Page 2 of Summer with a Doctor
These two are totally cracking me up and it’s taking everything I have not to laugh.
As if he wasn’t already confused enough, he proceeds to embarrass her further by saying, “That’s okay. You can swallow any time you want.”
The young woman lowers her head, bringing the tips of her fingers to her forehead. Snickers can be heard from passengers sitting all around us. Seems Mister whatever-she-called-him-earlier is quite the entertainer.
“He has a hard time hearing,” she looks over at me and smiles.
“I thought that might be the case. Makes for an interesting travel companion, huh?”
“If you only knew. By the way, I’m Elizabeth but my friends call me Liz.”
“I’m Dean.” I catch myself from saying Dr. Bolden, since that’s what I’m always saying to patients as soon as I walk into their rooms at the hospital.
Once the seatbelt sign turns off, the flight attendants begin making their way down the aisle offering beverages and light snacks. I settle for a cup of coffee while Elizabeth surprisingly orders a Bloody Mary. Geez, it’s kind of early to be drinking alcohol—for me, anyways—so I’m going to assume that flying makes her a little anxious.
Mr. Hillman finally nods off to sleep and we both share a laugh, listening to his heavy, nasally—almost snoring—breathing. “He’s not all that bad,” she feels the need to point out then proceeds to explain how she came to be his caregiver. “Dropping out of nursing school was the last thing I wanted to do, but I just couldn’t do it anymore. It was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make, but I know in my heart it was for the best.”
Being in the medical field, I know firsthand the stress and demand that comes along with it, so her needing to take some time off is completely understandable. With one semester left to complete the program though, seems she could’ve found a way to finish.
“A friend of mine suggested I take over the lease for the little studio apartment where she was staying and that’s how I came to know Mr. Hillman. I know it’s not a normal job, but I kind of like it.”
“Is there such a thing as a normal job these days?”
She shrugs her shoulders. “I know caregivers don’t get the credit they deserve, but Mr. Hillman has certainly grown on me these last few months. He’s like a member of the family, even though we’re not related.”
“I’m glad it all worked out for you. For him, too.”
“Can you believe he’ll be seventy-eight next month?”
“There’s no way!” I lean forward in my seat and look over at him again. “Wow. I hope I look as good as he does when I get to be that age.”
“No kidding. We go on walks most every evening, but now that it’s getting warmer, we may have to see about changing it to the morning time. Or head down to the YMCA.”
“That’s a good idea. They have an excellent senior program that I’m sure he would enjoy. And if her likes the water, Carolina Memorial sponsors several—"
Out of the blue, the plane begins to shake as we’ve hit a bit of turbulence. I’m sure the pilot made an announcement and we were just too busy talking to hear it.
Elizabeth suddenly reaches for my arm. “I’m sorry,” she says, releasing it almost as quickly as she’d grabbed hold of it. “I get a little nervous when this happens.”
“If it makes you feel better, I’m not fond of it either.” I look around at the other passengers, noting how quiet everyone has suddenly become. Liz downs the last swallow of her drink then closes her eyes.
As we approach the Carolina coastline, the turbulence finally goes away. I’m sad that our conversation ended so abruptly, just as I was getting ready to tell her a little bit about me, but that’s just the way it goes sometimes.
“It’s been nice chatting, Dean,” Liz says once we’ve landed and we’re waiting for the all-clear so they can open the plane’s door.
“Same, here. Seems we just took off.”
Passengers begin to stand up, stretching their arms and legs as much as they can, considering we’ve not been given permission to exit the plane yet.
“You said you work at Carolina Memorial?” Liz looks over her shoulder and asks.
“I’m in the ER.”
“Cool.”
Cool? Not the response I was expecting—can I get your phone number would’ve been better—but whatever. It’s not like she and I will see each other again. If I haven’t ran into her before now, I doubt I would in the future either.
I retrieve her bag from overhead and lower it into the seat I was just sitting in. “Good luck with that eye appointment today. I hope Mr. Hillman gets a good report.”