The Family Doctor Read Online Free Page B

really scared,” she mused. She struggled again with her personal feelings, but she knew what her professional role was. “I’ll go up and see what I can do. Maybe just talking to somebody would help her feel better about things.”
    â€œBetter you than me,” Leslie said, sounding skeptical. “One of the nurses up there told me the woman’s a real piece of work.”
    â€œWell, I’d rather have her unload on me than on a lawyer.”
    Leslie raised her eyebrows. “Anybody ever tell you that the normal reaction to a bad scene is to run the other way?”
    Kate grinned. “Yeah, but I get paid good money for standing still and deflecting bullets. Back when I was nursing, I told myself I could do a lot more for emotional issues than I ever could for physical ones.” That conviction had inspired her to go back to school and take one course after the other in psychology and conflict management. “And you’re a great one to talk about running away from emergencies, Les. Besides, I’d like to meet Tony’s mother. Talking to someone’s mother can give a lot of insight into why their kids are the way they are.” Kate chewed the last of her bun, reflecting that she could use all the help she could get as far as Tony was concerned. It was humiliating to be able to resolve everyone else’s anger but her own.
    â€œYeah?” Leslie gave her a narrow-eyed look. “So that’s what you and Galina talk about each time I go to the bathroom, huh? You’re trying to analyze me.”
    â€œDon’t flatter yourself. Your mom tells me how sexy the guys in Rehab are and asks why you and I don’t spend more time down there. Beats me. By the way, how’s Galina doing with rehab these days, Les?”
    Leslie’s mother, Galina Poulin, was in her seventies, stubborn, opinionated, funny and delightful. In January, she’d decided to wash the bathroomwalls in the town house she and Leslie shared, and she’d fallen and broken her hip. Galina had stubbornly refused to consider physiotherapy until the night Kate came to dinner.
    It had taken a great deal of persuasion to convince Galina to even visit the rehab unit. When at last she agreed, Kate introduced her to the therapists, and one of them, Isaac Harris, had charmed her and talked her into coming twice a week for therapy.
    â€œShe loves Isaac—she giggles and blushes when I tease her about him,” Leslie laughed. “She’s really making headway. I wondered there for a while if she’d ever walk again, but now she’s off the crutches, just using a cane. I owe you for that one, Kate.”
    â€œHey, your mom’s done it all by herself. I only hope I have half her energy when I’m her age.”
    Leslie beamed. “Me, too. She’s one of my best friends.”
    â€œNot many people can say that about a parent.” She never could, Kate reflected sadly. “It says a lot about the kind of person you are, Les, that you and Galina get along the way you do.”
    â€œYeah, doesn’t it? Divorced single female, emotionally dependent, insecure and tied to my mom’s apron strings.”
    They looked at each other and chorused, “Not.”
    The hospital’s PR system came on. “All ER staffplease report back to Emerg, all staff back to Emerg, stat.”
    Leslie groaned, gulped the last of her coffee and got to her feet. “I’m not sure I even wanna know what that’s about.”
    â€œGood luck.”
    â€œToday we need it,” Leslie sighed. “Let me know how you make out with Mother O’Connor.”
    â€œI will. See you later.” Kate watched her friend hurry off, then finished her coffee and reluctantly made her way up to the Intensive Care Unit.
    The nurse at the desk indicated which waiting room the O’Connor family were in and confirmed that Dr. O’Connor was steadily improving. As Kate headed