Viral

by Robin Cook

  “Dr. Kramer, can I speak with you alone for a moment?” Brian said when the doctor turned to him, presumably to declare Juliette a picture of health.

  “Of course,” Dr. Kramer said, motioning for him to step out into the corridor.

  “I thought it best to tell you that my daughter is under a lot of stress,” Brian said, struggling to stay in control of his emotions, now heightened by the long wait to be seen and Juliette’s disappearing symptoms. “Her mother died yesterday from EEE and my daughter happened to witness her suffering two grand mal convulsions, including the one yesterday that resulted in her death.”

  “Oh, what a terrible story,” Dr. Kramer voiced with sympathy. “I’m so sorry for your loss. Was your wife seen here in our ED?”

  “Yes,” Brian said. “Yesterday. She was brought in by ALS ambulance.”

  “Oh, yes. I heard about that case. Such a tragedy for an otherwise healthy young woman. EEE is a bad disease, but it seems that your daughter is weathering your wife’s passing rather well.”

  “Actually, she hasn’t,” he argued. “During the two weeks that my wife had been sick, my daughter had been struggling emotionally and behaviorally. Then it all came to a head yesterday when she was told her mother had died. She stopped communicating, and then today she had a chill, and when her temperature was taken, it was 101.”

  “She’s afebrile now,” Dr. Kramer stated.

  “But her fever was real,” Brian insisted. “I took it myself. It wasn’t quite 101 but very close. I’m worried that she might be coming down with something, like Covid.”

  “Has she been exposed to someone with Covid?” Dr. Kramer asked. “Or has she been to any large functions or gatherings?”

  “No, not at all.”

  “Have any of her friends or anyone in the family tested positive?”

  “No, no one. And even when she was occasionally out, she didn’t socialize, and she has been very good about wearing a mask. Or at least that is what I was told. But, still, her symptoms made us worry she might have the virus.”

  “She likely doesn’t have Covid-19,” Dr. Kramer said. “And she has plenty of reason to have significant psychosomatic symptoms, including a slight elevation in body temperature. If someone has contracted Covid-19 and has begun to have symptoms, even mild symptoms, they don’t just spontaneously recover in a matter of hours. Trust me!”

  “How can you be sure about my daughter?” he questioned. “I’d like her to at least have a Covid-19 test and maybe some blood work just to be on the safe side.”

  “Mr. Murphy, your daughter is afebrile, currently has no symptoms, and has a completely negative physical exam. She doesn’t need blood work or a Covid-19 test. Besides, we currently are swamped with Covid-19 tests for people with real indications and for those being admitted as inpatients.”

  “We’ve waited for more than three hours to be seen,” Brian snapped. “The least you could do is indulge me.”

  “I’m sorry to hear you’ve had to wait,” Dr. Kramer said, trying to remain calm. “We make an effort to see everyone in a timely fashion according to their need.”

  “I’ve heard that before, but it’s not been that busy. Three hours is a long time to wait with a sick child.”

  “We try to triage as best as we can,” Dr. Kramer said with growing irritation. “We need to give priority to the sickest patients.”

  “You’re not hearing me. We’ve witnessed a number of people who walked in after us who didn’t look or act sick, were seen, and walked out while we were ignored. I’ll tell you what it makes me think. I think we have been forced to wait because I owe the hospital a ton of money for my wife’s treatment. And now, also because of that, you are refusing to really look into my daughter’s symptoms. You don’t want to do any lab tests because you worry you won’t get paid.”

  Clearly taking offense, Dr. Kramer said: “Mr. Murphy, we here in the ED have no idea of any patient’s financial status vis-à-vis the hospital. We don’t discriminate at all for any reason whatsoever except the degree of emergency involved. With an ambulatory patient, once they are signed in, we diagnose and we treat just as soon as we can. We order tests when we think they are called for. That’s the long and short of it.”

  At that moment, Olivia stuck her head out from the examination room. “Sorry to interrupt, but Miss Juliette and Bunny very much want to go home.”

  “Mr. Murphy, I strongly recommend you listen to your daughter and go home. You both are under a lot of stress. I’m sorry for your loss.” With that, Dr. Kramer turned on her heels and walked away.

  Feeling newly annoyed at now being patronized, Brian stared after her, resisting going after her to get in the last word. Instead, he turned around and went into the examination room.

  “Let’s go, Pumpkin!” he said, reaching to pick Juliette and Bunny up into his arms.

  CHAPTER 24

  September 1

  By the time Brian got out to Jeanne in the waiting area, he’d calmed down to a degree. What had helped was seeing that Juliette had been entertained while he was having words with Dr. Kramer. Once again Olivia had given her the hemostat to play with, and now Juliette was telling him she wanted to be a surgeon when she grew up.

  “Well, what was found?” Jeanne asked, pocketing her phone. She stood up and picked up his laptop.

  “Absolutely nothing,” Brian answered, his frustration clearly showing. “They gave her a clean bill of health, and they refused to do any blood work or give her a Covid-19 test. We waited for three hours for nothing.”

  “What about her fever?”

  “It was gone,” Brian said. He sat Juliette down so he could get out his phone to call Camila. “I couldn’t believe it. They took her temperature twice with a thermal scanner. Both times 98.6. I’m not sure they believed that it had been 101 earlier.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “A little stressed,” he admitted. “I was hoping that they would have been willing to be a bit more aggressive diagnostically.”

  As Brian made the call to arrange for them to be picked up, Jeanne asked Bunny how she felt about the examination. Juliette responded by talking about playing with the hemostat and explained how it functioned. As soon as he finished contacting Camila, all three walked out into the warm afternoon sunshine to stand at the turnout in front of the hospital. While they waited, Jeanne asked why the doctor didn’t do a Covid-19 test at the very least.

  “She didn’t think it was necessary, especially with no history of exposure or symptoms,” Brian explained irritably. “She told me that their testing was currently swamped with people with definite symptoms and those who were about to be admitted as inpatients.”

  “Isn’t a temperature elevation, a sore throat, and a headache enough to qualify?”

  “By the time Juliette was seen she didn’t have any symptoms and had no fever,” Brian said with obvious frustration. “I still tried to force the issue, but the doctor was adamant, saying that Covid-19 symptoms don’t resolve over the course of a few hours, and for what it’s worth, I’m sure she is right. As for Juliette’s symptoms, the doctor attributed them to being psychosomatic.”

  “Even the fever?”

  “Yeah, even the fever.”

  “Well, at least Juliette seemed to have enjoyed herself and now wants to be a surgeon,” Jeanne said, trying to look on the bright side.

  “I wish I could say the same for myself,” Brian said. “The doctor’s attitude irked me, and I’m afraid I kind of provoked her by accusing the ED of purposefully making us wait.”

  “Uh-oh, I was afraid of that.”

  “I couldn’t help myself,” he confessed.

  “Well, at least we know Juliette is okay,” Jeanne offered. “Now I think you should call your mother and let her know so the wake can get underway.”

  “Oh, shit!” Brian whispered, gritting his t
eeth. “I was trying not to think about that. I still don’t know how I feel about the whole wake idea. I’m not sure I can face it or want to subject Juliette to it.”

  “I know exactly what you mean. I felt the same reservation going to my husband’s, Riley’s, wake a year ago. But you know what? Ultimately, I was glad I was forced to participate, and it gave me an appreciation for the Irish funeral traditions as a celebration of a life rather than purely a mourning for a loss. On top of that, I actually became closer to my in-laws because of it.”

  “So you really changed your mind about your husband’s wake after going?”

  “Yes, I did,” Jeanne said. “It definitely helped me deal with the whole situation. I truly was glad I was pressured to attend.”

  “All right, I’ll take your word for it, but what about you-know-who?” He nodded down at Juliette, who was holding on to Brian’s hand. “Do you really think I should ask her if she wants to go?”

  “As I said, Riley had a young nephew and two young nieces, all of whom came to his wake. Two of them I think were four, same as your daughter. At the time, I was somewhat fearful of the effects on their young psyches, but they weathered it well and seemed to have been appreciative of being included. As I said, my advice is to ask her. Kids that age have some intuitive idea of what death means.”

  “Oh, boy,” he muttered. He looked down at Juliette, who had let go of his hand to retrieve Bunny from the sidewalk. As she was wiping off the stuffed rabbit, Brian said, “Juliette, I have a question I need to ask you.”

  “You are going to do it here?” Jeanne asked with alarm. “Do you think this is the right place?”

  “Why not? Suddenly I have the courage and need to get it out. Do you think asking her here is a mistake?”

  “No, I guess not.”

  “Juliette, love,” Brian continued while retaking her hand. “Yesterday we lost Mommy. She died and went to heaven, and today Grandma and Grandpa O’Brien are having a celebration of Mommy’s life called a wake. Mommy’s body will be there for people to see for the last time to say goodbye before she is buried.”

  “How can Mommy’s body be at Grandma’s if she went to heaven?” Juliette asked, looking up at him.

  “Her spirit or soul went to heaven,” Brian explained, exchanging a rapid glance with Jeanne for reassurance. She nodded encouragement. “Her empty body is still here with us. But there is no life. She won’t talk or move.”

  “Will she look icky?” Juliette asked, making a face.

  “No, she will probably look beautiful just like always,” Brian reassured her, struggling with his own emotions. “You can bring something to leave with Mommy’s body if you would like to keep her company.”

  “Can I bring Bunny?”

  “Of course you can bring Bunny,” he said, taking a deep breath to keep himself under a semblance of equanimity. He glanced again at Jeanne and could tell she was having the same control issues. “I’m sure that Mommy’s spirit will be very happy if you bring Bunny.”

  “I want to go and bring Bunny,” Juliette insisted.

  “Okay, perfect. You, Bunny, and I will all go together.” He again looked over at Jeanne, who gave him a thumbs-up.

  “I want you to come, too,” Juliette said, looking up at Jeanne.

  “Thank you, sweetheart,” Jeanne said. She was touched and exchanged a quick, teary glance with Brian. “But I don’t think that would be appropriate. The wake is for family, especially during the pandemic when the number of visitors will likely be limited. But if you’d like I’ll come and visit you tomorrow, and you can tell me all about it.”

  “Okay,” Juliette said agreeably as the Murphys’ Subaru appeared, coming up the driveway onto the hospital grounds.

  CHAPTER 25

  September 1

  The ride from MMH Inwood to the house took only a few minutes, but it was long enough for Brian to call Aimée and report that Juliette had been given a clean bill of health, providing a green light for Emma’s wake. Aimée had been pleased on both accounts and promised to let Hannah know immediately. She then asked when Brian and Juliette would be arriving, and he said they’d come over within the hour.

  Camila turned into the Murphy driveway and stopped alongside the house. After everyone got out, Camila and Juliette headed for the back door, which led directly into the kitchen. Jeanne held up, saying she’d get her bike from where she’d placed it back by the garage and head home. “I hope all goes well at the wake,” she added. “And I hope it has the same effect on you my husband’s had on me.”

  “I hope so, too. And I want to thank you sincerely for your help and generosity. You’ve been amazing with Juliette. Really! I can’t thank you enough.”

  “It’s been my pleasure,” Jeanne said. “She’s a darling little girl. And dealing with her has reminded me of what I missed about being a school psychologist. It’s so much more rewarding than running a business. So, if you need more help with her, say, after the wake and funeral, I’m certainly available, and you have my number.”

  “As I said and I say again, I appreciate your generosity.”

  After Jeanne retrieved her bike Brian walked with her back out to the street.

  “I’m sorry about the pavement around here,” he said. “Be careful. They ground down the street in preparation to repave it, but when it’s going to get done is anybody’s guess. With all the utilities sticking up, it’s treacherous.”

  “I’ll be careful,” Jeanne promised. “I’ll walk the bike, until I think it’s safe.”

  “Good idea. Thanks again for everything. Truly.”

  “You are welcome,” Jeanne said, waving over her shoulder as she walked her bike down toward Park Terrace West. Brian watched her until she turned the corner.

  Using the front door, he entered the house. He found Camila and Juliette upstairs in Juliette’s room, trying to decide which of her many church dresses that Grandma Aimée had bought for her that she wanted to wear. While that was in process, Brian went into his closet, got out the only dark suit he owned, and put it on. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d worn it. He then pushed around his unruly, relatively short hair with a hairbrush. Returning to Juliette’s room, he saw that she had made up her mind about her outfit and was now almost ready. She looked precious in a pink dress with her golden hair braided and tied with a matching ribbon. On her feet were black patent-leather shoes. Whether such clothes were appropriate for a wake, he had no idea, but he didn’t care. If that was what Juliette wanted to wear, it was fine with him. She was holding Bunny tightly, clutched against her chest.

  As he was admiring his daughter, he felt his phone vibrate, indicating he’d gotten a text message. Taking it out, he saw it was from Roger Dalton, and opening the message, he read that Roger wanted him to call as soon as possible. Brian couldn’t help but wonder what it might be about, knowing it couldn’t be anything good. But then he thought that perhaps it had something to do with Patrick McCarthy or Megan Doyle and their need to obtain a full printout of the hospital record. But whatever it was, he decided to put it off until after the wake. He was already under enough stress despite everything that Jeanne had said and still had reservations about going, both for himself and Juliette. He also decided at some appropriate time in the future to let it be known that when his own time came, he’d prefer not to have his body go through all such rituals.

  “How about you, Camila?” he said when Juliette was completely ready. “I apologize for not asking earlier whether you’d like to come with us, but you are welcome.”

  “No, thank you. I think a wake is for immediate family,” Camila said, echoing Jeanne.

  “You feel like family to me,” Brian observed.

  “Thank you for that, but others might not feel the same. I prefer to stay here.” She then pulled Brian to the side and said in a lowered voice, “With Jeanne gone, Juliette seems to be reverting ba
ck to her silent mode. She’s hardly talking again.”

  “Oh, no,” he said. “Good grief! That’s not encouraging. What’s your opinion? Should I rethink taking her to the wake?”

  “No, I’m convinced she wants to go,” Camila said. “She wouldn’t have been so involved in picking out a dress and her hairstyle if she didn’t. Just keep it in mind that the whole situation is extremely stressful for her.”

  “That’s understandable,” Brian said, thinking of his own ambivalence. “All right, let’s get it over with.”

  As they exited the house, he complimented Juliette on how lovely she looked but got no response. Nor did she speak as they descended the steps in the front yard when he asked how she felt about going to the wake now that they were on their way. The only response he got was when he asked her if she had enjoyed meeting Jeanne. The answer was a simple yes without any elaboration.

  The trip only took a few minutes, and the only minor problem was Juliette navigating the roughly striated street in her patent-leather shoes when they needed to cross to the other side. As they got closer to the O’Briens’, which was also one of the very few single-family homes in Inwood, they could see about a dozen people standing in the small front yard and a few more on the front porch, all engaged in small group conversations and mostly maintaining a reasonable amount of social distancing. All were wearing masks, including the handful of children who were present. Many of the adults were holding cut-crystal glassware, which Brian assumed contained Jameson whiskey. Despite the masks, he recognized most people although there were a few he couldn’t place. Over the years he’d met almost all of Emma’s many relatives at various holiday gatherings. Emma had three older brothers with families, and Emma’s mother and father had a total of five siblings altogether. Brian also recognized a few of his relatives on his father’s side, including an uncle who was a retired NYPD officer. He didn’t see any of his siblings, but assumed they’d merely not yet arrived. None of them were currently living in Inwood.