“Good idea,” Kim said. He stood. “Discuss it with your family. If you have any questions, just call.”
Kim walked Mr. Amendola to the door.
“You’re sure the tests you’ve done are right?” Mr. Amendola asked. “Maybe my valve isn’t so bad.”
“It’s bad,” Kim said. “Remember, we got a second opinion.”
“True,” Mr. Amendola said with resignation. “Okay, I’ll get back to you.”
Kim waited in the corridor until it was certain Mr. Amendola was on his way to reception. Then Kim lifted the heavy chart of the next patient out of the chart rack on the back of the door to the second examining room.
Before Kim had even read the name, Ginger appeared at the end of the corridor. She had to move out of the way for Mr. Amendola to pass.
“I just got a call from the ward clerk on Becky’s floor,” she reported. “I’m supposed to tell you that the gastro something-or-other doctor is seeing Becky at this very moment.”
“Then I’m out of here,” Kim said quickly. He replaced the chart into its rack and stepped into his private office. While he was getting his suit jacket from the closet, Ginger came in.
“Where are you going?” she asked.
“Back to the hospital,” Kim said.
“When will you be back?” Ginger asked.
“I don’t know,” Kim said. He pulled on his winter coat. “Let Cheryl know, so that the patient doesn’t sit and wait in the examining room.”
“What about the other patients?” Ginger said.
“Tell them there’s been an emergency,” Kim said. “I’ll be back but probably not for an hour and a half or so.”
Kim picked up his car keys and went to his rear door.
Ginger shook her head. She was the one who would have to face the patients. From past experience she knew how upset they were going to be, especially the ones coming from out of town.
“Just do the best you can,” Kim said as if reading her mind.
Kim dashed to his car. He jumped in, started it, and drove out into the congested street. Leaning on his horn, he weaved in and out of the traffic. He felt desperate. Particularly after Tracy’s comments, he did not want to miss talking directly to the GI consult.
In the hospital lobby, Kim repeatedly hit the elevator button as if such action would bring a car sooner. Several visitors eyed him suspiciously.
Once on Becky’s floor, Kim literally ran down the hall. When he entered Becky’s room, he was panting. He saw Tracy standing off to the side, talking with a woman in a long, professorial white coat. Even a quick glance told him that Tracy was distraught.
Becky was in her bed on her back with her head propped up against the pillow. Her dark eyes stared ahead. At the moment, the only apparent motion was the relentless drip of fluid in the millipore chamber of the IV line.
Kim stepped over to the side of the bed. “How are you doing, Pumpkin?” he asked. He grasped her hand and lifted it. There was little resistance.
“I’m tired,” Becky offered.
“I’m sure you are, dear,” Kim said. Instinctively he felt her pulse. Her heart rate was on the high side of normal. By gently pulling down one of her eyelids, he checked her conjunctiva. It was pale but not significantly paler than it had been. He felt her skin. It was not particularly hot or moist, and her level of hydration seemed better than it had been the night before.
Kim’s own pulse began to race. He could tell what Tracy had meant. There had been a change in Becky, and Tracy’s description of glassy-eyed and listless was accurate. It was as if part of Becky’s incredible life force was in abeyance. She’d become lethargic.
“I’m going to talk to Mom,” Kim said.
“All right,” Becky answered.
Kim stepped over to Tracy. He could see she was subtly trembling.
“This is Dr. Kathleen Morgan,” Tracy said.
“Are you the GI specialist?” Kim asked.
“I am indeed,” Kathleen said.
Kim eyed the woman. In many ways she was the physical antithesis of Claire Stevens, although they were about the same age. Kim estimated that she couldn’t have been much over five feet in height. Her face was round and her features were quite soft. She wore wire-rimmed glasses that gave her the aura of a schoolmarm. Her dark hair was prematurely streaked with silver.