She tried to shut the door in my face, but I slapped my palm against it.“Wait, please.”
She narrowed her eyes, her fists clenched.“What now?Did you come to tell me all about how I’m too young and female to be a doctor, too?”
I blinked at her again.“Of course not.Why would I knock on your door in the middle of the night for that?”
She sagged.“Honestly?No clue.I wasn’t even going to answer until I remembered this is a small town, and someone might have a genuine emergency.”
“Yes!Yes, it is an emergency!”My voice cracked; I sounded unhinged.“It’s my nana.I need you to take a look at her.”
Her expression shifted from one of irritation to one of concern.Lowering her voice, she asked, “Is your nana here with us right now?”
I stared at her.“What?No, she’s in the car—”
Suddenly, it clicked.As far as she could tell, I was here alone.She thought I was talking about an imaginary Nana.
“I meant—never mind.”I stumbled back to the car, opened the door, and helped Nana to her feet.“I found her walking down the highway a couple of kilometres from here.”
Dr.Madison muttered a curse.“Ms.Bishop?”she said, all traces of irritation gone as she shifted into professional mode.“Let’s get you inside and out of this cold.”
“Oh, no need to fuss over me, Doc.I’m fine now,” Nana protested with no sign of her earlier confusion.“Feeling much better, actually.”
Together, we guided Nana into the office.Dr.Madison helped her onto the examination table.
“We should get you out of these wet clothes right away, Ms.Bishop.”She patted Nana’s hand.“Would you like your grandson to step out?”She jerked a thumb over her shoulder at me.
I shook my head.“No way.I’m staying.”
“You bet your sweet bippy I want him out of here.”She swatted at me with the back of her hand.“I’m free-titting it here, Doc.He doesn’t need to see that.”
Dr.Madison choked on a laugh, and I rolled my eyes.
“Nana, I amnotleaving this room.”I crossed my arms and widened my stance, daring her to make me go.“I’m staying right here.”
Her eyes gleamed.“Liam Fitzgerald Bishop, you will get your little behind out of here right now if you know what’s good for you.One word from me, and those glamour shots we took?All.Over.The internet.”
My jaw dropped.
“I’ve been saving them for something special, but I won’t hesitate to use them now if necessary.”
I opened my mouth to remind her I already had all the pictures, but she rushed on.
“And I know youthinkyou have them all, but the photographer sold me the negatives.And you better believe I’ve had them digitized and backed up to the cloud and had extra copies printed.”She snapped her fingers.“One click of a button and the entire world will see those beauties.Don’t think I won’t do it.”
Dr.Madison wheezed with uncontrollable laughter, struggling and failing to keep it together as Nana snickered from her perch on the exam table.
I sucked in a shocked gasp, torn between laughing and shaking my head in wonder at the depth of Nana’s machinations.“I’m worried about you, Nana.I would prefer to stay.”
“AndI’man old lady who would prefer that my grandsonnotsee my nip-nops flapping in the breeze.So, go on.”She swatted at me again.“Shoo.”
Doctor Madison grinned, her laughter finally under control.“Why don’t you head up to my apartment?I have some jogging pants and sweaters in the tall dresser in my bedroom.You can borrow something warm and dry for Nana to wear.”Then, with a smirk, she added, “But I draw the line at lending out my underwear.Nana’s nip-nops will just have to keep flapping.”
Nana giggled, and Doctor Madison burst into laughter again.The weight crushing my chest eased slightly.Pressing a quick kiss to Nana’s forehead, I turned and left the room.
By the time I returned downstairs to the office with a pair of heavyweight joggers, a thick sweater, and a pair of fuzzy socks, Doctor Madison was stepping out of the examination room.
“So, is she okay?”
She smiled.“Her temperature is on the low side, but not enough that we need to worry.Otherwise, she’s fine.Bring her by tomorrow so I can examine her again, but I’m confident that a proper night’s sleep in a warm bed will have her feeling good as new.”
