Merciless by Diana Palmer Read Free Book Online

allergists, the works.” She sighed. “I don’t even smoke,” she said plaintively.
    He wondered how she managed to pay specialists. It would be rough for anyone, but especially for a single mother on a limited budget. He didn’t have to be told that a child with uncontrolled asthma was an expensive little person to treat. He’d had his own share of respiratory problems as a child, Cammy had once told him. He still had allergies, too.
    Joceline looked worriedly at the door to the emergency room from which a white-coated physician with a stethoscope around his neck had just emerged.
    â€œThat’s Dr. Wagner,” she explained as she moved toward him. “He’s our family doctor.”
    The tall, thin physician smiled as she approached. “It’s all right, Joceline, he’s doing very well. We’ll have thetest results for you very soon. You have to stop worrying so much,” he added gently. “Odds are very good that he’ll outgrow the asthma, and that the allergies will respond to the shots and diminish. It just needs time.”
    She let out a breath. “I try so hard to make him wear his jacket when it’s cool and a raincoat when it’s raining,” she muttered. “He whips them off the minute he gets out of my sight. Then he catches cold. There was a cold rain yesterday morning, and he went outside during play period without a coat and didn’t tell me until he woke up smothering this morning.”
    Dr. Wagner chuckled. “Don’t blame yourself. He’s very sorry that he did it, more because of how upset you were than how dangerous it was to him,” he added. “He has a big heart for such a small child.”
    â€œHe gets picked on a lot at school because he can’t run like the other kids without getting out of breath,” Joceline said heavily. “And because he has to take shots for the allergies. Why are kids so mean to each other?”
    â€œWhy are there bullies?” Dr. Wagner replied. “I don’t know. I wish it was an issue that could be resolved. Now with cyberbullying so prevalent, a victimized child can see no peace even in his own home.”
    â€œThere should be more lawsuits,” Joceline muttered.
    â€œI agree,” Jon said quietly.
    Dr. Wagner looked at Jon curiously.
    â€œThis is my boss,” Joceline said quickly, so the doctor wouldn’t get the wrong idea. “Senior Agent Jon Blackhawk.”
    Dr. Wagner shook hands. “I wanted to join the FBI myself when I was younger,” the doctor said surprisingly, “but my father wanted me to study medicine.” He laughed. “In the long run, I suppose he was right. We have four generations of physicians and surgeons in my family. I’d hate to be the one to break the tradition.”
    â€œIt’s lucky for us that you didn’t,” Joceline said. “Thank you for taking such good care of Markie.”
    He smiled. “I told you that one day you’d be glad you made the decision you made,” he said enigmatically.
    â€œI am, now, more than ever, despite the problems,” she added with a weary smile.
    â€œWhy don’t you go and get something to eat?” the doctor asked. “By the time you get back, Markie will be ready to go home.”
    â€œThey won’t have to keep him?” she worried.
    â€œOh, I don’t think so,” he replied. “We just want to make sure he’s stabilized and get him started on the new antibiotic. There are new inhalers out also, Joceline, you should talk to his allergist about them. One is for pediatric patients and has shown good results.”
    She sighed heavily. The allergist had suggested one of the newer inhalers, which was over a hundred dollars a month. On her budget, even with good insurance, that was a fortune. But perhaps she could write to the drug company and request a reduced price. That had worked for her in the past.