Bachelor at Her Bidding (Bachelor Auction Book 2)(33)
After Ryan took Phyllis home, Rachel helped her mom clear up in the kitchen.
“He’s a nice guy,” Susan said. “I like the way he is with his grandmother and the twins – and as your mom I’m glad you’ve found someone who treats you properly, this time. I never really took to Nick.”
Rachel stared at her mother in surprise. “But you were always perfectly friendly to him. You treated him as family.”
“Because you chose him and I respected your right to choose your partner even though I didn’t like him.” Susan looked at her. “But his family didn’t do you the same courtesy, did they? They judged you as roughneck country stock while they saw themselves as sophisticated city folk – and you’re every bit as good as they are, Rach. Better, I think. Because you have a real heart and they just had a veneer.”
Rachel hugged her mother. “I love you, Mom.”
“I love you, too – and all I want is to see you happy.”
“I’m fine.” She bit her lip. “But Ryan… it’s early days, Mom, so we’re keeping it low key.”
“You know we won’t say anything,” Susan reassured her.
Her family and friends knew; his family knew; and Rachel just had to wait for him to be ready to let the rest of the world know. Until he was sure, perhaps, that she wouldn’t hurt him the same way his ex clearly had.
Rachel just hoped that he’d come to feel he could take a risk with her. Because, after seeing the way he’d been with her family, she knew she could take a risk with him. She could dare to let herself love him.
Chapter Eight
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Things were fine for a couple of weeks – until Rachel’s practice got an emergency call.
“Dr. Cassidy, the day care center just called,” Shannon, the receptionist, said. “They think one of their patients might have had a stroke. Would you be able to go down to see them?”
Dr. Majors would normally cover the day care center; but he was off sick, meaning that Rachel would have to go in his place. “Sure,” she said. “Please can you explain to my patients that I’ve been called away so I’m running a little late, and see if any of them can reschedule?”
“Of course,” Shannon said.
“I’ll call you and let you know when I’ll be back,” Rachel promised.
When Rachel went down to the day care center’s area on the ground floor of the building, Jolene, the manager took her into the office to fill in all the gaps before Rachel went to see the patient. “It’s Phyllis Henderson,” she said.
Rachel went cold. “Has anyone called Ryan?”
“They’re getting in touch with him now.”
“Good. Right. What can you tell me about Phyllis?”
“She said she felt dizzy, and then she fell,” Jolene said. “But I think it was more than just being dizzy because she got up too quickly. She doesn’t seem to be able to move her left arm or leg properly, and she can’t get her words out. I don’t mean she’s just forgetting the odd word, like most of our patients with dementia – she’s struggling to talk.”
“OK. I’ll assess her first, though from what you’ve just told me I’m pretty sure I’ll want to admit her to the hospital for further treatment,” Rachel said. “Thank you for acting so promptly.” If this was a stroke – and it certainly sounded like it – then the earlier they started treatment, the better the outcome would be.
Jolene took her through to the quiet room where Phyllis was sitting with one of the day center staff.
“Rachel.” Phyllis tried to smile – and Rachel’s heart sank a little as she noticed Phyllis’s mouth didn’t turn up properly on the left hand side. Jolene’s initial assessment looked as if it was going to be spot on. If it wasn’t a full-blown stroke, it could be a mini-stroke – a warning that a worse episode could follow.
“Hello, Phyllis.” Rachel kissed her cheek and sat down next to her. “Jolene tells me you had a bit of a fall and you’re not feeling so good.”
“Not…” Phyllis stopped and grimaced, clearly frustrated that she couldn’t get the words out.
“It’s OK.” Rachel squeezed her hand. “I’m here to see you with my doctor’s hat on, and I’m just going to have a look at you and do a couple of tests, if that’s OK?”
Phyllis nodded.
“Lovely. If you need me to stop at any point, just tell me, OK?”
Rachel assessed the elderly woman swiftly. Her blood pressure was a bit high for Rachel’s liking, and there was definitely weakness on her left side. Added to Phyllis’s age and the trouble she was having with her speech, it wasn’t looking great. Although the episode had lasted for about a quarter of an hour, and thankfully Phyllis wasn’t showing signs of worsening, Rachel still wanted to admit her to the hospital for tests.
“Phyllis, I think you’ve had a small stroke,” she said gently. “It could be that it was caused by a little blood clot, but the hospital will need to run a couple of tests to confirm it.”
“Hosp…?” Phyllis looked anxious.
“The good news is that you’re in the right place – we’re right next to the hospital.”