Thank God, Dr.Patel seemed to enjoy their encounters.How did I know she enjoyed them?Because the hospital report system was set to upload the physician documentation when they finalized their report with a signature.Dr.Patel finalized her documentation from the previous evening in the morning at six and her morning reports in the evening at five-thirty.She showed up at six-thirty on the dot each morning and six in the evening.Every day.Any time she stopped to check on Brynn, she had an eager, almost giddy smile on her face the second she realized Brynn or Knight had questions.Today was no exception.
“I know there’s a lot to look at this morning,” Dr.Patel said when she shut the door after entering.Knight still scrolled through the information on his phone, playing catch up.The same intern from the medication debacle came with her every time she entered Brynn’s room.“Let me go over it with you, then you can ask me any questions I don’t answer.”She smiled at Brynn.
To my shock and everlasting gratitude, Brynn looked to Knight for reassurance even before she looked at me.Knight was the technical-smart person.I was the emotional-smart person.And I was thankful all I had to be was the emotional-smart person, because all the medical shit baffled me so much it threw me into a panic.
When the conversation concluded, Dr.Patel folded her hands on her lap with a happy sigh, like a schoolteacher watching a classroom of students studiously doing their classwork with thoroughness and enthusiasm.
“Miss Brynn, if you ever decide you want to go into medicine, you come to me.I will write your letter of recommendation.”
A flush of pleasure filled Brynn’s face, but she waved off the offer.“Thanks, but this stuff’s boring.”
Dr.Patel’s smile spread even wider.“And yet you’ve mastered more about the surface of what’s happening with your body than my intern.”She indicated the red-faced young man behind her with a small tilt of her head in his direction.“Which is understandable, if disappointing.”She gave the young man the side-eye.“You’re a highly intelligent young woman.You understand not only the seriousness of your illness but where you’re at in the progression.Anyone as smart as you and your father would want to know as much as they could about what’s happening with their own body.So I expected this much.What surprises me is how much you fully understand how other systems in your body affect and are affected by the kidney transplant we’re working so hard to get you to.I’ve never worked with a patient I could honestly say understood illness and treatment as well as you do.At this point” -- she looked at Knight and then me --”I’d be inclined to take her wishes into account even more than yours.”She looked at Knight pointedly.“You’re probably the most intelligent man I’ve ever met.And in my profession…” She waved her hand dismissively.“I was going to say in my profession you don’t get to be a dumbass, but I can think of several examples to the contrary off the top of my head.The point is, as intelligent as you are, your daughter is having the most intelligent conversation with me about medicine I’ve had so far today.”
Knight sat up straighter, frowning as he glanced at Brynn.“Give me a couple days, Doc.She had a head start on me, so it’s hardly fair to judge…” He trailed off as both Brynn and Dr.Patel burst out laughing.Knight looked confused.
Brynn grinned at him.“I can’t tell if you’re more upset Doc didn’t think you understood everything you needed to, or that I’m smarter’n you.”
His frown deepened.“Are not.”He stuck out his chin.
“Am too.”She continued to grin.
“You’re kinda making her point, Rhys,” I whispered.
He whipped his head in my direction, a startled look on his face.Then realization dawned.“Fuck,” he muttered.Dr.Patel and Brynn both laughed again.Even the resident grinned.Poor guy.
Dr.Patel stood.“Another couple of days will tell the tale.In the meantime, the two of you need rest.”She gave both me and Knight stern looks.“Split your time if you have to, but if both of you don’t get rest, I’m going to have security ban you from the building.”
Knight got a mulish, angry look on his face, but I put a hand on his shoulder.He shot me a look like he couldn’t understand why I was being so calm.
“What she’s trying to say, Knight, is that you and Mom look like shit.It’s bad for business.”
This time, the resident barked out a laugh before smothering the sound with a cough.
Dr.Patel just grinned.“Get some rest.All of you.I’ll be back this evening and I don’t expect to see but one of you.At maximum.I know you have friends here Brynn likes.I know because she talks about them.See if one of them will stay with her.”She pulled her glasses down her nose to look over the rim directly at Knight.“Doctor’s orders.You’re going to strain something in your head, and then I’ll have to pass you on to one of my colleagues since I don’t do brains, and I know you don’t want that.”
“Is this Pick on Me Day?”Knight asked with a glare.“Because it feels like Pick on Me Day.”He probably grumbled to make Brynn laugh.Kid could pick on him all she liked as long as she let him stay and be her entertainment.Warmed my heart.
“Every day you’re here is Pick on You Day,” Brynn replied.
Dr.Patel said her goodbyes.The resident even gave me a nod of acknowledgment before following the doctor out the door.
Not long after Dr.Patel left, Brynn drifted off to sleep.I’d nearly drifted off myself when the door swung open, and Ada stepped in with Jag looming behind her like a shadow.She carried a duffel bag in one hand and a determined expression that immediately set off warning bells in my head.
“Uh-oh,” I muttered.“I think we’re in trouble.”
He nodded, giving his sister a wary look.“Yep.”
“Jesus Christ,” Ada said, quietly taking us in with a quick sweep of her eyes.“You two look terrible.”She kept her voice low, glancing at Brynn’s sleeping form.
Knight grunted something unintelligible.I straightened in my chair, suddenly self-conscious about the coffee stains on my shirt and the state of my hair.
“Not that I blame you,” Ada continued, setting the bag down with a softthump.“But this ends now.Jag and I are taking over this evening and tonight.”
I was on my feet before I fully registered moving.“No.Absolutely not.I’m not leaving Brynn.”
Ada’s expression softened, but her stance didn’t.Behind her, Jag crossed his arms over his chest, his face impassive, but his presence unmistakably backing Ada’s play.
“Lavender,” Ada said, her voice gentle but firm.“Brynn needs you at your best, not sleep-deprived and barely functioning.We’ve booked you a room.”
