“So he got it from my antibiotics?”
“That’s right.”
Obviously relieved, Joanne chuckled. “Wait’ll he grows up and I tell him the first problem he had was a yeast infection.”
“Mom.” The shade of Kent’s face deepened.
“So you’re gonna give us some cream to stick on his tongue?”
“Not exactly but you’ve got the right idea. It’s nystatin suspension, which you’ll give him with a dropper. I’ve known of some women who eat yogurt, which has the good bacteria they need to replace what was lost. I’m not sure if it would work as well coming through you but it wouldn’t hurt. Just make sure the yogurt you eat has the active cultures.”
“I’ll do both,” Joanne said. “By the time Clayton’s a year old, Kent’s gonna know the real facts of life, Dr. Sheldon.”
“You need to know that although I’m comfortable with my diagnosis, many of my colleagues would feel that at least some blood work is indicated for a baby this young.”
“Stick him with a needle?” Kent shook his head. “Forget those other guys right now, okay? You’re the man.”
“I trust you, Dr. Sheldon,” Joanne agreed.
“You will need to see his regular doctor in a couple of days. Since it’s Sunday and no pharmacies are open, we’ll dispense the medicine you need. If you have any problems before you get in to see his doctor, come right back here, okay?”
“Gotcha,” Kent said. “Thanks, Dr. Sheldon.”
Grant left the exam room with a strong feeling of hope. Maybe Kent Eckard was one young person who wouldn’t remain a victim of Simon Royce’s meth poison. Maybe there would be others.
***
Jessica watched her friend check the chart for the third time. “You know, Lauren, I didn’t even want to come in. I’m just upset—that’s the only thing that’s wrong with me.”
“We don’t want to take any chances with our favorite patient.”
Jessica frowned. Something about Lauren’s behavior seemed a little off. “I really need to get back out there and look for Archer.”
“Why, Jessica Pierce, do you know how many people are looking for him now? I’d say a large percentage of the town. How do you think we’d feel if you fainted out there alone somewhere and we were the ones who let you go? Why don’t we sit tight until all the test results come back?” Lauren stepped over to the bed and adjusted the monitor.
Jessica studied her expression carefully. “Does Grant think there’s a problem? I’ve been here for forty-five minutes. I feel okay. Really.”
Lauren hesitated. “He’s being his usual thorough self.”
“About what? What does he think this—”
Lauren shot her a typical grin that lit up her eyes. It looked genuine enough. “Would you please relax and let us take care of you? You know how Grant can be with us independent women. He needs to be in charge.”
Jessica didn’t quite buy the grin. Lauren wasn’t holding her gaze. “What aren’t you telling me?”
Lauren’s lips parted and she pressed her fingers to her chest. “Why on earth would you say a thing like that?”
Grant entered the room with a smile before Jessica could reply. Lauren gave an intentionally obvious sigh of relief. “Just in time, Dr. Sheldon. The patient is getting hostile.”
“And the nurse is withholding information from me,” Jessica said.
Grant gave Lauren a pointed look and then winked. “See what I mean?”
She shrugged. “You know me too well.”
“Hello? Would somebody tell me what’s going on?” These two were obviously flying a little high right now. Jessica could see how they looked at each other, but…there was something else. “Have you heard something about Archer? Please—”
“Actually, I just received word from Tony that the seatbelt in Archer’s car was not torn or broken,” Grant said. “Tony thinks that could mean Archer was able to escape the car before it went into the river.”
“He always wears his seatbelt.” For the first time since hearing about the car she felt a sudden rush of hope. “That means I need to get back out there and start looking for him.”
“That might not be the best idea right now,” Grant said.
“Why not?”
“I’ve been delayed because I wanted to double check the results on one of the tests we took on you.”
She waited for him to continue.
Lauren took Jessica’s hand and squeezed.
Grant pulled a chair over to the bed and sat down. “You knew we took a pregnancy test.”
Pregnancy test. “You told me that was just routine procedure for something like this.”
“And there’s a good reason for that, because if the symptoms you experienced were due to pregnancy, it would be vital to find any problem as quickly as possible to protect your baby.”
“And so you waited for what?”
“I wanted to make sure the positive results weren’t false.”
“You’re saying I...It can’t be possible. I couldn’t have tested positive.”
“Yes.”
“But I haven’t missed a monthly.”
“You told me your last one was lighter than normal,” Lauren said. “That isn’t unusual.”
“I’m sorry for the delay,” Grant said, leaning forward, gray eyes calm. “We did a quantitative test to make sure. The lab numbers look good and according to them you’re about six to seven weeks along.”
If Jessica hadn’t been lying down she was sure she would have fainted again. “I’m pregnant!”
“Congratulations, Jessica,” he said gently. “Yes, you’re pregnant.”
For a few seconds she couldn’t catch her breath. She caught Lauren’s hand in both of hers and held tightly while the news registered like a shockwave throughout her whole body. The room shifted around her. Grant leaned forward and Lauren wrapped her in a hug.
“It’s okay, honey,” Lauren said. “It’ll be okay.”
The growing fear...joy...bittersweet pain left her feeling breathless. “It’s such a surprise. I mean, I’ve been so focused on Archer—”
“Of course you have,” Lauren said.
“I want you to have an ultrasound,” Grant said. “I’m probably being overly cautious because it isn’t unusual for a woman who is pregnant to pass out, especially in your situation. I just want to make sure the baby looks as good as the lab report indicates. The ultrasound tech should be in here at any time to take you to Radiology. It won’t take long, because this isn’t a regular outpatient day.”
“There’s a... a problem?”
Grant smiled at her. “Relax, Jess. This is just routine procedure when an expectant mother faints. We want to make sure the baby is in the right place and that this isn’t a tubal pregnancy.”
There was a knock at the doorway and the secretary, Vivian, stuck her head inside. “Heads up, all. Looks like the Dogwood Springs Baptist Church has decided to hold an afternoon service out in the waiting room.”
“They’re here?” Jessica exclaimed.
“Caryn Dalton told me when they brought you in that she was going to call the church for immediate prayer,” Vivian told them. “You know Caryn doesn’t waste any time. Someone said she interrupted the prayer service they were having for Archer. Now they’re converging on you, Jessica. Better get ready.”
“They want to see me?” She was both touched and alarmed. “Oh, please, Grant, Lauren, please don’t tell them what this is all about.”
“Don’t worry,” Grant said. “Your records are confidential. We won’t say a word.”
“I’ll talk to the staff and make sure no one else lets anything slip,” Lauren assured her.
“So do you want company or not?” Vivian asked.
“Not right now, Vivian,” Grant said. “We need to do some more tests, and in case anyone asks—”
“I know, Dr. Sheldon. They’ll get nothing out of me even under threat of death.”
“Let’s hope
it doesn’t get that drastic.”
“You don’t know our church very well,” Jessica said. Then more softly she added, “Apparently, neither do I.”
***
Archer spat water and choked. He had become a prisoner and the river his jailer, torturing him with every ripple as it whirled him past submerged trees and trash that had caught and piled up like scattered dams.
He felt the jolt of his right foot hitting the root of a giant sycamore as he paddled with his hands against the muddy water. His legs were useless.
The river shoved him toward a small ledge that jutted from the rocky terrain of the cliff. The ledge barely rose above the surface of the river and it formed a small hollow depression that might hold him. He could go no farther. He forced his arms to move out and grasp a rocky outcropping as he floated by.
With a cry of agony he pulled himself the mere six inches into the depression. He rested his torso for a moment and then heaved himself forward on his elbows and dragged his legs from the water. Rocks bit through his wool coat.
He collapsed with his head in the crook of his arm, breathing hard against the pain. His body felt as if it had been ripped in half. Incessant shivers made the pain worse.
And yet the cold water had taken the edge off the sharpest pain.
He concentrated on his breathing, thankful to find this muddy haven from the flooding river, thankful for the jacket—even though it was soaked through. This small, cave-like mud hollow could conserve some of his body heat. If he could endure the pain long enough maybe it would go away.
He pulled himself into the depression and used the ledge as a lever to turn himself onto his back to give it better support.
Would they find him in time?
Or was he going to die here alone?
***
Jessica lay with her eyes closed, still overwhelmed by the test results. Archer would be ecstatic.
The very thought of losing him hurt so badly she knew she would be willing to die with him. Except now she couldn’t just consider herself.
She placed her hand over her stomach and closed her eyes—felt the hot burn of tears on her eyelids. She was vaguely aware of the sound of movement in the exam room and then felt hands on her shoulders. She looked up into Lauren’s gentle green eyes and saw her own pain reflected there.
“I feel so lost, Lauren.”
“I imagine you do, honey. You don’t have to do anything right now and you’ve got to remember you’re not alone. Never alone.” Lauren handed her some tissues and waited patiently while Jessica wiped still more tears from her eyes and blew her nose.
Once again, Jessica allowed Lauren’s presence to instill some peace in her. “I’m sorry,” she murmured. “I don’t know why I’m such a basket case whenever you’re around.”
“Hey, don’t start with me on that,” Lauren said. “Remember the tornado warning? Who was the strong one then? That’s what friends are for.”
“Since you’re my friend would you tell me something?” Jessica asked. “Why aren’t my prayers getting through?”
“Oh, honey, God doesn’t have any trouble hearing your prayers but you know as well as I do that there’s safety in numbers. I think it’s one reason He put us together in church. Ever read that verse in Ecclesiastes that reminds us about two being able to resist an attack better than one, and a cord of three strands isn’t easily torn apart? The more you’ve got praying for you and with you, the better.”
“Thank you.”
“You’ve got more people out there in the waiting room praying for you and Archer. I think it’d help if you trusted them enough to confide in them just a little more. That way they’d have a better idea about how to pray.”
“Helen Netz had a little talk with me about that a few weeks ago.”
“Oh, really?” Lauren drawled. “This should be interesting. What did she say?”
“That a pastor and his family shouldn’t confide too much in their church family. They should have their own group of ministers to help them share the burdens and that’s what ministerial conferences are for.”
“Ministerial conferences!” Lauren exclaimed. “And you attend how many of those a year? One or two?”
“I’ve been to one with Archer since we got married.”
“Well, excuse me, Jessica, but if I wasn’t such a wonderful Christian I’d smack that woman silly for talking such trash.”
Jessica gasped aloud before she caught the glint of mischief in Lauren’s eyes. Then she giggled in spite of this awful situation.
“I don’t think you should pay much attention to what she says.”
“According to Helen, my mother-in-law never expected the church to carry her burdens and she was always ready to help someone else, and—”
Lauren clucked her tongue and shook her head as she sat back. “Helen Netz needs her mouth washed out with steel wool. I was practically born in a church pew. My daddy’s been a deacon for forty years and a church has to be a living breathing organism if it’s going to be the body of Christ. That means give and take, share burdens when they come, and pray for those in need of it—pastors and their families includ—”
Grant knocked and entered the room. “Excuse me for interrupting the sermon, Jessica, but how would you feel about being admitted for an overnight stay on the floor?”
She sat up. “Admitted? Why? What did the ultrasound show?”
“It isn’t an ectopic pregnancy but I would like you to have an exam. Dr. Campbell has a shift here tonight, so she can do it.”
“What was wrong with the ultrasound?”
“Nothing at all but since you’re right on the borderline for showing fetal heart activity an exam would relieve my mind just a little more. This way we could watch you for other problems since you’ve had a fainting episode. I’m also ordering a serum progesterone level test done as a double check. No more needles, though. We’ll run this test on the blood that’s already been drawn.” He checked his watch. “Those folks from church are still waiting to see you.”
Jessica gave Lauren a quick glance.
Lauren nodded.
“Okay,” Jessica said. “I’d like to see some of them. Thanks, Grant.”
He stepped out and Lauren squeezed Jessica’s arm. “You’ve got to trust me on this one, Jessica. You’re as much a part of this church as any other member and you need our support now. You’ve got to learn to accept it. You let me deal with Helen Netz.”
Jessica breathed a silent sigh of relief when the two “representatives” from the church who came into her exam room were Caryn Dalton and the church secretary, Mrs. Boucher.
“Jess, you look a lot better now than you did a couple hours ago.” Caryn pulled a chair around beside the bed. “Go ahead and have a seat, Mrs. Boucher. I’m too wired with nervous energy. Tony’s using Henry for his eyes today to help him coordinate the search. They’ve got SAR driving in from West Plains. He couldn’t get the dogs yet because they’re out on another search.”
“If it’s any consolation, though,” Mrs. Boucher said, “prayers are going up for Archer constantly.” She dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. “You know I love that young man like my own. Have you heard when his parents are coming in? Lots of people want to see them.”
“Maybe tomorrow,” Jessica said.
Caryn touched her arm. “Jess, I hope you don’t mind that I went to the church as soon as we brought you in. I knew you were in good hands with Grant and Lauren and I felt they needed to know about your situation so they could be praying for you, too.”
“Yes, and we got to work right away, let me tell you,” Mrs. Boucher said. “We had volunteers for a round-the-clock prayer team and search teams to hit the hollers and roadsides as soon as they get the go-ahead from the police. Tony warned us we’d need to be careful about the possibility of messing up any scent the dogs might pick up on later.”
“We’ve had seventy volunteers from the church to help search so far,” Caryn said. “Now that the car’s
been found they’ll have a better idea about where to look.”
“Seventy!” Jess exclaimed, overwhelmed by the response.
“Yes, and we spent the whole worship time in prayer this morning,” Mrs. Boucher said. “Jessica, we all know this must be horrible for you, and we want you to know we’re here for you whenever you want us. Several have volunteered to spend the night with you so you won’t have to be alone.”
“Thanks so much.” Don’t cry again. “You can tell everyone they won’t need to pack their overnight bags,” she said. “I’ve been offered the hospitality of a room on the patient floor tonight. They want to keep an eye on me after I passed out this morning.”
“Oh, honey,” Mrs. Boucher leaned forward, the lines around her eyes deepening with compassion. “I think this is the best place for you right now. You’re bound to feel as close to Archer here as you would anywhere else considering the amount of time he spends here. Nobody knows as well as you do how he loves praying with patients and you’ve spent a lot of time here with him.”
Jessica could have kissed the lady for referring to Archer in the present tense and for offering such a powerful reminder of the impact his loving concern had made on this place.
She hugged the two ladies goodbye and resigned herself to eating hospital food for the next couple of meals.
***
The pain was becoming bearable again and Archer lay with his eyes closed as he listened to the roar of the river.
He was so thirsty. He reached his hand up and cupped his palm, allowed the water to trickle into it, then raised it to his mouth. It tasted wonderful. He drank until his thirst was quenched.
He looked out across the muddy surface of the river and felt a quiver of panic in his gut. The movement of the current nauseated him. How had he reached this spot alive?
“Thank you, Lord,” he breathed. It had to be a miracle. He should have drowned.
But now he was hidden from view. Unless they came looking in this particular little depression for him—unless someone knew it was here—there was even less chance than before that they would find him.
He closed his eyes, dismayed by his own lack of faith. In one breath he was thanking God for the miracle and then his next thought was one of faithless fear.
URGENT CARE Page 22
