“Deep breaths,” she said gently. “In and out.”
Heinz complied, but his breath ended in a rattling cough.
“Again.”
She sat him up and placed the scope on his back. “Breathe again, please.”
That done, she took a digital thermometer from another pocketand placed the tip in Heinz’s ear canal. When it beeped a second later, she frowned.
“One hundred two,” she said, her voice stern. “Mr. Heinz, how long have you had this cough and fever?”
“I hear fine, no need to shout,” he said fussily. “A little cold, that’s all.”
“No, sir. From the sound of your lungs, I’d say you have double pneumonia.” Dr. Oliver shivered and pulled her jacket closer. “Why is it so cold in here?”
“He says he likes it like this,” Kerry said.
“We need to get him somewhere warm, immediately. He’s dehydrated too. He needs to be admitted to a hospital.”
“No hospital,” Heinz shot back, glaring at her. “You’re not my doctor.”
“True. I’m only here as a favor to Patrick. And Austin.” She turned to Kerry. “If you’re not his family, and he doesn’t want to seek further treatment, there’s not much I can do here.” She turned back to the patient. “Do you have family, Mr. Heinz?”
“No. They are all gone.”
Silence fell over the small, frigid room.
“What if we moved him someplace warmer? And got him some antibiotics?” Kerry asked, desperate to find a solution. “I could stay and see that he’s taking care of himself. See that he’s eating and drinking and taking his meds.”
“You’re going to keep him in that camper in the park?” the doctor asked, not unkindly.
“Of course not.” Kerry locked eyes with the old man. “Heinz, the superintendent tells us he thinks you have an apartment on the top floor of this building. Is that true?”
Heinz looked away. “I don’t… I don’t stay there.” He abruptly rolled over and turned his back to these unwanted visitors who’d invaded his space.
“Heinz?” Kerry said.
His voice was muffled. “I live here now.”
“Please don’t do this. If something should happen to you, Austin would be heartbroken. And so would I.”
“He wants to finish your story,” Patrick put in. “And he says you’re the only one who can do that.”
Slowly, the old man turned to face them. “Go away and leave me in peace.”
“I’m not leaving you,” Kerry declared. “You can ignore me, or dog cuss me or whatever, but I’m staying right here.”
She looked up at Patrick, who shrugged his agreement.
“He really should be in a hospital,” Dr. Oliver repeated, shaking her head. “He needs fluids. See if you can get him to drink some Pedialyte, or even Gatorade.”
She sat in the bedside chair. “Mr. Heinz, I know you can hear me. Are you allergic to any medications?”
“No.”
“Any other health concerns? Heart disease, diabetes?”
“I’m old. That’s my health concern.”
