Silence of the Jams

by Gayle Leeson

  “No. It looks bad but it isn’t deep enough to require stitches. The bleeding has stopped now, and I’m going to put these butterfly bandages on the cut to help close it up. And you’ll need to use a thumb guard splint for the next couple of weeks.”

  “Okay.”

  He applied the aforementioned butterfly bandages and then wrapped my thumb in gauze and tape before rolling back to a drawer to get a metal thumb guard. He put that over my thumb and taped it securely.

  “There you go,” he said, patting my right shoulder.

  “So I can go back to work now?”

  He rolled his eyes at Homer, who’d been sitting quietly in the corner of the exam room. “Can you believe her?”

  “She’s awfully dedicated,” Homer said.

  “And, I imagine, stubborn,” said Dr. Kent as he turned back to me. “Still, you need to go home and rest for the remainder of the day at least. My nurse will bring in a prescription for you that will help ease your pain. I have another patient I need to tend to.”

  “Of course,” I said. “Thank you for seeing me on such short notice.”

  “I’m pleased you came to me rather than try to get to one of the closest hospitals.” He stood. “Some people—even patients I’ve seen for years—seem to forget I’m here for emergencies too. Always on call.”

  I thanked him again. He left the room, and I gazed at the walls. There was a framed photo of a younger Dr. Kent with an older man and a man closer to Dr. Kent’s age at the time. I stood and walked over for a closer look.

  “Careful,” Homer warned.

  “I’m fine. I want to see who’s in this photo with Dr. Kent.”

  “Oh, that’s his dad and his dad’s partner. When Dr. Kent first started practicing, he joined his father’s practice in North Carolina,” he said. “I found that out when I came in last year to be treated for a sinus infection. You’re as curious about this sort of thing as I am.”

  I smiled slightly. “That’s true. I am. It’s neat that he went into business with his dad. I wonder why he left and came here?”

  Homer shrugged. “People move on. Plus, that’s an old photograph. I can’t imagine his father is still living, much less practicing.”

  “But wouldn’t that be all the more reason to stay there and continue to serve his dad’s patients?”

  “Maybe. Or maybe he didn’t want to remain in his father’s shadow,” he said. “Or it could just be something as simple as the fact that his late wife had family here.”

  Before either of us could comment further, the nurse came in to gather my insurance information and to give me a prescription for painkillers.

  “I have four tablets here,” she said. “That’s in case you don’t feel up to going to the pharmacy until tomorrow. Take two now and two at bedtime.”

  “All right,” I said. “Thank you.”

  She handed me the pills and a cup of water.

  “Wait a sec,” she asked as soon as I’d swallowed the pills. “You aren’t driving, are you?”

  “Homer drove me here, but I’m sure he’ll take me back to the café to get my car.”

  She shook her head. “Let him take you home, darlin’. You can get your car tomorrow . . . or you can have someone can pick it up for you. You definitely cannot drive while taking this medication. You can’t do much of anything, come to think of it.”

  After I had taken it was a fine time to be telling me of its side effects.

  Chapter 17

  I was sure that by the time I made it home, practically everybody in Winter Garden had heard about my mishap. My mom was already waiting for me when Homer brought me home.

  “How’d you know?” I asked her.

  “Dr. Kent was kind enough to have his receptionist give me a call.”

  “Well, since you’re here, would you mind going back to the café with Homer to get my car?”

  “I’ll be happy to take you,” Homer said.

  “Don’t you think we have more important things to think about right now?” she asked me.

  “Yes. The most important thing I’m thinking about is that I want to go back to work, but this medication Dr. Kent’s nurse gave me made me woozy, so I need to wait until it wears off a bit first,” I said. “I honestly wish that nurse would have told me how tired this medicine would make me before she gave it to me. Of course, I guess I could’ve asked before I swallowed the tablets. Either they’re fairly strong, or I’m just not used to taking any medication. So, Mom, unless you want to work at the café for a little while, getting my car home is the most important thing I can think of right now.”

  She huffed. “Amy Flowers, you’re impossible.”

  “I get it from you.” I smirked.

  “Fine,” she said. “I’ll go and get your car, but I’m keeping the keys. I don’t need you getting any harebrained ideas and driving off while you’re impaired.”

  “Thank you, Mom. By the way, is Jackie with Aunt Bess?”

  “She is. Do you need her?”

  “No. I just wondered if you’d heard anything about Aunt Renee.”

  She shook her head. “Not yet.”

  “Keep me posted.”

  As she and Homer were going out the door, Mom called back over her shoulder that she’d be back in two shakes of a lamb’s tail and that I wasn’t to move.

  I slumped onto the sofa. Not moving didn’t sound like it was going to be a problem. Rory hopped on to the cushion beside me, sniffed my injured thumb, licked the metal thumb guard, and then lay down beside me. My fearless protector.

  I was just about to doze off when there was a knock at my door.

  “Amy, it’s Dilly! Are you in there?”

  “Yes, Dilly! Come on in!” I shouted.

  She hurried inside, carrying a vase filled with daisies. She put the daisies on the coffee table, sat beside me, and took my right hand. “How are you?”

  “I’m okay. My thumb hurts a little, but I’ll be fine.”

  “Your thumb? Honey, I heard you’d done cut one of your fingers plumb off.”

  “No, I just sliced my thumb open. It’ll be sore for a few days, and I have to wear this splint on it.” I held up my left hand. “I’m just sorry I got careless.”

  “You can’t be too careful. Not in the kitchen or anywhere else these days.” She squinted into my face. “You look like you’re getting a tad loopy. Did the doctor give you something for pain?”

  “Yes, the nurse had me take something before I left the office. She gave me two more tablets for later, and she gave me a prescription to get filled.” I frowned. “This stuff works fast. I don’t know if I want an entire prescription of those things. They’re awfully strong.”

  She patted my right hand. “I’m surprised drug addicts aren’t breaking into Dr. Kent’s office left and right to get at all those prescription medicines he keeps in that office. I mean, it’s good if you’re sick or in pain—like you are—but even keeping them locked up, it doesn’t seem all that smart to keep a lot of medicine around.”

  “No, it doesn’t. I guess it’s because he’s here in town, and the hospitals in the region are at least a thirty-minute drive from Winter Garden, so he keeps everything on hand that he’d need in case of an emergency.”

  “I reckon so, but he’s too trusting, if you want my opinion.” She stood. “I’ll go and let you rest now.”

  “Thank you, Dilly . . . for stopping by . . . and for . . . the flowers.” My eyelids were getting heavier and heavier.

  • • •

  When I awoke, I was lying on the sofa with Rory still at my side. I blinked a few times, willing the room to come into focus. Mom was sitting on the chair across from me reading a novel. Princess Eloise was on her lap.

  “Hey, there, sleepyhead. How’re you feeling?”

  “Groggy. And thirsty.”

 
She put aside the book and the cat and stood. “One bottle of water coming up. Anything else?”

  I shook my head.

  “By the way, Ryan called. He’ll be over after his shift.”

  She returned with the water and helped me sit up.

  “Thanks,” I said. “Any word about Aunt Renee?”

  “Nothing yet. Jackie is still with Aunt Bess. I thought I’d go check on them after Ryan gets here.”

  “Will he be here soon?” I tried to stand but buckled back onto the sofa. “I must look awful.”

  “Sweetheart, you look fine,” Mom said.

  Fine. Very encouraging. What woman wants to be told she looks fine, especially when she has a date coming over?

  “How long did I sleep?”

  “Most of the day. And that’s good. I imagine you needed the rest after your ordeal.”

  I groaned. “Has anybody called from the café? Is everything okay over there? I really need to go check.”

  “You’ve just proven that you can’t even stand up yet. Besides, the café has already closed for the day. I’m sure it’s still in one piece and that Shelly and Donna handled everything. Did they do things the same way or as well as you would have? Probably not. But it’s done.” She gave me a tight smile. “End of lecture.”

  “Okay. Thanks, Mom. I appreciate your being here and getting my car and everything.”

  “I know.” She got up and looked out the window when she heard a car pull into my driveway. “It’s Ryan.”

  Mom left as Ryan came in, explaining to him that she needed to go check on Aunt Bess and that she’d be back. “And Amy has my number if you need me.”

  “We’ll be fine,” I said.

  Ryan came and sat beside me on the sofa. “So, how’re you feeling?”

  “Stupid. You should’ve heard me preaching about kitchen safety to the staff before opening day, and then who has the first accident? Me.”

  He smiled. “Well, you’ve had a lot on your mind.”

  “So does everyone else, and they don’t cut themselves making fries.”

  “I bet a bunch of them do. Have you ever seen Gilmore Girls?”

  My eyes widened. “Yes. But I’m kinda surprised you have.”

  “My mom loved it. I’d watch it with her sometimes,” he said. “But as I recall, the chef at the inn was always having some sort of accident.”

  “True. But that was a television show, and I know to be more careful.”

  “Don’t be so hard on yourself. Have you eaten anything today?”

  “I had breakfast this morning.”

  “And nothing since? No wonder you look so dopey.”

  “Gee, thanks!” I knew I should’ve gotten up and fixed my hair and makeup before he arrived.

  “Sorry. Bad choice of words. I meant drowsy. Want me to go out and get us something?”

  I thought about it for a second. The only restaurant in town besides the Down South Café was the pizza place, and the thought of a greasy slice of pizza made me nauseated.

  I stood. “Let me see what I’ve got in the kitchen. I’m sure I can whip us up something better than we’d find at the pizza parlor.”

  He quickly stood and slid his arm around my waist. “I’ll make you a deal. We’ll go into the kitchen, you direct, and I’ll cook. Sound good?”

  “I didn’t know you could cook.”

  “I know the basics. Nothing to write home about, but I can make us something easy.”

  I smiled. “Deal.”

  As we were looking through the cabinets, Jackie called.

  “I wanted to see how you’re doing and let you know I’ll cover for you all day tomorrow,” she said.

  “No, you won’t. Your main concern right now is finding Aunt Renee. I plan on tomorrow being business as usual for me.”

  “Amy, you don’t—hold on, I’m getting another call.”

  When she came back on the line, she told me the other call had been from the rehab center. Aunt Renee had returned.

  “They let me speak with her,” Jackie said. “I told her I’m proud of her.”

  “I’m glad she’s back safe and sound. I do believe she’s really trying, Jack.”

  “Yeah. Me too. And now you have no excuse for me not to cover for you tomorrow.”

  “I don’t need an excuse. I plan on being at work tomorrow.” I ignored the dubious look on Ryan’s face. “Ryan’s here and he’s making us some dinner. I’ll see you in the morning, okay?”

  “We’ll see how you’re feeling tomorrow.”

  After we hung up, I looked at Ryan. “I have two mother hens—my mother and my cousin.”

  “I’m inclined to agree that you don’t need to work tomorrow if you’re still in pain,” he said. “Especially not if you’re still taking those painkillers. In Virginia, driving under the influence of prescription narcotics can get you a mandatory five days in jail, a two-hundred-fifty-dollar fine, and the loss of your license for one year—for a first offense.”

  “Thank you, Officer. If I’m not sure the drugs are out of my system in the morning, I’ll have someone drive me.”

  “That’s all well and good until you cut your other thumb.” He smiled. “Seriously, don’t go to work if you’re still taking those pills. Or even if you take a dose before bed tonight.”

  “I’m not planning on it. I’m going to see how plain old over-the-counter pain relievers do. And I’m definitely not getting that prescription filled. Those pills are way too strong for me.” I was eager to change the subject. “Did you see anything that falls within your range of cooking skills?”

  “I could make any number of dishes with the ingredients you have on hand.” He’d changed his voice to try to sound proper or persnickety. “Scrambled eggs, grilled cheese sandwiches, tomato soup, spaghetti with meat sauce.”

  When I didn’t jump on one of the selections, he repeated them. Laughing, I went with the grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup. What a sweetheart.

  • • •

  Ryan and I were watching a sitcom when Mom returned. It was one we’d both seen before, so I switched off the television when Mom sat down.

  “How are Jackie and Aunt Bess?” I asked.

  “Aunt Bess is concerned about you,” she said. “More so now that she has someone else besides Renee to worry about.”

  “I hope you assured her that I’ll live.”

  “I might send her down to take care of you. After all, you got so much amusement over her playing nursemaid to me.”

  “Please spare me that. I’m your only child, you know.”

  Princess Eloise sashayed into the living room and leapt onto Mom’s lap.

  “It’s really a shame Aunt Bess is allergic to her,” I mused. “I think she’d be much more satisfied living with you.”

  “I’m not so sure about that.” Mom dropped a kiss onto the cat’s head. “She likes being here in her own home. She’s used to the routine here, and I see her all the time. If we were constantly together, she’d have as much disdain for me as she does for everyone else.”

  I laughed. “Somehow, I doubt that. And by the way, she has no disdain for Ryan at all. She absolutely adores him.”

  “That’s sweet,” she said with a smile. “So Jackie mentioned that you made dinner, Ryan.”

  “Yes, ma’am. Grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup.”

  “It was an impressive meal,” I said.

  “I doubt that, but it filled us up just the same.” He grinned. “Amy perked up a little bit after getting something in her stomach.”

  “I’m feeling much better. I mean, my thumb hurts, but I don’t want any more of that prescription medication. It makes me too loopy.”

  “I can’t say that I blame you there,” Mom said. “But if you need it, take it. It’s all right to feel a li
ttle loopy until the pain in your thumb subsides.”

  Not long after Mom arrived, Ryan said his good-byes to us both and said he’d stop back in to check on me tomorrow. After he left, Mom came over and sat beside me on the sofa.

  “So how are you really feeling?” she asked.

  “I’m okay.”

  “I know it hurts. I want to look, but I don’t. Know what I mean?”

  I laughed. “I know exactly what you mean. Besides, the bandage is on very nicely, and we don’t want to mess it up. We can look at it when I redress it tomorrow.”

  She shuddered and then put her arm around me, pulling me close. “I’m sorry you got so upset over Renee that you let your mind wander and hurt yourself.”

  “I’m afraid we can’t lay this one at Aunt Renee’s door. I fully realize the importance of putting everything out of your mind and concentrating on the task at hand when you’re working in the kitchen—not only for safety reasons but to ensure that your dish is properly prepared.”

  “I’m blaming Renee anyway. I’m your mother, and it’s my right to blame whomever I please if you get hurt.” She kissed my temple. “Jackie and Aunt Bess went all to pieces this morning too. They had no idea where Renee was, what she was doing, or if she was ever coming back.”

  “I knew Jackie was upset when she left. She was trying to be so strong.”

  “Aunt Bess is through with being strong,” Mom said. “She walked the floor and wept. It was awful. I just wish Renee knew what she did to her family.”

  “Maybe she does, Mom. She did go back to rehab. That’s a start.”

  “It’s a start,” she agreed. “But how long will it last this time?”

  Chapter 18

  Mom had insisted on sleeping on the sofa Friday night instead of sharing the bed with me. She’d said she was afraid she’d roll over on my thumb. And I believe it goes without saying that my efforts to get her to go home and sleep in her own bed were futile. But it was sweet that she cared so much.

  My thumb was throbbing when I awoke Saturday morning. Still, I was determined to go to work. I got up, slipped on my robe, and went into the kitchen. I took an over-the-counter pain reliever with a glass of water and then put a pot of coffee on to brew.