Miracles in the ER by Robert D. Lesslie Read Free Book Online Page B

okay.”
    “Sure, Lori.” I nodded at her, then looked at Jackie. He was standingstraight, freshly shaven and neatly dressed. Not the way I last saw him. “What can I do for you, Mr. Watts?”
    “Is nurse Gray here?” he asked, his voice quiet and his eyes searching the department. “I think that’s her name.”
    Lori’s face flushed. She quickly turned around and walked back out to triage.
    “Harriet Gray?” I remembered his outburst and wondered what in the world was on his mind. And whether it was good.
    “Yes, I think so. The…large nurse, gray-headed?”
    “That would be Harriet,” I nodded, studying his eyes. They continued to wander around the area and finally locked on mine.
    “I…I need to talk with her. For just a moment.”
    We stood there, looking at each other. What does this man want?
    “I’m afraid that won’t be possible, Mr. Watts.”
    “She doesn’t work here anymore?” His shoulders slumped and he started looking around again.
    “No, she died a couple of weeks ago.”
    He froze, let out a long, loud sigh, and stared at the floor.
    “I should have come sooner. I…”
    “Is there anything I can help you with?”
    Jackie Watts looked up at me, his eyes softened now, and a smile began to form on his face.
    “I’ve been in prison, Doc. For the last three years. Best thing that could have ever happened to me. Not at first, though. I was a real troublemaker, I guess you’d say. But I started thinkin’, and wonderin’ what the rest of my life was gonna be like. And then I started thinkin’ about what nurse Gray told me, that day I was over in that room, handcuffed to the bed.”
    He turned and pointed to cardiac.
    “You remember that day, Doc?”
    “I remember, Jackie.”
    “She got me pretty upset, and you were gettin’ upset with me, the way I was carrying on. The reason was, I didn’t like what she was tellin’ me. She wasn’t yellin’ at me or anything. I just didn’t like what she was sayin’. But you know what? I never forgot it. Never. I started thinkin’ about it in prison, and every day, I repeated her words. She told me, ‘Jackie, you’re better than this. But don’t worry, the Lord’s not finished with you yet.’ And you know what, Doc? He wasn’t. And he’s still not. I’m doin’ fine now,and just wanted to come by and…” He paused and took a deep breath, tears glistening in his eyes. “And let her know. At least I got to tell you. And I’m thankful for that.”
    We stood there, silent, and I knew what he needed. But it was Amy who got out of her chair, walked around the desk, and grabbed Jackie. She locked him in a tight, suffocating hug.
    “This is from Harriet.”

Burning Bridges
    “What happened this time?” I recognized the name on the chart Lori Davidson dropped into the “to be seen” basket.
    Toby Bridges—busted lip.
    “Another fight.” She sighed and shook her head. “Of course it wasn’t his fault, just like it never is. Said he had to step in and defend one of his friends. The problem was the other guy had a pool stick in his hand and hit Toby in the mouth with it. I don’t see any teeth missing, but it’s going to take awhile to put back together.”
    Toby was well known to the ER staff. The seventeen-year-old had carved out a troubling path during his teenage years, frequently ending up in the emergency department with an assortment of injuries, and frequently with an entourage of uniformed officers. He was bright and should have figured things out by now. His parents, both professionals, had tried everything—counseling, military school, tough love, really tough love. Nothing was working. Toby Bridges was headed for trouble.
    “Alright, I’ll go get started.”
    Lori handed the clipboard to me. “He’s been drinking again.”
    I glanced at the clock over the ambulance entrance— 4:32 p.m. —and shook my head.
    Toby was lying on the far-right stretcher in minor trauma and holding a piece of cotton gauze to his