Bethany


    POV


    Mr. Green was doing well enough for me to go home to sleep, and thoughtful Theo, it was nice not to have to think about food, with Theo offering to buy me dinner on the way home. I was hungrier than I realized, and when my stomach was satisfied, I was ready for bed. Theo walked me to my door and did not push to enter or to keep mepany. I must have looked bad for him to leave me at the door so quickly.


    I did not even bother changing and taking a shower. I just fell face-first on the bed and was out for the count in seconds. Sunlight streaming through the window woke me. A quick look at the clock showed that I was rushing to take a shower. It was already eight o''clock. I was running a littlete for work. I had never been thiste before. I had slept like the dead. Not moving from the ce, I fell all night. Druel was on the pillow, and my mouth felt like it had eaten the pillow.


    Soon, I walked out the door, not bothering with coffee or breakfast; I speedily walked all the way to work, darting in and out of pedestrians as they navigated their way to their ce of work or home or wherever they were headed. I hardly noticed the people I passed by, and I needed to focus more on getting there quickly. The only good side to me beingte is that I had not been called in for an emergency, which meant that Mr. Green must have made it through the night.


    I nodded to staff members as I walked into the hospital as quickly as possible and knocked on Robson''s door.


    ''Come in.


    I entered to see Theo and Robson still doing the morning chat. We do this most mornings, and I was relieved that I had not missed it all.


    ''Nice of you to join us, Bethany, running a littlete?'' Robson joked he knew I was neverte, and he now had some ammunition on me. I don''t think I will ever live this down.


    ''Yeah, I forgot to set my rmst night! I tried to defend my beingte, and he chuckled at that excuse as if most people would not tolerate it.


    ''To be honest, I did not expect you in till muchter! Theo said, defending me for some reason.


    ''I need to check on Mr. Green. Once I woke up, there was no way I could stay home; it would gnaw at me until I got there.'' I was being as honest as I could. They had to know I was worried about this. Putting it in a pig is one thing; putting it in a real person is another. ''My Philips has already been visiting Mr. Green to take some new photos; it should be on the news soon. Thatd is doing an amazing job and is somitted to his job. I believe you will be pleased to know that all is well, and I believe the patient can go into a ward in the other wing if you approve. His recovery is amazing! Robson was glowing with his report on Mr. Green, and Theo was nodding his head, too. However, they both must have visited him this morning only through the window. I do not let anyone in there who is not gowned up in protective gear for the patient''s safety.


    ''You have a bed for him, Theo?'' I asked. Of course, he would, but I thought I asked. Mr. Green was his patient first. We chatted for another hour, reviewing some new patients due toe in, a child that Robson wanted me to examine, a candidate for surgery, and a valve problem, which is not unusual for a child born with heart defects. You would be surprised at the volume of children born with holes in their hearts or valve issues.


    We headed to our own sections, with me eager to see how Mr. Green was. To my surprise, he was sitting up and reading a paper, which he should not have been doing yet. But he looked so at peace that I left him to read it. I headed to theputer to see the read- outs of his new heart and how it performed overnight.


    I agree. He could join the other wing, where his family coulde and visit him. He would love that.


    ''Good morning, Mr. Green.


    ''Morning Bethany. He folded his newspaper and ced it down on the bed.


    ''Ready to get out of here?'' I asked, his face lit up.


    ''You serious?'' His surprised face warmed me.


    ''Of course, why? Are you in pain or have problems I do not know about?'' I was suddenly concerned by hisment.


    ''I have less pain than when I had the other operations, and I feel great!''


    ''Then I see no reason to keep you in here. We have a room ready for you. We need to get the orderly toe and transfer you across. Theo will be your main doctor. Now you are out of my hair.'' I joked.


    ''You abandoning me? Doc?'' He was shocked and funny; I was unsure if he was serious.


    ''Theo has been your doctor for many years now. I will stille and see you from time to time. I need to make sure you are doing well and that there are noplications with the new heart!''


    ''I would like you to continue to be my main doctor. I am alive because of you. I trust you. His trust in me touched me. ''Wow, that is nice of you to say. I will ask Theo if he is okay with me taking you on as my patient.


    The orderly came and took Mr. Green to his new room. I watched the monitor to see how his body was coping with being moved, and I was pleased to know that he did not have any spikes and that his move to the new room went smoothly.


    I spent a few hours in myb, checking the newpound and uploading thetest data from Mr. Green''s new heart. Theo caught up with me as I was leaving for the day.


    ''Care to join me for dinner?'' He seemed to be in a great mood.


    ''Sure, can we go to the food hall? I am not sure what I want to eat!


    ''Perfect! We chatted along the way, mostly work-rted, until we stopped to order our food. I decided on a roast beef and trimmings, and Theo hadmb.


    ''I was thinking maybe we could go to my parents'' ce for sports day this Sunday. Dad suggested we talk turns; my Mum can cook for us, and you can bring the beer and rotate each week. What do you think?''


    ''Sounds good to me. I will discuss it with my Dad. See how he feels. I can drive us there, or we can all go together.'' ''Perfect, my car is avable. Or we can use the hospital''s car service, which is part of our contract! ''Actually, the car service sounds like the best option. That way, Dad can drink, and I can rx. You can also have a few drinks!


    ''I will let my Mum and Dad know that you agree. The family is eager to meet you in person. They have seen the media releases and want to meet the famous heart doctor. Theo was joking, but thement made me shiver. I do not like the idea of being famous, but I guess if this groundbreaking surgery andpound works, then I guess I will have my face in the news more often.


    ''Well, hello, don''t you two look cozy?'' A voice I did not wish to hear anytime soon said, and we both turned to look at where the voice wasing from.


    ''Hello, Cynthia. I politely replied, hiding how I felt seeing her there. She was dressed in her standard short skirt and low top. She was heading out to a club. There are way too few clothes for me. I could catch a cold. With how freezing the nights are starting to get, the least she should have is a coat.


    ''Hello, Cynthia.'' Theo also replied with a snarky tone of voice that I did not understand. Had he met up with her since the time we were in the cafe? Dread filled me. Was he going to fall for her innocent face or here-to-bed voice?


    This was why I hated Cynthia meeting men I was interested in; I should have known about Bret and her; she had interfered with every boy I liked throughout school till I went to university.