An Evergreen Christmas (6 page)

“Now you’re going my way.”

Her heartbeat skipped. “Well that cuts down on collisions.” The accidental kind, she mused.

He raised a flirtatious brow. “Hopefully not all of them.”

Another skipped beat! Heat rose from Holly’s neck and crept to her earlobes. She prayed for the doors to open before the blush spread to her face. When the doors parted on the operating room level, Holly darted out, so unsure how to act around Noel in the hospital. In private, well that was a separate matter.

“I’ll catch you in pre-op holding,” she called.

Holly sprinted to the women’s locker room and ducked inside, releasing the fire from her face.
She quickly peeled off her standard black and white clothes and donned surgical scrubs. Holly grabbed the paper bag with the scones inside, hesitated, and then pulled it from the top shelf of her locker. She stared at Noel’s scarf. Deciding to give it to him during their dinner date, she patted it before shutting the locker door. Holly caught her reflection in the mirror. Her blonde hair was shiny and neatly pulled back. She puckered her lips. With a surgical mask covering her mouth, there was no point wearing lipstick. And her lips would stick to the inside of the mask. Mascara would do, and it was in keeping with her everyday look. Her own natural blush, more so around Noel, precluded any extra attention to her cheeks. She drew a deep breath, grabbed the scones, and headed for the pre-operative holding area.

Noel was already talking to his first patient and Clifford and Candice were waiting outside the cubicle of Holly's first case. She motioned for them to follow her into the patient's assigned area. Patting the young woman's hand, she introduced them. Her patient's hand trembled. She reassured her that the breast lump in her left breast was probably benign but she empathized with her anxiety. Holly reviewed the operative consent and asked the woman if she had any questions. The woman shook her head, tears in her eyes. Holly sat at her bedside and handed her a tissue. The woman blew her nose and thanked her. She reassured the frightened woman she'd be right by her side in the recovery room and would then speak with the her husband.

Holly exited her patient’s room, Clifford and Candice following behind her like ducklings. Noel, seated at the pre-op station, bounced his pen against the teal Formica desktop, catching it repeatedly as it arced up in 360-degree flips. He glanced up at her, smiling, missing the ballpoint’s trajectory. It flew from the counter’s beveled edge, ricocheted off the medication cart, and leapfrogged five times in the air before landing at a nurse’s feet.

Noel blushed. “Oops! Sorry. I guess it’s time for breakfast.”

Old Nurse Ryan twisted her lips, bent over, and picked up the pen. “Please, Dr. Green, take him off my hands.”

“Gladly,” Holly said. She crooked her finger at Noel. “Let’s go, Dr. Clumsy.”

“Hey, I was smokin’ until you distracted me.”

“I distracted you?”

“Yep, that’s what happened.”

The nurse shook her head and handed him his pen. “Good thing you’re operating in different rooms.”

“I think we make a good team,” Noel said.

“I’ll vouch for him. He’s better with a scalpel.”

Holly picked up her bag of scones. Noel grabbed the edge of the bag, opened it, and peeked inside.

“Are those scones?”

Holly nodded. “Surprise! But we’ll patronize the cafeteria and buy their coffee.”

“I love those,” Candice blurted.

Clifford gently grasped her arm and pulled her away. He shook his head at her. “We’ll meet you in the O.R., Dr. Green.”

Candice protested. “But…”

“We’ll get a quick bite on our own,” Clifford told her.

Candice grinned. “Oh, I get it.”

Holly and Noel walked away.

“Kids,” Noel said.

“Uh huh. So says the juggler.”

Noel shrugged. “Let me see those scones.”

“Oh, no. These babies will never see the ground.”

“Come on. Let me try!” He teased.

Noel chased her down the hall.

Holly hugged her bag. “No!” She laughed.

“Give me those scones, Green!”

“No way, Shepherd.”

They playfully tussled all the way to the cafeteria.

***

Noel pointed at a table far into a corner. Holly mused she had her eye on the same one. They slid into the wooden seats, facing one another. He propped his hands on the table and leaned toward her.

“This is nice of you.”

“You brought cookies the other day. I’m just trying to keep up.”

He laid his hand on hers. Her pulse picked up pace. Could he tell? Could he feel the beat of her wrist? She pressed her hand harder onto the table, disguising the flutters she could not control.

Noel’s eyes pressed into Holly. “You don’t need to keep up with me. I’m not going anywhere. And the cookies were an excuse to stop by.”

She took a deep breath. “Okay
.
”
Oh, more than okay!
“Let’s enjoy the scones.”

Noel pushed back his chair. “I’ll get us coffee and some plates.”

“I had a latte this morning. Just get me a small cup, two creamers and two sugars.”

“You got it!”

She watched him trot off to the cafeteria and halt in line with the other nurses and docs waiting to grab a quick breakfast, ready to whip her head straight ahead should he turn his head toward her. But he didn’t. Apparently he was too busy chatting with the nurses surrounding him. Holly frowned. Squinting, she tried to identify the culprits. She recognized the two O.R. nurses. The other one she thought was from ICU. The line moved, and so did Noel and his fan club. Why should she care? Noel was a congenial guy. He certainly wasn’t going to exist in a vacuum.

Noel exited the cafeteria counter, smiling, with two Styrofoam capped coffees, two plates, and zero nurses. Ironically, the only nurse that took a shine to Holly, was the one not partial to him.

“Here you go.” He set her coffee beside her plate.

“You’re popular with the nurses today,” Holly sheepishly prodded.

“I’m a novelty.” He scrunched his face. “Once they get to know the real me they’ll scatter, warning everyone that I’m heading for the O.R about to make rounds.” Noel furrowed his forehead. “My team will declare mutiny and when word gets out, medical students will fight to be on a different team.” He arched his eyebrows. “Maybe yours.”

She chuckled. “Not likely.”

Holly ruled the surgical floor with an iron fist. In return, she expected the best from her team and the nurses. No slackers! Her intensity had gotten her where she is now, the best surgeon at Granite State Medical Center. Well, now tied with Noel. But he had an advantage. He had a way with people, staff and patients. His humor and genuine bedside manner garnered attention and respect. The staff, with the exception of Nurse Ryan, who had probably been at the hospital since its doors opened, avoided her, perhaps rightfully so. Holly had long raised her shield. Noel was the first to stick around long enough to peek behind her armor. At least, other than Noel, her patients liked her. Well known in the community for her surgical skills, patients flocked to her office. But they were not interested in her personal past. Mrs. Shale was her first exception.

Noel took a sip of his coffee, keeping his eyes focused on hers over the brim of his cup. Het set his drink down. “Why don’t you think residents and students want to be on your team? They looked happy today. They learn so much with you. They leave you being better doctors.”

Holly grasped her hot coffee with both hands and quietly slurped. She laid the cup gently on the table. “I’m a hard ass.”

Noel cracked a smile. “Nah!”

“Okay. I can stand to lighten up a bit.”

He nodded. “Yes, you can.” He wagged his finger. “Now if I can only get on Nurse Ryan’s sweet side.”

Holly propped her elbow on the table and dropped her chin into her palm. She grinned. “I’ll see what I can do.”

Noel grabbed the paper bag and rustled it open. “Let’s finish these scones before we head off to the O.R.”

He bit into one and chewed, swallowing it in seconds. Holly ate as quickly, used to eating on the run.

He swiped a paper napkin across his lips. “I’ve got two cases this morning, and then,” he glanced at his watch, “we have the first of our two dates, Mrs. Shale’s room at noon and Chez Jacques at 7:30. Remember, I’m picking you up at seven.” Noel winked. “Let’s synchronize our watches.”

Holly laughed. She glanced at her watch. “I’ve got 7:15 a.m.”

“Seven fifteen it is,” he said.

They gulped their coffee and crunched their scones in preparation for their respective 7:30 operating room start times. Having peeked at his O.R. schedule earlier, she knew his itinerary for the morning but she’d not admit to checking it out.

“The scones were delicious,” he said.

Noel stood and cleared their cups and plates while Holly pushed back her chair. As she got up got from the table, she spied Clifford and Candice across the room. When they noticed her, they bolted from their table, tossed their trash into the waste receptacle, and scooted out of the cafeteria.

Noel grinned. “They’re eager to please, aren’t they?”

“Both are doing well. Candice, the medical student, has improved substantially, and you met Clifford, my intern, the day before.”

“Yeah, good hands.”

“He has potential.”

Noel nudged her. “They’re learning from the best.”

Holly arched her eyebrows.
More points for him!

Noel rested his hand on Holly’s shoulder.

She fought not to inch closer to him. “Clifford learned a lot during your case, Noel.”
Okay, public display of affection under control. God, the man is sexy!
But how long could she hold out?

Noel nodded. “We both taught him well on that one.” He searched her eyes and leaned in closer. “We should operate more together.”

All right. Heartbeat ready in rocket mode. Easy! Easy!
Holly took a quick breath. “I’d like that.”
Good! Short and to the point. Hold off, Holly. Don
’
t be so eager.

Holly and Noel walked together along the operating room corridor, garnering the attention of their colleagues and O.R. staff who all turned their heads toward the couple. By afternoon, they’d be the stars of the hospital rumor mill. Perhaps she should stop caring what other people thought.

“See you at high noon.” Noel said. “I’ll score us an incentive spirometer each. Then we’ll whip Mrs. Shale’s lungs into shape.”

“Deal!” Wow, fun and sexy! This was the first time she couldn’t wait to get through her day. Instead of curling up in her bunny slippers, she’d be curled up in Noel’s arms, of course after Chez Jacques.

They parted for their respective O.R. rooms. Holly couldn’t help it. She glanced back at him. He was already looking at her.

***

Holly’s patient laid on the operating room table, her eyes darting about the cold, white tiled room, and the stark walls only interrupted by a row of silver stainless steel glass cabinets housing an assortment of surgical supplies. The circulating nurse called a time out, a necessary recitation identifying the patient, the intended procedure, the stated consent form, the patient’s medical allergies, and the O.R. staff present, including Dr. Green as the surgeon of record. Everyone in the O.R. suite confirmed the correct data. Holly held the woman’s hand while the anesthesiologist pushed the syringe filled with sedative into her IV. The woman’s eyelid’s fluttered and her hand relaxed away from Holly’s grasp.

“She’s out,” the anesthesiologist said. Holly waited until he inserted a breathing tube through the woman’s mouth and into her airway before stepping outside of the O.R. to scrub. Clifford and Candice were already waiting at the scrub sink, blue bouffant scrub caps on and light blue surgical masks covering their noses and mouths. Holly, wearing her own flower print scrub cap, grabbed a mask and tied the ribbons from the ends behind her head. They leaned over the stainless steel sink next to one another, and scrubbed their hands with antiseptic sponges from elbows down under the faucets.

Holly rinsed the lather from her hands and shook the excess water from them. Droplets flew from her fingertips, splattering onto the sink back. Holding her wet hands above her waist, her elbows bent, she nudged the O.R. door with her backside. She glanced at Clifford and Candice who stood like speechless subjects, letting their queen enter first. “Are you guys ready?”

They nodded.

She tilted her head into the O.R. “Well, come on. A chance to cut is a chance to cure.”

They hurried their pace. Holly smiled beneath her mask. While the O.R. nurse cleansed the woman’s left breast with Betadine, a sepia tinted antiseptic solution, Holly led Clifford and Candice over to the screen mounted on the wall displaying radiologic views of the woman’s mammogram and breast ultrasound. She reviewed the digital films with them, pointing out the problematic mass, and quizzed them on the differential diagnoses of a breast lump, nodding with approval at their correct list.

“I’m impressed. You’ve both prepared well for this case.”

The crinkle of their eyes above their masks disclosed their pride.

Yes, her day was right on schedule.

They moved to the O.R. table. Candice stood next to Holly while Clifford and the surgical scrub tech, took their places opposite them. Holly arranged blue sterile towels around the woman’s breast, leaving the suspicious area exposed.

“Scalpel,” she said.

The scrub tech handed it to her. As Holly incised the skin above the breast mass, she heard Candice’s breath hitch. Without turning her head, she asked, “Ms. Baxter, are you all right?”

Candice cleared her throat. “Yes, I’m fine.”

“Good. Then hold this retractor here so I can excise this mass. Clifford, give me exposure on your side.”

Neither Clifford nor Candice spoke, only doing as Holly ordered them.

Holly scooped out the shooter marble sized mass and handed it to the scrub tech. Please send this to pathology for a frozen section.”

“Will do,” she said. The scrub tech plopped the pearly white lump into a container and handed it to the circulating nurse.