He and Angela first eyed each other warily. Then they fell into each other’s arms. They hugged each other for a full minute before David spoke.
“Truce?” he asked.
Angela nodded her agreement. “We’re both stressed out.”
“On top of that, I think I’m coming down with something,” David said. He told her about the flu symptoms which had awakened him. “The only thing that’s still bothering me is excessive salivation,” he added.
“What do you mean by excessive salivation?” Angela asked.
“I have to keep swallowing,” David said. “It’s something like the feeling you get before vomiting, but not as bad. Anyway, it’s better than it was.”
“Have you seen Nikki?” Angela asked.
“Not yet,” David said.
After they had washed they went down to Nikki’s room. Rusty greeted them eagerly. Nikki was less enthusiastic. She was a little more congested despite the oral antibiotics and the added effort at respiratory therapy.
While Angela made breakfast, David called Dr. Pilsner and told him about Nikki’s status:
“I think I should see her right away,” Dr. Pilsner said. “Why don’t I meet you in the emergency room in half an hour?”
“We’ll be there,” David said. “And thank you. I appreciate your concern.” He was about to hang up when he thought to inquire about Caroline.
“She died,” Dr. Pilsner said. “The end came around three this morning. Her blood pressure could no longer be maintained. At least she didn’t suffer, though that’s not much consolation.”
The news, though expected, hit David hard. With a heavy heart, he went into the kitchen and told Angela the news.
Angela looked as though she might burst into tears, but instead she lashed out. “I can’t believe you let Nikki go in and visit her like you did,” she said.
Stunned at the sharp rebuke, David came back. “At least I came home at lunch yesterday to be sure Nikki got her antibiotic.” That said, he did feel guilty for having let Nikki spend time with Caroline.
David and Angela eyed each other, struggling with their irritation and fear.
“I’m sorry,” Angela said finally. “I forgot about our truce. I’m just so worried.”
“Dr. Pilsner wants to see Nikki in the ER right away,” David said. “I think we better go.”
They bundled Nikki up and went out to the car. David and Angela meticulously refrained from saying anything to provoke the other. They knew the other’s weaknesses and vulnerabilities too well. Nikki didn’t say anything either; she coughed most of the way.
Dr. Pilsner was waiting for them and immediately took Nikki into one of the examining stalls. David and Angela stood to the side while Dr. Pilsner examined Nikki. When he was finished he drew them aside.
“I want her in the hospital immediately,” he said.
“Do you think she has pneumonia?” David asked.
“I’m not sure,” Dr. Pilsner said. “But it’s possible. I don’t want to take any chances after what happened . . .” He didn’t finish his sentence.
“I’ll stay here with Nikki,” Angela said to David. “You go do your rounds.”
“All right,” David said. “Page me if there’s any problem.” David was still feeling poorly himself; this latest development with Nikki only made him feel worse. He kissed his daughter goodbye, promising that he’d be by to see her all through the day. Nikki nodded. She’d been through this routine before.
David got several aspirins from an ER nurse, then headed upstairs.
“How is Mrs. Hascher?” David asked Janet Colburn as soon as he saw her. He sat down at the desk and pulled his patients’ charts.
“Nothing much said at report,” Janet said. “I don’t think any of us have been in there yet this morning. We’ve been concentrating on getting the seven-thirty surgical cases down to the operating room.”
David opened Sandra’s chart hesitantly. First he looked at the temperature chart. There had been no spikes of fever. The last temperature taken was just over one hundred. Turning to the nurses’ notes he read that Sandra had been sleeping each time a nurse had gone into her room.
David breathed a sigh of relief. So far so good. When he was finished with the charts he began seeing the patients. All were doing well except for Sandra.