “But–”
“Blair,” George says matter-of-factly, his voice low and meaning business now. “Believe me, I know what you’re thinkin’, but he waited too long to see me in the first place. It’s like gettin’ blood from a stone just to get him to take diuretics. I’ve done as much as I can for him, but it’ll never be enough. He’s on borrowed time and he knows it. All we can do is keep him comfortable.”
This isn’t my first rodeo with not only this condition, but this exact kind of patient. At the end of the day, you can only do so much. If he doesn’t want to prolong his life, all I can do is monitor him and offer treatment for symptoms as they arise.
I sigh. “Obviously the patient’s contact information is all in the file?”
“It sure is, Blair. Thank you.”
That makes me smile. “You know I’d do anything for you.”
“Then you won’t mind if I ask for one last thing?”
“Hit me. It can’t be any worse than a secret house call I can’t tell anyone about,” I reply, smirking to myself.
“That’s the thing. You can’t tellanyoneat Cooper Ranch. Not a soul. That is a dealbreaker. If anyone catches wind of this, he’ll stop any and all treatment. And I know he’ll do it.”What in the world is going on here?
“Even with you?”
“Even me, sweetheart,” he replies, sounding resigned. “The Wilsons and the Coopers don’t get along and haven’t for generations. It’s better for all involved if you just keep this to yourself.”
“Sure thing, Uncle. I promise I’ll make you proud,” I tell him. “Besides, it’s literally myjobto keep my patients’ confidentiality.”
“No doubt about that, sweetheart. You have done every day since you were born.”
I blink rapidly at the sudden hit of emotion I feel. “I love you.”
“Love you too, Blair Bear. Be safe and don’t let anyone walk all over you.”
“Like that haseverhappened. Why did you think I needed a break from my life in the first place?” I quip.
His voice softens. “The question is, are you findin’ what you were lookin’ for in Timber Falls?”
I think back to the people I’ve met at the hospital and the family I’ve been welcomed into here on the ranch, especially by the person whose footsteps I hear outside the cabin.
A smile graces my lips. “Yeah, Uncle George. I think I might be.”
“Welp, you’ve got five more months to be sure. Use them wisely,” he replies. “Talk soon, sweetheart.”
“Bye Uncle George,” I say just as the expected knock sounds.
That’s when I return to my room, give myself one last check in the mirror, before moving to the front door to greet my date.
“Still want to see the bunker?” Sutton asks as we walk hand in hand–complete with skin-buzzing tingles that I've decided to stop thinking about–away from my cabin.
“Is the sky blue? Of course I do!” I reply, making him laugh.
“It’s not exactly…fancy.”
“Well, duh. The purpose of a prepper bunker is in the name. It’s to preparefor a catastrophic event and provide safe and secure long-term accommodations in the extremely rare chance that it would be needed.”
He stops moving and turns to me, his curious gaze locking with mine. “Is there somethin’ you want totellme, Blair?”
