Expecting a Christmas Miracle by Laura Iding Read Free Book Online Page B

wasn’t sure. Something the rest of them couldn’t see but that was very real to this man, nonetheless.
    He continued to talk to the man holding the butter knife in a calm tone, reassuring him he was safe here. No matter how much he wanted to turn around and look for Alyssa, to make sure she was safe, Jadon didn’t break eye contact with the patient. And as he continued to talk him down, he hoped the hospital staff, including the security guards, were busy getting the other patients and their families out of the waiting room, just in case.
    Psych crisis de-escalation techniques didn’t always work the way they were intended to. It paid to be prepared for anything.
    “I’m here to help you. You’re safe here. My name is Jadon. What’s yours?”
    “Mitch. Mitchell Park Conservatory. I’m Mitch, but I’m not crazy. I don’t have to listen.”
    Jadon wasn’t sure if this guy’s name was really Mitch or not, as the Mitchell Park Conservatory was actually three horticultural domes that served as a local tourist attraction in Milwaukee, but he decided to go with it. “It’s nice to meet you, Mitch. You’re here in the safe zone where no one can hurt you. It’s my job to keep you safe. You’re not crazy. I think you’re scared. But you don’t have to be afraid. You’re safe with me.”
    The more he repeated himself, and key phrases like You’re safe here with me , the better chance he had of convincing Mitch to calm down enough to let go of the butter knife. Jadon suspected Mitch was suffering fromsome form of schizophrenia, especially if he was really hearing voices in his head.
    He wanted to hurry and get the guy some treatment, but rushing him would only make things worse, so he forced himself to take his time, to remain calm and to keep his gaze trained on Mitch, hyperaware of his every movement.
    It took him nearly twenty minutes, but Mitch eventually gave up his knife and agreed to go into an examination room. Jadon steered him toward the opposite end of the emergency department where they could isolate him to a certain extent from the other patients.
    “Nice job,” Alyssa said in a quiet voice, once he’d given Mitch a mild sedative, a similar dose, they’d discovered in going through his old records, to the one that he should have been taking at home.
    “Thanks. I’m glad you stayed far away,” he admitted.
    She frowned. “Of course. I’m not stupid.”
    He winced. “I didn’t mean to say you were. I was just worried about you.”
    Alyssa stared at him for a long moment and he wanted to pull her close and kiss her, but they didn’t have that kind of relationship. Not anymore. Finally she turned away and he heard her calling the psych crisis center for Mitch.
    “See?” he heard Susan say to Maureen. “You thought we were kidding, didn’t you? I told you the crazies would be out. Mitch is a true nutcase.”
    Her derogatory tone caused him to spin around, pinning her with a fierce glare. “He’s not crazy, he’s sick,” he said in a low, furious tone. “His illness isn’t any different from having diabetes or congestive heartfailure. And I don’t want to hear you call him a nutcase again, do you understand?”
    Susan’s eyes widened and she took a hasty step back, making him irritated all over again, especially when he realized Alyssa was staring at him with troubled concern. “Sure. I’m sorry, Dr. Reichert.”
    Only slightly mollified, he turned away, continuing to see patients one after the other as the full moon kept its promise of keeping them busy.
    Mitch had brought all Jadon’s old fears to the surface. He should stay far away from Alyssa, yet he couldn’t make himself. When he realized he was creating excuses to be near her, he knew Mitch wasn’t the crazy one.
    He was.
    Because it was crazy to want something he could never have.

CHAPTER FIVE

    A LYSSA waited patiently until the respiratory therapist finished giving Mr. Waverly a breathing treatment for his pneumonia,