I’d worked hard at hiding my shock over her emaciated figure. The outline of her skull had been clear underneath her pale skin, so translucent that purple veins showed through. Her cheekbones had jutted out, and her pale-blue eyes had bulged out of her sunken sockets.
Ron nodded at me, signaling me to continue, but it was hard to just talk freely without them asking me questions. I knew what was expected of me with their questions. Talking freely and open-endedly could result in me saying something I wasn’t supposed to. Nerves twisted my stomach.
“It was hard to connect with her at first, but it’s always like that. Nobody likes social workers, even the people we’re trying to help. I wanted to talk to her alone, but she looked terrified when I asked the nurses to leave, so I let them stay,” I said. “We still didn’t know the circumstances of her case—didn’t have any clue about her parents or guardian or who was responsible for her and if they’d been the ones to hurt her. The police were interviewing all of the people in the trailer park behind the store for potential leads, but they hadn’t gotten anywhere yet. As far as I knew, anyway. The police aren’t always the best at letting me know what they know.” I stopped short, realizing what I’d said. “I’m sorry. I just—”
Ron dismissed it, waving me off. “I get it. No need to apologize.” He looked at Luke pointedly. “We could all do a better job of working as a team.” He held his gaze before looking away and directing his attention back to me. “Did you have any concerns about her mother? Was anyone worried she might be in danger?”
I hung my head, embarrassed. “I know we’re always supposed to keep an open mind and not jump to any conclusions until we have all the facts about the case, but everyone assumed Janie’s parents were the ones who hurt her. Or some really sick psycho. It never crossed anyone’s mind that someone else might be in trouble. I wished it would’ve. Maybe then things would’ve ended differently.”
FOUR
CHRISTOPHER BAUER
“I meet with Janie for her surgery consult on Tuesday, and I was wondering if you’d come with me to help make her feel comfortable.” I visited with all my patients before surgery if possible. I liked us to know each other because surgery went better when we had a connection. It wasn’t the first time I’d asked Hannah to help me with a patient. Sometimes I came across too clinical when I was nervous, and she was the kind of person who put people at ease without even trying.
She shook her head. “You know I can’t do that.”
Janie’s presence at the hospital hadn’t stayed a secret for long. As soon as the police had started asking questions around town, her case had spread like wildfire, and everyone was obsessed with finding out the story about the abandoned girl. Police stood guard twenty-four seven at her hospital door, and no one was allowed to see her unless they were on a special clearance list. It was highly unlikely anyone would try to sneak in to see her, but everyone was protective of her privacy and care.
“I got you added to her list,” I said.
“Really? Stephanie told me they were being super strict about it.”
“They always make exceptions when I tell them I need the most talented nurse in the world by my side.” I winked at her.
She rolled her eyes. “I’m trying to stay as far away from that one as possible. You already know that.”
She wasn’t the only one. There were interns and residents who excused themselves from rounds during Janie’s updates. Child abuse was horrible, and some people couldn’t handle dealing with it, but Hannah had never been one of those people. At least, not until recently.
“Pretty please?” I begged, even though I knew how unlikely she was to change her mind once it was made up.
“It makes me too sad. I’ll be an emotional wreck, and we both know that won’t be helpful to anyone,” she said, shaking her head.
I didn’t press her further and met with Janie by myself on Tuesday. She was huddled against the wall behind her bed when I arrived. She gained weight every day but still looked so small. She wrapped her arms around her legs and pulled them up to her chest, glaring at the nurse, who was busy entering notes into the computer next to her bed, tapping on the keys angrily. What could’ve happened to make her so angry? The tension in the room was thick. I glanced back and forth between the two, wishing I’d come at a better time.
I stepped closer to Janie’s bed, but not too close, as I wanted to respect her space. I cleared my throat. “Hi, Janie. I’m Dr. Christopher, but you can call me Dr. Chris if you want. Do you remember me?”
She nodded without looking at me, her gaze fixed on the nurse.
The nurse pushed the computer aside. “Janie is having a difficult time right now because dinnertime is over, and she doesn’t like when dinnertime ends.”
I bristled at one of my biggest pet peeves—talking about patients in third person while they were in the room with you.
“I’m still hungry,” Janie said. Her lower lip quivered.
I reached into my lab coat pockets, feeling for the protein bar I’d nibbled on earlier. I held it out for the nurse to see. “Can she have this? It’s chocolate chip.”
The nurse glared at me. “She’s on an eating schedule for a reason.”
“That’s why I asked. I was hoping she might be able to have a tiny piece.”
She rolled her eyes. “Really? A protein bar?” She turned on her heel and stomped out.
Hannah never would’ve acted that way. I didn’t think that just because she was my wife. I knew a good nurse when I saw one, and I’d seen Hannah in action numerous times over the years. She was one of the good ones—going the extra mile, cleaning up food trays that were the nutrition staff’s responsibility, staying with patients to talk when her job was done, helping relatives after they’d heard terrible news, and doing the things everyone else avoided, like cleaning up vomit.
I put the bar back in my pocket. I’d been pretty sure it wouldn’t be on her list of acceptable foods, but it had been worth a try. “Sorry, hon.” I smiled down at her, hoping she could tell I was sincere. “I wanted to come see you so that we could talk about what’s going to happen tomorrow.” She stared up at me. I couldn’t tell if she was hanging on my every word or didn’t understand what I was saying. “Do you remember what you and Dr. Dan talked about?”
“Yes.” Her voice was quiet, unsure.
“Well, I am the doctor who is going to fix your bones. Tomorrow Nurse Ellie is going to wake you up very early. You’re still going to be sleepy when they bring you to me. Then one of my doctor friends is going to make you go back to sleep and have wonderful dreams about all your favorite things. I’m going to fix all your bones while you sleep.” It was a complicated surgery. Multiple bone grafts were never easy, but I planned on doing everything within my power to make sure I fixed it all so she didn’t need additional surgeries.
“Will it hurt?” she asked, her lower lip trembling again.
I shook my head and pointed to a spot on the bed next to her. “Can I sit here?”
She nodded. I perched on the edge.
“Surgery is not going to hurt because you will be asleep the whole time, but I’m not going to lie—your arm will hurt when you wake up. I’m sorry, sweetie. I wish there was a way we could do it without any pain.”