Doctor Right. Janet Tronstad

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СКАЧАТЬ walked over to greet the Fields as they opened the door and stepped inside.

      “Where is he?” Mrs. Fields asked breathlessly, even as her eyes came to rest on the gurney. She was a slight woman with a harried expression on her face, and she was wearing a stained sweatshirt. Maryann remembered that there were a couple of children younger than Timmy in the family. They were all due for shots and Alex had them on the list for her to call.

      “What kind of a fool thing were you doing, boy?” Mr. Fields asked as he followed his wife into the room. He was overweight and puffing hard, but he zeroed in on Timmy right away. “You know better than taking off like that.”

      Maryann saw Timmy’s face crumple in misery.

      She stepped back to the gurney. “I was just going to say a prayer for Timmy. Would you both join me?”

      “Oh.” Mrs. Fields looked up in surprise.

      “I—” Mr. Fields started to say something, then stopped.

      Maryann walked closer to Timmy and winked at him. She had a moment’s hesitation. It had been a long time since she’d prayed in public and she wasn’t sure if it was the right thing for her to do now since it was all for show. Of course, it was for Timmy’s benefit and God loved children, so it would likely be all right with Him. She bowed her head and started.

      “God of all the beings on earth and in heaven,” she began. She thought Timmy would like that since he seemed preoccupied with death and angels. “Timmy here is hurting, and we ask that you make him comfortable. He feels bad for what he did and he asks You to help him do better next time. Amen.”

      “Amen,” the Fields both muttered.

      When Maryann opened her eyes, she saw that Timmy had been right. His parents did look subdued. They moved over to their son and each gave him a pat on his head before moving back and looking at Maryann, as though waiting for further direction. She nodded approvingly at them, and smoothed the sheets on the gurney. She heard them walk away from the gurney and stop by the door.

      They had started talking to each other, thinking she couldn’t hear them. If everything else hadn’t been so quiet, they would have been right, she admitted to herself.

      “You were supposed to be watching him,” Mr. Fields hissed at his wife.

      “Me? You should have been watching him,” Mrs. Fields said, her voice low and tense. “It’s not like you’re working anymore. You should at least help with the kids.”

      “It’s not my fault I can’t find work. These are hard times and you know it. Besides, you’re his mother. Don’t lay it all on me.”

      Maryann looked down at Timmy. He could hear his parents, too, and embarrassment covered his face. She remembered what it felt like when her parents were arguing. If someone outside her family heard them, she’d wanted to disappear.

      “The doctor will be here in a minute,” Maryann said in her most professional voice. Maybe the couple wouldn’t know she had heard them. If she was calm enough, she might even fool Timmy. “In fact, I think I hear him now.”

      The voices all stopped. And then, as if on cue, Alex walked into the room.

      Something inside her applauded. He might be an ice man, but she could count on him to show up when she needed him.

      “Doctor,” Mrs. Fields said, looking up and giving him a tight smile, “how is he?”

      “Your son will be fine. He’s running a slight fever. Keep him inside and warm. Let me know if he develops a cough or the fever goes higher. But the immediate thing is that he fractured a bone in his right leg. I’m setting up a splint for it now. I just want your signature before I treat him.”

      “Can it wait?” Mr. Fields asked with a forced smile on his face. “Don’t bones sometimes heal by themselves?”

      “Wait?” Alex looked taken aback. “I’m afraid not in this case.”

      Mrs. Fields stepped closer. “How much will it be, doctor?” She kept shifting the handle on her purse from one side to the other. “I get paid next week, but—”

      “We’ll pay our bill somehow,” Mr. Fields finished for her. His face was red with embarrassment. “We might need to wait until our Permanent Fund checks come. I lost my job. It was the one that carried our health insurance, but we’ll get you paid somehow—” He looked at Alex. “You’ve been here long enough to know about the Permanent Fund checks? They’re the ones we get from the state for all the oil that’s pumped out of Alaska? Those checks are good as gold.”

      “Ah.” Alex cleared his throat. “Sure, I know about the checks. Don’t worry, though. I don’t have the figures added up, but I could use some new shelves in the waiting room. If you’re interested, we could trade services.” He looked at Mr. Fields. “I hear you’re a good carpenter.”

      “I’ve nailed a few boards together in my time,” Mr. Fields said proudly. “Your shelves are as good as done. I can come back later today to measure everything.”

      Alex nodded. “Good. I have some lumber in the back we can use.”

      “Thank you,” Mrs. Fields muttered.

      Maryann watched the whole scene with satisfaction. She knew she was right that the children of Treasure Creek needed this doctor. She only had to look at the sudden hero worship in Timmy’s eyes to know that. Alex didn’t make anyone look small, and that won him the respect of his young patients.

      “We’ll just take Timmy in the back and get him set up,” Alex said as he motioned for Maryann to follow him. He looked at Mrs. Fields. “I’ll need to cut the leg off his jeans, but I’ll do it as carefully as I can, so you can sew them back together later.”

      The woman nodded. “Thanks. He doesn’t have enough pairs as it is.”

      “Say, Doc,” Mr. Fields said from beside the door. “If the shelves aren’t enough, my wife here can introduce you to some of the local women. You know, it’d be like one of those matchmaking services they have in the big cities.”

      “What?” Alex turned to look at the man.

      “I heard you were looking,” Mr. Fields said as he reached for the doorknob. “We could help you out. Nothing fancy, but the wife here knows everyone. She’ll fix you up.”

      Maryann felt the breath leave her body. She had a bad feeling about this.

      “Hush about that.” Mrs. Fields turned to her husband. “How can you be thinking about that when our son lies there in pain?”

      Then the woman turned to the doctor. “Should we go back in the room with you when you work on Timmy’s leg?”

      Maryann risked glancing at Alex. His face looked frozen.

      “I’m fine.” Timmy spoke up from where he lay.

      Maryann noticed the boy had a strong grip on that small Bible of hers. She wished she was the one holding it, though.

      “Maybe you and Dad could wait here,” Timmy added. СКАЧАТЬ