“What happened?”
“Paul’s here with his sister, Pamela. She’s your next patient.”
Fuck. I didn’t have the mental or emotional energy to deal with Paul today.
“How’d that happen?”
How’d he get past Matt?Why are they both in the exam room?
“The appointment was made under the name Pamela Jesker.”That answers one question.“Want me to reschedule them?”
“It’s okay, Alice. I’ll help them.”
Wanting the answer to my other question, I asked, “Where’s Matt?”
“He’s in the restroom. I rushed them into the exam room so…”
“It’s okay, I understand.”
The last thing we needed was Matt causing a scene in front of the other patients. “Can you ask Matt to wait here when he comes out?”
“Should I tell him why?”
“Yes, but discretely. And tell him not to create a scene when I walk them out.”
“Okay. I really am sorry, Madi.”
“It’s not your fault.” Sometimes shit happened.
Outside the door, I read the intake sheet, buying myself time to take a few deep, centering breaths.
I knocked, paused, then entered.
“Hello, I’m Madi, you must be Pamela.” My voice sounded shockingly steady, considering how unsteady I felt.
“I am.”
“Hi Doc, sorry, Madi.”
Pamela laughed at her brother. “You’re so silly, Paul.”
No doubt my smile looked as forced as it felt.
“What brings you in today?”
Pamela was a little scatterbrained as she listed her complaints, peppering in praise for her brother along the way. If I didn’t know better, I’d think she was playing matchmaker.
Except Paul was focused on his sister as I forced myself not to rush through the appointment.
In the end, Pamela’s only ailment was a fever. I could confidently send her home with a prescription for rest and lots of fluids.
“Thank you, Doc,” Pamela said.
“I’m not a doctor.” It was worth correcting her once.
As we exited the room, Paul turned his attention to me and asked, “Are you still seeing that guy?”
Wow. The way he said ‘that guy’ seethed with vitriol.
