Patient Care (Doctor 911 Series #6)

MEDICAL ROMANCE--CALL DOCTOR 911

CAN DOCTOR JAMES BURKE SAVE HER MOTHER'S LIFE?

Melissa knows he's the best surgeon at St. Joe's---with the worst bedside manner.

It's a blazing hot summer, and hospital administrator Melissa Clayton is sweating over the chaos caused by the doctor's job action, and the problems with her haphazard wardrobe. They take second place, however, when her mother needs heart surgery.

˃˃˃ EXCERPT:

˃˃˃ Surgeon James Burke is the man for the job, but his bedside manner could use more than a makeover.

EXCERPT:

Melissa heard James Burke before she saw him. He was talking in a low, intense voice to Rena at the nursing station. Melissa knew he was getting the medical lowdown on Betsy, what drugs had been administered, what procedures had been followed. Having him here taking charge, doing something, was a relief. A little of her anxiety dissipated.

“Melissa”"”

She turned toward him. He was wearing jeans and a white T-shirt, and his hair was sleep rumpled. He wasn’t looking at her. Instead, he was frowning down at Betsy as he spoke, his expression disapproving, as if his patient wasn’t behaving the way he’d ordered and he was not amused.

“If you’ll excuse me a moment, I’d like to examine your mother.”

Melissa felt like saying that he could do so with her in the room, too, then thought better of it. She swallowed the words and walked over to the nursing station.

Rena poured her a cup of coffee and silently handed it to her. It was strong and hot, and Melissa sipped it, feeling the caffeine jolt her nervous system.

The cup was almost empty by the time Burke joined her.

“Your mother’s vital signs are all fairly normal again,” he commented. “There was no indication whatsoever of any heart problems, and the operation was successful. I don’t understand why this happened.”

“Well, successful or not, she’s unresponsive now,” Melissa snapped.

Burke scowled at her. “I’m well aware of that fact. First thing in the morning I’m ordering extensive tests to determine exactly what’s going on with her.”

“And will you be around to read them? Because with the job action”"”

He nodded, impatient as always. “I’ll be here, of course. After all, your mother is my patient.” He sounded irritated, but Melissa was beginning to realize that for Burke, irritation and impatience were probably the norm.

He said to Rena, “You have my pager number. Call me if there’s any change whatsoever in Mrs. Clayton’s condition. I want her monitored closely. I’ll be in the doctors’ lounge for the rest of the night.” He turned to Melissa. “I suggest you go home and get some rest, as well. There’s nothing to be gained by sitting around here.” He headed off down the corridor.

Melissa knew that, logically, he was right. But she also knew she wasn’t about to get in her car and drive home, leaving her mother here in CCU. When Betsy woke up, she’d want her daughter at her side. Didn’t Burke understand that?

If Betsy woke up. Melissa was too much of a realist, too much of a nurse even after all these years, not to fully understand that her mother might well not come out of this. She shuddered and had to struggle against the urge to burst into tears. Worst of all was the memory of how she’d promised her mother everything would be fine.

“I’m not going home. I need to be here when Mom wakes up,” Melissa said to his retreating back.

“Of course you do. Burke has all the people skills of a rock sometimes,” Rena, who had been quietly observing the exchange, remarked.

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