She put gloves on and examined her patient’s forearm. Pus in the center, bright red in a circle around it, then another bigger circle of pink, then an outline of white puffy skin. Infected for sure, inflamed and swollen.
“Does this hurt?” she asked, touching it.
“It’s kind of numb but hot to touch.”
“It’s infected. Have you taken anything?”
“I’ve put ice on it, took Benadryl all day yesterday and aspirin. It’s getting worse.”
“You did all the right things,” she said. “Even coming in today. Let me verify your pharmacy and get an antibiotic called in.”
“Thanks.”
She finished up with her patient and saw the nurse’s aide opening the door to Jayce’s room, leaving after going through the multiple questions they were required to ask.
“Don’t shut Jayce’s door,” she blurted. That way she didn’t have to worry if he was getting undressed or not. Better not to think of that. Not the way she’d been thinking of him for the past two days.
Even remembering the first kiss they shared at a friend’s house one night for a party. They’d taken a walk outside, the two of them holding hands, then he leaned in and laid one right on her.
Her shoulder wiggled again over the memory as she slid into the doorway to see Jayce standing there.
There was a gown on the bed, so he was going to get undressed. She wassoglad he wasn’t her patient.
“Hey,” she said.
“Hi,” he said.
This was awkward. She didn’t know why she stopped to do this. “How have you been?”
“Good,” he said. “Probably better than you based on your call.”
“What?” she asked.
“Sorry.” His smile fell. “I heard you on the phone behind the wall.”
She cringed. “I didn’t think I talked that loud. Archer’s father. He canceled the Disney trip for spring break. Not only am I going to have to break it to Archer, I need to find childcare for the week. My parents are away, along with most of Archer’s friends.”
“I can do it,” he said.
“What?”
“I’ve got nothing else going on,” he said. “In two weeks, right? After Easter?”
“Yeah, but I can’t ask you to do that.”
“You’re not asking; I’m volunteering. Unless of course you don’t trust me. Seems your son likes me well enough.”
“He does.” Wouldn’t stop talking about Jayce either on Sunday. It didn’t bother her. She didn’t mind reminiscing about an old friend.
“So how hard can it be? I entertain him with games and feed him peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or burgers.”
“He’s allergic to peanut butter. You’re already failing.”
His teeth showed in a wince. Nice, straight, white teeth. “Those are things you’d have to tell me about. So it’s on you.”
She laughed. “Good way to turn that around. I appreciate the offer, but I can figure it out.”
“Farrah, I mean it. It will give me something to do. Let me give you my number, unless you’ve still got it. It hasn’t changed since high school.”
