Jennifer's Garden (23 page)

Taking the corner, she hurried down to the nurse’s station.  Men and women wore colorful scrubs, prints of flowers and teddy bears, fish and dolls, themes to entertain little boys and girls alike.  She spotted the pediatric surgeon at once.

Closing the distance, she asked, “How is she?”

“Frightened.  Nervous.  The usual.  I appreciate you coming by.”

“Of course.”  As if she would consider otherwise.  “Which room?”

He pointed down a well-lit hall to his left.  “Thirty-three twenty.”

She gave a quick pat to his shoulder.  “Thanks.”

Slowing at the open door, she peeked inside.  The room was dim compared to the hallway, monitors prominent with their bright greens and blues.  All systems go, she mused.  In the center, the girl was reclined against a soft pillow, covers pulled up to beneath her arms.

Round eyes lit up at the sight of her, the smile instantaneous.  “Dr. Hamilton, you came!”

Strolling up to the bed, Jennifer ushered forth a bright smile.  “Of course I did.”  She spied the pink rabbit tucked close beneath the lightweight blanket.  “Good evening, Poppy.”  She leaned over.  “How could I miss an opportunity to visit the best crumpet chef this side of the United States?”

The little girl beamed.

Jennifer liked that her hair was done, combed and clipped with ribbons.  This time they were sky blue and matched her eyes to perfection.  She grasped the bedrails.  “I hear someone’s getting a transplant.  That’s wonderful news.”

The frown was instant.

“Why, Beverly.  What’s the matter?”

With a flip of her lashes, she grabbed hold of Poppy and hugged her close.  “I’m afraid.”

Jennifer ran a hand over the child’s forehead, her fingers caressing the silk of her hair.  “It’s okay to be scared, Beverly.  Surgery is a big deal.  But I know your doctor and he’s the best there is.  He’s going to take real good care of you, you’ll see.”

“But Dr. Hamilton...”  Her eyes darted to her stuffed animal.  “I—“

“What is it?  What’s bothering you?”

She rolled them back up to Jennifer, tears lining the bottom.  “Will another child have to die to give me their heart?”

Jennifer bit back a sudden rise of tears.  There was no easy way to tell a child the truth, even if the facts were to their benefit.  She ran her hand along Beverly’s forearm.  She nodded.  “I’m afraid so.”

She clutched the rabbit to her chest.  “But that’s not fair!” she cried and pressed her eyes closed.

Jennifer took a deep breath, blowing it out with calm and precision.  She glanced around the room.  Tubes were attached to the child’s body, monitors recorded her vitals.  She gazed at the girl.  She was right.  Life wasn’t fair.

With a light squeeze, she whispered, “Beverly, listen to me.”  Touched by the warmth of her skin, she lingered, hating that any of this was necessary, but grateful they had the option.  “Sometimes God needs angels, you know...”

The clenched expression relaxed.

“Sometimes, he needs to call back his children.”

Slowly, she opened her eyes.  Velvet blue in the darkened room, they reached into Jennifer’s heart and begged her to continue.

“We don’t know why, or when, we only know that it happens.  Jennifer stroked the small arm beneath her hand, the fluffy fur of the stuffed rabbit.  “It’s not our job to make those decisions.”  She shook her head.  “But it is our job to do the best we can while we’re here.  Life is a blessing.”

She gazed at the innocence staring back at her and longed to encourage its trust.  She stroked her curls, fiddled with the ribbon. “Yours has only just begun.  You have big things ahead of you.  Your family loves you, your friends...”  She gently tousled her hair.  “Besides, Poppy needs you.”

Releasing her death grip on the rabbit, she asked, “Will it hurt?”

Jennifer smiled.  “You won’t feel a thing during the surgery.  The doctor will give you medicine to help you sleep and then he’ll fix everything.”

“After?”

“A little.  But nothing you can’t get through.  And I’ll be here every step of the way.  We’ll have tea and make crumpets.”  She winked.  “Now that you’ve introduced me to the delicacies, I’m hooked!”

Jennifer was rewarded with a small smile.

“My mom says I’ll be able to go back to school soon.”

“She’s right.  And before you know it, you’ll be jumping rope, bouncing across the playground.”

“I’ve never been able to jump rope.”

No, she didn’t imagine she had.  “You will now, once you receive your new heart.”  Survival rates were good.  Albeit the long-term outlook was uncertain, technology was improving and so were the odds.

“Mom says I’ll have to take medicine.”  She scrunched her nose and mouth in disgust.

She laughed.  “We’ve got great flavors, now.  We can make anything taste good, even medicine!”

“Really?”

“Really.”  Jennifer pulled a small hand free from the rabbit and secured it between her own.  Rubbing hers back and forth, she promised, “We’ll get through this, Beverly, you’ll see.  Together.  You’ll never be alone.  If you need me, all you have to do is call.”

# # #

“What are you doing here?”

Sam ignored the paltry welcome and brushed her cheek with a kiss.  “I’m great!  Thank you for asking.”

Jennifer stepped aside, and made way for her entrance.

“Thought I’d stop by for a visit on this bright and cheery Saturday morning, now that all’s forgiven.”

“You’re on probation.”

“Good enough.”  Spotting the sketch book in Jennifer’s hand, she stopped and glanced at her in surprise.  “I didn’t know we were drawing again.”

“I’m not.  Not really,” she evaded, self-conscious of the drawing.  It was the first since the one she did of her mother.  “Call me crazy, but it’s been so long, I was curious to know if I could still do it.”

“Judging by the looks of that one, you still got it, baby!”

Pleased by the compliment, she peered at the drawing in hand.  Unlike her island themes, this one was a rendition of her garden.  At least the way she envisioned it, once completed.  Color everywhere, it was bright and happy and welcoming.

Sam sashayed over to the window.

Jennifer shook her head in amusement.  “Did you say you were here to visit me, or Jax?”

The reference snagged Sam’s attention and she glanced back over her bare shoulder, the light brown halter top blending auburn waves with tanned skin.  “Jax?”  She smirked.  “There’s still hope for you, yet.”  She returned her gaze to the back.

Surveying Sam’s short black shorts and long legs, smoothly shaved and golden from the sun, Jennifer felt a snippet of envy.  Most assuredly she would parade her wares outside, certain to garner Jax’s full attention while she paled in comparison with her khaki Capris.  “Well, he has been working here for nearly two weeks.  You were on a first-name basis after two minutes.”

“I work faster than you do.”

Rolling her eyes, Jennifer set her pad down and joined Sam by the window.  Jax and two other men were busy at work on the fountain wall.  Pushing noon, they weren’t very far into the project.  Must have started later than usual, because they weren’t here when she left to make rounds at eight.

“So why are you here?”

“I thought I’d swing by and see if you wanted to do lunch.”

“Are you sure you want to invite
me
?” she smiled, amazed by Sam’s one track mind currently running circles around Jax.

“He’s one helluva hunk I’ll give you that, but no Jen, I’m here for you.”  She winked and brushed overgrown curls behind an ear.  “Right after I have a short visit with him.”

With that, Sam disappeared through the patio door.

Jennifer followed.

“Hey Jax,” Sam called out, as one would do to an old friend.  She trekked across dirt without second thought, her sneakers well up for the undertaking.

He turned to see who called his name.  At the sight of Sam, he smiled.  “Hey there, stranger.”  When she drew near, he added quietly, “Hello Jennifer.”

Sam’s eyes moved between Jax and Jennifer.  “How’s it coming?”

“Great,” he replied, then addressed Jennifer.  “But you’re the one we need to please.  What do you think?”

“Perfect.”  Gaze touching upon the stone trim, she said, “I was skeptical about the travertine finish, but it blends so well with the ceramic, almost like they were made for each other.”

Jax smiled.  “It was your choice.  You have good taste.”

Sam raised a brow as if to say,
what’s this
?  She shifted her weight from hip to hip and said, “Good work, good taste.  Sounds like a combination for success brewing around here.”

Jennifer’s cheeks burned with embarrassment.

“Once we get the paint on, this area will be a knockout,” Jax said.  “Especially when the arbor’s complete.”

“I agree,” Sam chimed in.  “I’ll definitely be over to lounge by this pool.  Skinny-dipping to the sound of splashing water—I’ll think I’ve lost myself in a Roman bath!”  She threw up her arms and mimicked a titter of excitement.  “What will the Gods do with me?  Oh, Heaven have
mercy
!”

“Sam,” Jennifer admonished, her eyes singling out the workers, suggesting her comment was none too appropriate.

Jax let loose with a laugh.  “Sorry Sam, but the chlorine’s a bit harsher than silky milk against your skin.”

“Better to kill those pesky STD’s.”

One of the workmen looked up with a grin, then quickly reverted back to task.

“They can be a bit of a nuisance,” Jax agreed in stride.

Jennifer remained mum, zipped tighter than a drum.

Sam looked at Jax.  “Awesome work, Jax.”

“Yes, but don’t let us interrupt you,” Jennifer said.  “We’ll leave you to your work.”

“Yeah, besides, you don’t need two supervisors breathing down your neck.”

“You’re welcome to supervise any time, Jennifer.”

“Thank you, Jax.

“We missed you yesterday.”

Sam perked at the comment.  “Yesterday?”

Jennifer glanced between the two.  “Yes, well,” she murmured, running hands down the backside of her Capris.  “I was called over to St. Theresa’s.  One of the kids there was asking for me.”

“Ah,” he replied, as though he understood.

Though he couldn’t.  There was no possible way.

Unless Michael said something.  The circle of conversation suddenly became too close.  Jennifer hooked her elbow through Sam’s.  “Yes, well, why don’t we stop bothering them and get to that lunch you came for in the first place.”

“You bet.  This heat is obscene, anyway.  Ta, ta, Jax!”  Sam waved off easily.

“Bye,” he returned with a chuckle.

Sam kept a determined pace, clutching Jennifer’s arm more tightly than necessary.  “So fess up.  What’s going on with you two?”

“
What
?”

“You heard me.  You and Jax.  Is there something you forgot to tell me?”

“Don’t be absurd.” She stole a peek back at Jackson, only to find him staring at her.  Whipping her attention back to the house, she picked up her speed.

Sam chuckled at her discomfort.  “That man’s attention is trailing you just as clear as if he ripped the white cotton tank from your back.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Leaping up the steps together, Jennifer walked into the house ahead of Sam, hit first by the wave of cold.

“So you two have the hots for each other, huh?”

“Sam!”

“What’s the matter with you?  You look like someone pinched your nipple.”

Jennifer planted hands on her hips and fired a warning glare.

“Okay, okay.”  She held her hands up in defense.  “Sorry.  I’m just asking what’s up.  Aren’t best friends entitled to the truth?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.  Nothing is up.”

“You two seemed awful cozy out there.”

“
Cozy
?  Friendly is what you saw.  Professional.  There’s nothing wrong with being nice to the help.  And aren’t you the one who insisted I shouldn’t hold Jackson’s position against him?”  She looked past Sam and out into the yard, waving her arms about.  “Bartender/landscaper—it should all be the same to me?”

“Yes,” she said.  “But I didn’t realize you learned so quickly.”

Jennifer remained mute.

“Listen, what I saw out there was more than friendly.”  She flipped a thumb toward the back.  “At least on his part.  That man is interested.”

“He is nothing of the sort.”

“
Trust me
.  We’re traveling my territory of expertise, now.”  Sam waved a hand toward the yard.  “That man would like nothing less than to throw a saddle on you and take the ride of his life.”

“Would you stop with the euphemisms?  You’re killing my appetite.”

“There’s nothing wrong with a ride on the wild side, Jen.”