Field of blue, p.8
Field of Blue, page 8
Dr. Walker was watching Bill, noting the pinched face and his fidgeting.
“When was the last time you actually took one of those white pills?” he asked, moving to the side of the Bill’s bed.
Jake smirked.
“I don’t know. I should take one now and go for another therapy session,” responded Bill.
Dr. Walker lifted the sheets away from Bill’s side and started examining the dressings covering his hip. They looked like they had been soaked once and dried out.
“I will send in a nurse to check the incisions and change your dressings. You continue to rest,” he said, and pulled the sheets back up. “No more workouts today.
“I’m going to order x-rays. When I have looked at the new images, I’ll have a better idea of your progress and we can talk. In the meantime, I’ll order a couple more pain pills. You will take them.”
He hesitated.
“Bill, we have video monitors in the therapy room. You are not to exercise beyond what I specifically tell you. Are you reading me?”
Bill glared at him.
“I’m on your side, Bill. The surgery went well and now it’s up to you but that does not mean a combat type approach, like you did this morning.”
Bill was silent, emotions flickering on his face. He didn’t like a doctor telling him what not to do.
Jake looked to the side, fighting to keep a grin off his face. Yeah, good luck with that, Doc, he thought.
“Okay,” Bill said, with difficulty.
“Thank you. I am pleased that you are serious about rehabilitation, but nobody can do it in one day,” he said with a smile. “I’ll see you again tomorrow.”
Jake and Bill watched the doctor leave, both quiet, looking at each other for a few seconds.
“Jake, do you know if Eric is out of surgery?”
“Eric did not have the operation.”
“What are you talking about? What happened? Is he okay?”
“Eric is fine. The tests all came back negative. In fact, the hospital sent him home hours ago. Mrs. Hall left you a note while you were sleeping.”
Jake retrieved it and handed it over.
Bill read quickly and started shaking his head. “Well I’ll be damned. I don’t get it but that’s great news.”
“The best kind!”
When Jake arrived that morning, he had brought a workout bag with him. He retrieved the bag and placed it at the foot of Bill’s bed with a grin on his face.
“What?” asked Bill.
“Time for some of our medicine,” said Jake, pulling a bottle of Crown Royal and two plastic tumblers from his bag. Pouring them each a drink Jake handed one to Bill.
“Cheers” said Jake.
“Cheers!” replied Bill with a smile. Taking a sip Bill let the aroma cut through his sinuses, the pleasure warming the left side of his brain and tearing his eyes. Hints of honey and oak watered through his mouth as the pleasant heat spread from the back of his throat down into his chest.
“Damn. That tastes fine, Jake.”
“It does at that, but I’ll bet it’s not on your approved med list.”
They looked up at a knock on the door. Jake smiled when he saw it was Walt bringing in Bill’s supper, placing the tray on his table. Walt noticed the whiskey, gave Jake a frown, and then silently offered Bill his pills and a glass of water.
“No more booze, Bill, not with your medication.”
Bill downed the pills, handed the glass back and thanked him.
“Do you want a shot?” asked Jake.
Walt snorted. “Guys, I’d love to, but I can’t drink while working. Another time?”
“For sure,” replied Jake, holding out his fist for a bump.
“Be cool, guys. Bill, if you need anything let me know.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Natalie tapped the snooze button for the third or fourth time and let out a small groan.
It’s Saturday, she thought, then went back to sleep.
When the alarm went off again, she reluctantly sat up, her face scrunched into a frown. Forcing herself to get out of bed she stepped over a pile of clothes and made her way to the bathroom. After washing her hands and face she headed for breakfast. She had promised to clean the house if her mom would take her shopping and help get her dad’s place ready for him to come home from the hospital.
At the table Natalie was eating and texting, not in a hurry.
“Natalie let’s get going. There is a lot to do if you want my help,” stated Rachel.
Natalie rubbed her eyes, frowned, and growled out an “ahhhhhhhhhh.”
“Natalie, please put the phone down and help me.”
Natalie rolled her eyes.
“Just a minute more. Holly texted me about Bethany’s birthday party tomorrow.”
“Now, Natalie, or I will take that phone.” Her mother had lost patience.
“Okay, Okay! Jeez, Mom, quit being so mean!”
Natalie saw the look on her mom’s face and knew she had crossed the line.
“Sorry-sorry.” Natalie put the phone down and cleaned up her dishes.
A few minutes later she was into it and helped vacuum, fold the laundry, and clean bathrooms. They cleaned the guinea pig cage, got them fresh water, and fed the cat. After taking out the trash they were finished, for a day at least, and they jumped in her mom’s car to go shopping.
Her dad’s refrigerator needed milk and produce, which she threw in the cart with plenty of other food, macaroni and cheese, chips, soda pop, ice cream and two new DVD releases. Then they stopped at a Papa Murphy’s for several pizzas.
When they arrived at her dad’s place Jake came out to help bring in the groceries. Then the three of them moved a bed into the downstairs den, so Bill would not have to climb stairs.
Natalie carried in a suitcase and a bag full of books, magazines, and homework, and tossed them in her bedroom. She was a little nervous. She and her dad mainly went out of the house to do things and now they would be spending most of their time at home.
Jake looked at his watch. “It’s time to get your dad, Natalie.”
“Natalie, you go ahead. I’ll stay and get the kitchen ready for the homecoming,” said Rachel.
“Thanks Mom.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Natalie and Jake, each with an empty black luggage bag, walked toward the hospital from the parking lot. The sun was out and the blue sky clear of clouds. A light wind was clearing the air, the city smelled clean, and Natalie felt wonderful, happy that her Dad was coming home.
“It’s a great day, Jake.”
He nodded. “Yes, it is.”
Crossing the lobby, they were on an elevator within seconds and Jake punched the button for the fourth floor. Natalie realized the elevator walls were not nearly as cold and harsh as they had seemed several days before.
When they entered the room, puzzlement crossed Natalie’s face. Her dad was dressed in a loose set of sweats and sleeping. She thought he would be awake. She smiled and leaned down to kiss her dad on the cheek.Stirring easily, Bill smiled when he saw them.
“Hi, guys,” Bill said.
“Hi, Daddy! How are you doing?” she said with her wide, trademark grin.
“Fine, Honey, how about you?”
“Good. Are you ready to go?”
“I am but the doctor hasn’t signed me out yet.”
Bill helped himself from the bed to the wheelchair with little trouble.
“Dad, you made that look easy. What have you been doing that making such a difference?”
“Working out. I got in another therapy session this morning.”
Flipping open the suitcases Jake and Natalie began packing the cards, candy and cookie baskets that had not yet been given away. Wilted flowers were tossed, and she sat the rest near the door to be given to other patients. Dad had a black thumb, never watered anything when home and most of his food spoiled. He did not even have a fish.
There were a few books and magazines, two shirts and a couple pair of loose hospital pants. He would not be wearing jeans for a while. Jake packed away the laptop, Bill’s tablet, the bag of baseballs and the baseball gifts from his teammates and other ballplayers around the country.
Natalie smiled, looking forward to staying with her dad. It had been a while since they had spent more than a vacation or a weekend together, usually with others around, or a day here and there. The vacations were fun, but when they were alone, she noticed they sometimes struggled for conversation.
Dr. Walker entered the room.
“Hi Bill. How are you feeling?”
“I’m feeling great.” Bill wanted out of here.
“Let’s get you discharged then,” Dr. Walker said, pulling out a prescription pad and scribbling on it.
“I’m ready.”
Dr. Walker chuckled. “I’m sure you are. Here is a pain med script. Follow the directions on the label. It’s refillable twice in case you feel you need them. We have assigned you to Elk’s rehabilitation unit. They are expecting you at 9:30 on Monday morning. If that won’t work call them and they can work with your schedule. Any questions?” asked Dr. Walker.
“No.”
“I have a request then.”
Bill was puzzled, trying to read something from the doctor’s tone of voice. “Shoot.”
“Would you please autograph this for me?” asked Dr. Walker with a grin, pulling a new baseball and a felt tipped pen from his smock. “I hope that’s all right.”
“Of course! Thank you for taking care of me. I hope I wasn’t too hard on you,” Bill said, meaning it. Signing the baseball with a flourish, Bill handed it back.
“Yours too, Jake?”
Jake scribbled his name and handed it back.
“Thank you for the autographs,” Dr. Walker said, gesturing with the baseball. “You were not hard on me. I’ll have my office give you at least two follow-up appointments. Pay attention to the therapist’s orders and I’ll see you on Tuesday. However, if anything doesn’t feel right, be sure to come in immediately.”
Dr. Walker said, placing his hand firmly on Bill’s shoulder.
“Take care, and good luck!”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Eric ran ahead of his parents to join his friends and coach. He was in his uniform, wearing tennis shoes and ready for the end of the season pizza party. He was welcomed with open arms by everyone, happy he had come and glad he was healthy.
The celebration was at Big Al’s, an arcade, bowling alley and sports bar designed for kids and adults. The arcade was filled with basketball games, Super Mario Cart, Wack a Mole, and at least two dozen other ways to suck up money. Kids loved it. Eric and his father really liked the four-way air hockey. Eric was ready to go with a pre-paid Fun Card. For adults there were over a dozen large screen televisions showing various sports programming which today was mainly football.
“Hey, Eric, are you okay,” asked his friend Ricky, the coach’s son.
“Yep, no brain tumor.”
“Cool, let’s start with air hockey!”
Coach Don studied Eric carefully until he ran off with the other kids. Eric’s father had brought him up to speed, but it was still hard to believe the kid’s cancer went into remission that fast. He had visited the day before the scheduled surgery and the boy had not looked well.
Caroline and David Hall were in the center of a small knot of parents, and he joined them.
“Things just changed so fast,” said Caroline. “The morning of the surgery Eric told us he was okay, adamantly. The doctor scheduled an MRI scan and Eric’s tumor was not there. It was just…gone.”
“The doctor was giving Eric medication to help shrink the tumor, so it would be easier to remove during surgery and it must have really worked. Better than anyone expected,” added David.
“Thank God!” remarked one woman. Several others smiled and nodded in agreement.
“So, is that it? Is he cured?” This question came from Caroline’s best friend, Dawn.
“We certainly hope so,” answered David, turning to look at his wife, then at the pack of kids running by them to get to the other side of the arcade.
“Hey, Eric, my dad said you got to meet Bill Sullivan and Julio Chavez,” said Ricky.
“And Jake Parsons,” replied Eric.
“How was that?”
“It was great! They gave me an autographed baseball and Bill gave me his glove.”
“No way!”
“Yes way! It’s too big now but maybe someday I can use it. I’m going to be a pitcher.”
“So, can I meet them?” asked Ricky.
“I don’t know. I guess I can ask. I will be seeing Bill again this afternoon.”
“No way,” exclaimed one friend.
“Okay, let’s go shoot some baskets,” said Ricky.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Megan quietly entered Bill’s room as the doctor was finishing and waited for him to leave before she spoke to Bill.
“How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay, I guess. I’m ready to go.”
“How long before we check out?” Natalie asked.
“The discharge papers should be ready. I’ll go get them and then take you down,” she said before leaving the room.
Jake tossed Bill’s toiletries kit into one of the bags then looked around the room, knowing Bill wouldn’t miss this place. Natalie had finished packing the last of his clothes from the closet and gave the room a quick glance also. Some of the nurses, including Walt, had been by already and wished him well.
The three of them talked about Bill and Natalie’s schedule for the next few days while waiting.
Megan was back. “Okay, Mr. Sullivan.” said Megan. Handing a clipboard to Bill with a pen she pointed to the places he needed to sign on each page.
“I’m ready if you are,” Megan said.
“Let’s get out of here,” said Bill.
Megan took the wheelchair handles and started for the door.
“I can do this,” Bill said, taking hold of the wheelchair. At the elevator he rolled in, but bumped the wall while turning around, irritation crossing his face.
Downstairs Jake went to get the car while Natalie and Megan stayed with Bill.
“Bill, I’m glad you’re feeling better,” Megan said.
It was strange, knowing he had arrived unconscious in an ambulance.
“Thanks for helping take care of me.”
“You’re welcome. I’m glad we met, but I wish it had been under better circumstances.”
“Yeah, me too.” He wanted to say more, tell her he liked her, but he chickened out. “Will I see you on Monday at therapy?”
“No. I have AM shifts this week back in MSTI and they have you scheduled early at Elk’s. But if you want to change to afternoons, I’m at Elk’s two or three times a week working with kids. I can see you then.”
“I’ll change my appointments,” Bill said, feeling a small jolt of anticipation.
Jake arrived with the car and was hustling to help. Megan had already opened the door and Bill was gingerly transferring himself to the front seat, frustration evident. Natalie snapped the wheelchair closed with a little difficulty then put it in the back of the car.
“Give me a minute guys,” said Jake. “I need some information from Megan about Elk’s rehab.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Natalie unlocked the door and pushed it open, stepping aside so her dad could roll in. Bill was still annoyed that Jake insisted on stopping at the store on the way home for chips and beer. He did not want to be seen in public like an invalid and had stayed in the car. He easily pushed over the threshold but banged the door with his wheelchair and muttered. “Damn it! I can’t wait until I’m done with this damn thing!”
“SURPRISE!
“HI, BILL!”
“HOW THE HELL YA DOING?”
“WELCOME HOME!”
Bill was startled then playfully growled at Natalie. “I suppose this was your idea.”
“Gotcha,” said Natalie. “Welcome home, Dad!”
Several of his teammates, drinks in hand, were stepping in from the patio. Eric was charging at him from the hallway, followed by his parents, Caroline and David, who were carrying a child. That must be Eric’s little brother.
“Hi Bill! I’m all better,” said Eric, holding up his hand to exchange a quick high five with Bill.
“That’s what I heard. That is so great!” Bill replied with a smile.
It was mass confusion. He saw teammates Frank, Matt and Giovanni coming from the bedroom area, and several of their wives. Emilio and Adam had gone back to the patio and were returning with a cooler headed for the kitchen.
“Hi, Bill.”
Hearing Megan’s voice, Bill wheeled around in time to receive a brief hug, enjoying the smell of her hair next to his face.
“I invited her, Bill, now that you are not a patient,” said Jake. “I figured that’s okay with you.”
“So the stop at the store gave Megan time to beat me here?”
Jake smiled, leaned down and said quietly. “There might be hope for you yet.”
“I invited Eric and his family. I hope that is okay,” Megan said.
“Absolutely. He looks great.”
Megan looked wonderful out of her uniform, Bill thought, admiring the white, form-fitting jeans combined with a light red blouse, the freckles of her face complimenting her hair. Bill noticed she was wearing cowboy boots, adding a couple inches to her height. Noticing his lingering gaze Megan shot him a dazzling smile before their space was invaded by big men with beer cans.
Natalie turned the oven on for the pizzas, and Jake started to get out paper plates and napkins.
“What can I do?” asked Megan, joining them in the kitchen.
Jake handed her several bags of chips. “How about taking these out and seeing what everyone wants to drink,” answered Jake.
Bill was seated on one of the dining table chairs, with an extra pad that Jake had placed there earlier. It was obvious that he was uncomfortable by the fidgeting and sharp twitching when pain hit his body. But he wanted to appear normal and was not ready to give up and go lie down.
