Chapter Thirty-Nine

Gonzo stood at Trapper’s office window, watching as Trapper and Leah walked with an arm around each other from Trapper’s car to the hospital. When Trapper entered his office, he stopped, looked at Gonzo standing at the window, and then proceeded to his desk, laying his briefcase down before he removed his jacket.

Moving his hands to his hips, Gonzo glared. “Trapper? I saw you and Leah get out of your car and walk into the hospital with an arm around each other.”

Trapper shrugged on his white coat, smiled and shook his head. “Not that it’s any of your business, but it’s not what you think. I left her place last night before eleven, and picked her up this morning for her appointment because you haven’t released her to drive.”

“It is my business. She’s my patient.”

Looking at his watch, Trapper matched his aggravated tone of voice. “If she’s your patient, you’d better get out of here. You have an appointment with her in three minutes.”

“Fine,” said Gonzo, heading for the door. “But if I find…”

Creasing his brow, Trapper interrupted him. “Dr. Gates. Go examine your patient, and if you find a problem, let me know.”

Gonzo found Leah at the nurse’s station. “Gloria, would you call Dr. Sandler and ask him to come to exam room four. I’d like his opinion as to whether Ms. Haverty is ready to go back to work.”

“Yes, doctor.”

“Now Leah, if you’ll come with me, I’ll take a look at your incision before Dr. Sandler gets here, and then we can start on your blood work.”

Following Gonzo into the exam room, she waited at the door before she sat on the examination table as she normally would. “What’s wrong, Dr. Gates?”

With his attention on her chart, he answered without looking up. “Why would there be anything wrong?”

“I don’t know, but you’re a little short today, and it has nothing to do with your physical stature.”

He looked up with a defiant smile. “Speaking of being short, are we sliding back into our old ways?”

She puffed up into her old rigid posture as if she was being challenged. “Dr. Gates, let’s not play games. If your aggravation has anything to do with me, I want to know about it.”

“Alright, he said, setting the chart down on the exam table, and then leaning on it. “I think Dr. McIntyre could be jeopardizing your recovery.”

She let out a short, loud laugh, throwing her head back in astonishment. “Let me tell you what Dr. McIntyre has done for me. He’s gotten me out of my apartment where I used to do nothing but work, sleep and sulk, and into the sunshine. He helped me with my diet so that today’s blood work would show that the anemia is gone. He’s taught me how to laugh again, and he’s unselfishly helping me to emotionally accept the fact that my husband is gone. And I say unselfishly, because he’s sacrificing his own emotional well-being to do that, given the outcome is uncertain.” She curtly handed him the chart before she sat down hard on the exam table. “Why don’t you stick to my physical condition and let Dr. Sandler worry about my emotional condition?”

“Fine,” he barked. “Unbutton your blouse.”

She complied. Pressing the scarred over area, he asked if it was tender. “A little, but nothing like it was. It’s more like the feeling of new skin on any scar.”

“Let’s get your echo done before Dr. Sandler comes in.”

Still fuming, she said, “If you don’t mind, Dr. Gates, I’d rather do that Monday morning. I can come in before work.”

“Why wait? And what makes you think I’m releasing you today?”

“You’ll have no reason not to release me once Dr. Sandler is here. And at the moment, I don’t feel like letting you run your hands all over my chest,” she said angrily.

“Alright then, let’s get your blood work done. The phlebotomist ought to be here by now.” Just as he finished his sentence, she knocked on the door. When she had taken enough blood, she left as Dr. Sandler entered.

“Leah, Dr. Gates. The air in this room is thick,” he remarked, stopping just inside the door enough that the door could close behind him. “What’s going on?”

“I think that Dr. McIntyre might be…moving too fast,” said Gonzo calmly, but finishing quickly.

“Moving too fast?” yelled Leah.

Sandler held his hands up. “There’s no reason to yell. Dr. Gates is just concerned, as am I. So Dr. Gates; what do you mean by moving too fast?”

Shaking his head, Gonzo turned away in frustration, but turned right back. “David, he took her out overnight on a fishing boat, and he’s seen her every evening this week. He was with her last night, and they came in this morning together.”

“Oh, and let’s not forget he’s going with me to look for a new car, and he’s taking me to the symphony this weekend,” she added sarcastically, crossing her arms. “You know, Dr. Gates, you sound jealous, though I have no idea why. I’m not sure I even like you right now.”

“I’m not jealous,” he said loudly. “I’m worried that you’re taking on too much too soon.”

Leah looked away as Dr. Sandler stepped forward with his hands in his pockets, leaning to see her face. “Are you?”

“Am I what?” she snapped.

“Are you taking on too much too soon?”

Deflating, she turned to Dr. Sandler, and lowered her eyes. “No,” she answered softly. “I don’t think I am.” Wringing her hands, she continued, “Look, you’re both his friend. I don’t feel comfortable talking about him behind his back.”

“We’re not talking about him. We’re talking about you,” said David.

“Alright. Maybe I have some emotional attachment to Trapper. But he’s not…pushing. And he makes sure I know where my head is before he does anything. When we went out on the boat, he taught me how to fish from a fighting chair, we had fresh fish and lobster that we caught for dinner, we played our guitars, and we talked. We even talked about John. He said I should remember all the good times regardless of where I was or what I was doing in the present. It was very…friendly, and it was the first time…” she smiled. “It was the first time I really enjoyed myself without feeling like I shouldn’t because John and the kids weren’t there. It was fun. Is that so bad?”

“No. Not at all.”

She continued quietly. “When I’m with him lately, it’s not that I don’t think about John. I do, but it’s more in terms of letting him go than feeling guilty. Trapper makes me feel…human…again.”

Sandler turned to Gonzo. “She’s probably saner than the rest of us. I see no reason from a mental and emotional perspective why she can’t go back to work.” He looked back at Leah. “With normal hours.”

Conceding, Gonzo shrugged while a smile formed. He let out a slow breath. “Are you going to stay to hear the results of your blood tests?”

“Yes,” she said without a hint of anger in her voice, jumping down off the table. “I have a young man to see who’s going home in a few days. I’m having lunch with Trapper before he takes me home, and I’m going down to my office to tell them I’ll be back on Monday.”

“Don’t forget the echo you promised Monday.”

“I won’t,” she said, smiling. “Dr. Sandler,” she said as she exited the room on her way to Trapper’s office. His door was closed, so she knocked, and hearing an invitation to enter, she stepped inside. “Oh, Dr. McIntyre, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“Come in, Leah. There’s someone I’d like you to meet. Leah Haverty, Melanie McIntyre.”

Leah smiled and offered her hand. “How do you do?”

“I’m well, thank you. I’m Trapper’s wife.”

A nervous smile took over Leah’s face as she forced her head to turn to Trapper.

“Ex-wife,” he quickly explained, smiling.

Trying not to be obvious, she let the breath out she had been holding. “Well, Mrs. McIntyre, it’s nice to meet you.” She turned back to Trapper. “I just need your car keys to get the gift for Marcus. I’m on my way to see him.”

Pulling the keys out of his pocket, he dropped them in her waiting hand. “Come back for me. I want to see the look on the kid’s face when you give it to him.” She nodded, smiled and left.

“Who is she?” asked Melanie.

“She leads the team of technical people who are installing our new computer system. She’s also a patient.”

“Oh? What’s she in for?”

“Her heart.”

“So she’s your patient?”

“No, she’s Gonzo’s patient.”

“And?” He turned up one side of his mouth into a half smile and looked at her from under his brow. “John McIntyre, I’ve only seen that look once before.” She walked over to him and kissed his cheek. “I hope it works out. Ciao,” she said, smiling before she left his office.

***

Leah waited outside Marcus’ room until Trapper came out to get her. When she entered, she couldn’t help but smile. Marcus was sitting up, exercising his hand with his father’s help. “Hey, are you wiggling them yet?” she asked.

Marcus shook his head. “Not wiggling yet, but watch,” he said as he slowly closed his hand and opened it again.

“And you were worried you wouldn’t be able to use it again. I told you Dr. McIntyre wouldn’t let you down.”

“How’s your heart?” asked Marcus.

“It’s good. If my blood tests come back normal today, I get to go back to work Monday.”

“And you’re happy about that?” said Marcus, looking at his father. “My dad hates his job.” Mike blushed and smiled.

“I guess I’m one of those lucky people who enjoys her job, so yes, I’m happy about going back.” Leah sat on the side of his bed. “Listen, I have something I wanted to give you before you go home,” she said, setting the box next to him.”

With wide eyes, he asked, “What is it?”

“You’ll have to open it to find out,” said Dr. McIntyre. “Miss Haverty made it easy, so you can get into it with one hand.”

Marcus pulled the end of the big bow and flipped the top off the box. “A basketball!” he said excitedly.

Trapper took the box off the bed. “That’s not just any basketball. Turn it.”

“Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Dad, look!

When Mike looked over his mouth fell open. “Miss Haverty, he can’t accept that.”

Mike, hear me out before you say that,” she said, turning to Marcus. “That basketball belonged to my son, JJ. He got it for his eighth birthday. You see, his father was the team doctor for the Rams, and he knew the team doctor for the Lakers really well, so he would fill in when their doctor had to be out of town. They gave him this ball in appreciation, and he gave it to JJ.”

“Dad, look! Magic and Kareem signed it!”

Mike took the ball from Marcus and handed it back to Leah. “This ball is worth a lot of money. We can’t accept it.”

“Mike, I could never sell this ball. It’s too special. The accident that killed my husband and children happened shortly after JJ’s eighth birthday. If I keep it, it’ll just sit in a box and collect dust. I’d rather someone have it who will appreciate it the way I know JJ would have.” Holding the ball out to Mike, she added with tears in her eyes, “Please, Mike. It would give me great pleasure to know another child is enjoying this ball.”

Handing it back to Marcus, Mike nodded, and the child looked at it for a minute before he held it back out to Leah. “Would you sign it for me?”

“Oh no, Marcus. That will devalue it.”

“Oh, I don’t want to sell it. I’m going to keep it forever. I just want to remember where it came from.”

Trapper left the room and returned quickly with an indelible marker. “Here you go,” he said, handing the marker to Leah.

“Are you sure you want me to do this? This ball is already very special like it is.”

“I’m sure.”

She wrote, in four lines, From JJ to Marcus; Never give up; With much love; Leah Haverty Lewis.