“What is your name?” David asked.
“Dr. Kim Reggis.”
“Did you really hit Mr. Bradford?” David asked incredulously.
“I’m afraid so,” Kim said.
“What on earth could have provoked you?” David asked.
Kim took a deep breath. “That prick condescendingly accused me of demanding special treatment when my sick child has been waiting for two and a half hours.”
David stared at Kim for a beat. He was mystified at such behavior from a colleague. “What’s the child’s name?” he asked.
“Rebecca Reggis,” Kim said.
David turned to the clerk and asked for Rebecca’s sign-in sheet. The clerk fumbled through the stack.
“Are you really on staff here at the University Med Center?” David asked while he waited for the sheet.
“Since the merger,” Kim said. “I’m one of the cardiac surgeons, although you’d never know it the way I’ve been treated here in the ER.”
“We do the best we can,” David said.
“Yeah, I’ve heard that excuse several times tonight,” Kim said.
David eyed Kim again. “You know, you should be ashamed of yourself,” he said. “Punching people out, smashing letter boxes. You’re acting like some malcontent teenager.”
“Screw you,” Kim said.
“For the moment I’m going to chalk that remark up to stress,” David said.
“Don’t be patronizing,” Kim said.
“Here it is,” the clerk said. He handed the sign-in sheet to David.
David glanced at it, then looked at his watch. “At least you’re right about the time. It’s been close to three hours. That’s certainly no justification for your behavior, but it’s too long to wait.”
David looked at Tracy. “Are you Mrs. Reggis?” he asked.
“I’m Rebecca Reggis’s mother,” Tracy said.
“Why don’t you get the young lady. I’ll personally see to it she’s seen immediately.”
“Thank you,” Tracy said. She hurried out to the waiting room.
David went behind the desk to get a clipboard for the sign-in sheet. He also used the intercom to get a nurse to come out. When he reemerged, Tracy was back with Becky in tow. A moment later a nurse appeared. Her name tag identified her as Nicole Michaels.
“How are you feeling, young lady?” David asked Becky.
“Not too good,” Becky admitted. “I want to go home.”
“I’m sure you do,” David said. “But first let’s check you out. Why don’t you go ahead with Nicole. She’ll get you situated in one of the examination cubicles.”
Tracy, Becky, and Kim started forward. David reached out to restrain Kim.
“I’d prefer that you wait out here, if you don’t mind,” David said.
“I’m going with my daughter,” Kim stated.
“No, you are not,” David said. “You’ve proved yourself emotionally stressed. You’re acting like a loose cannon.
Kim hesitated. As much as he didn’t want to admit it, David had a point. Still, it was irritating and demeaning.
“Come on, Doctor,” David said. “Surely you understand.”
Kim cast a glance at the receding image of Becky and Tracy. He looked back at David, who was not about to be intimidated, physically or otherwise.
“But…” Kim began.
“No buts,” David said. “Don’t make me call the police, which I’ll do if you don’t cooperate.”
Reluctantly Kim turned around and walked back to the waiting room. There were no seats, so he leaned up against the wall by the entrance. He tried to watch the television but couldn’t concentrate. He raised his hand and looked at it; he was trembling.
A half hour later Tracy and Becky emerged from the treatment area. It was by chance that Kim happened to see them as they pushed through the exit door. They were leaving without even having tried to find him.
Kim quickly gathered his coat and gloves and hurried after them. He caught up to them just as Tracy was helping Becky climb into the car.
“What are you going to do?” Kim demanded. “Just ignore me?”
Tracy didn’t say anything. She shut the door behind Becky and then walked around to the driver’s-side door.
Kim followed and put his hand on the door to keep it from opening.
“Please, don’t cause any more trouble,” Tracy said. “You’ve already embarrassed both of us.”
Taken aback by this new and unexpected affront, Kim took his hand away. Tracy got into the car. She reached for the door but then didn’t close it. She looked up into Kim’s surprised and hurt face. “Go home and get some sleep,” she said. “That’s what we’re going to do.”