Page 96 of Ice Cold Hearts
Lindsey tilts her head to one side. “You didn’t know?”
“Know what?” I ask. “What should I know? Has something happened? Is everything okay?”
“It’s not as bad as it sounds,” she backpedals. “I didn’t mean to worry you. It’s just that some of the reporters have been trying to get sound bites about you from your patients. I’m not sure how they figured it out. I guess they’ve been watching or something. I don’t know, but they’ve managed to identify a few of us and were harassing us in the parking lot until security rolled up. It’s happened a couple of times. We even started a group chat about it.” She must see the horrified look on my face because she hurriedly adds, “It’s just a nice way to vent. We’ve all talked about it, and you’re just the absolute best physical therapist any of us has ever had, so we’ve all decided we weren’t going to give them any comment other than ‘Emily is an excellent physical therapist. You need to back off and leave her alone.’ Charles came up with it, and now it’s all we say if they get close enough to bother us.” She chuckles. “I think they’re starting to get tired of us.”
I am overwhelmed by all the different feelings her little speech evoked. I feel so loved and cared for that they all got together to protect me. I didn’t even know Mr. Charles knew how to text. One of his great grandchildren must have taught him recently, and here he is using it to help me. Yet at the same time, I’m horrified and disgusted that they’ve had to do something like this. These people, these patients under my care, are being harassed because some assholes with cameras are desperate to pry into my private life.
“Lindsey, I am so sorry this is happening to you. What they’re doing to all of you is shameful. If you want to see someone else at the practice, I will completely understand,” I tell her.
“Are you kidding me?” She snorts. “Ryder has made so much progress. When he was born, the doctors told me he might not ever be able to sit up without help, and here we are now, working on crawling. He sits like a champion, and so much of that is down to you and your care. Charles said he’d have been stuck in a wheelchair without your work on his hip, and now he’s using a walker more than half the time. And don’t even get me started on the Douglas family. They could write an entire opus for what you’re doing for Nina. You are beyond brilliant. Do you really think I’m going to give that up because some jerk reporter is trying to get their fifteen minutes of fame?”
“I…” My voice catches and I clear my throat. “I don’t think I’ve ever had anyone say something so kind.” I dab at my eyes. “Thank you.”
“You’re more than worth the hassle,” Lindsey says.
“But really, if you ever want to switch PTs, I promise I won’t be offended,” I reiterate.
“The hospital’s got us covered. We’re fine,” she says. “We told Jenna about it, and then she put security all over it. They can’t even set a toe in the parking lot without security staring them down or shadowing them anymore.”
“I’m glad they’re taking your safety so seriously,” I say, relieved.
“Me too.” She nods. “So, any change in his at home exercises I need to implement?”
“Just keep doing what you’re doing. Maybe we’ll add more next week, but I want to see how he handles this level of PT activity before we add in anything else at home.”
“Sounds good,” she says, standing to leave. “We’re all rooting for you. I hope you know that.”
“Thank you.” I smile gratefully at her. “See you next time.” Then to Ryder, “Bye-bye, handsome man!”
He blows a raspberry at me before his mother whisks him away.
I don’t know what I did to deserve patients like these, but I am beyond grateful for them, and for Jenna too. It’s just like her to go and protect me and my patients without uttering a word or expecting a thank you.
She’s got a whole other thing coming if she thinks I’m going to let her get away with this without my sending her a gift basket or getting her a spa day or something like that now that I know about it. I should surprise her with it so she can’t be all noble about it and refuse.
Almost like I conjured her by magic, Jenna appears in my doorway. My smile falters when I see the pinched lines around her pursed lips.
Something has happened and it’s not good.
“Jenna, are you okay?” I say, jumping to my feet.
“I was at reception when they called, and since you were with a patient, I said I’d take the message for you,” she says quickly.
My stomach drops.
“What is it?” I demand.
“Audrey’s preschool called. Apparently, there’s been an incident. That’s all they would tell Jimmy over the phone. They said to call them as soon as you were free,” Jenna says. “I’m already prepared to divvy up your cases for the rest of your shift in case you need to leave. So if you have to go, just go. Don’t worry about anything other than that sweet baby.”
“Thank you.”
“Do you want me to stay with you while you call them back?” she asks.
Part of me wants to say yes and have her hold my hand like she did when Audrey was in the hospital, but the other part of me knows that we’ve got patients waiting and I don’t want to take Jenna away from them.
“I’ll be alright.”
“But if you need me,” Jenna starts.