Catching Fireflies(89)

He was about to write his notes in the file for his last patient of the day when Bill walked into his office.

“Exactly what did you say to tick off Delilah Jefferson and Jane Trainor?” Bill asked. “Debra says they left here muttering about switching to a doctor in Columbia.”

When J.C. started to respond, Bill held up a hand, a grin spreading across his face. “She also told me they deserved every word you said.”

J.C.’s quick rise of temper cooled. “I suppose that’s something,” he said, appreciating his nurse’s support. He explained about both incidents. “I couldn’t let what they said go unchallenged. If that bothers you, I’m sorry, but this is one subject about which I intend to take a stand.”

Bill nodded. “I gather half the town is taking a stand on one side or another. I talked to my son last night. Ty says Annie’s smack in the middle of planning this rally on Saturday.”

“And I’m one of the speakers,” J.C. said.

Bill nodded slowly. “Something tells me I need to be there as a show of support. I may not have seen anything as extreme as what’s gone on with Misty Dawson, but I see kids all the time starting in grade school who suddenly don’t want to go back. They develop stomachaches and every symptom known to man to avoid having to go to school. It can almost always be traced to some other kid picking on them, stealing their lunch money or knocking their books out of their arms and pretending it’s an accident.”

J.C. regarded him with surprise. “I don’t suppose you’d want to speak on Saturday, too. Maybe if these parents hear just how early bullying affects their children’s lives, they’ll take it more seriously and pay more attention to the signs. This whole business of thinking it’s just part of growing up is nonsense.”

“I couldn’t agree with you more about that,” Bill said, looking thoughtful. “Okay, sign me up, if you think it’ll help to have another perspective.”

J.C. grinned. “It’ll help. Since we want to keep the rally fairly short, the more speakers we have, the less each of us will have to say.”

“When have you ever been short-winded when it’s a subject you’re passionate about?” Bill taunted. “You spent a full hour trying to convince me we needed to hire Debra’s friend as a nurse practitioner. Her credentials alone would have been enough to convince me.”

“I figured you already knew we needed the help,” J.C. countered. “I just wanted to be sure you had all the data you needed to support making the decision and spending the money.” He gave Bill a long look. “You know, there could be another benefit to having you get up on that stage on Saturday.”

“What’s that?”

“It might make you a real hero in your daughter’s eyes. Katie was the one who made sure Misty got the help she needed. Not that anyone’s mentioned that to me directly, but all roads point in that direction.”

Bill stiffened ever-so-slightly. “Katie and I have done okay since the divorce.”

J.C. regarded him doubtfully. “Seriously? How many times has she put you off when you had plans? I know you’ve mentioned it to me on several occasions.”

Bill shrugged, though his expression said he was anything but indifferent. “She’s a teenager. None of them want to spend time with a parent.”

“Maybe that’s all it is,” J.C. conceded. “But just in case, this couldn’t hurt your cause. She may have been, what, just six when you left Maddie? But now she’s old enough to understand everything that happened back then, and she may be a whole lot more sympathetic to her mother.”

Bill winced. “I know you’re right. She’s even made a few comments, and, just as you guessed, she has been pulling away. It tears me up that I ruined my relationship with my kids for an affair that wound up going nowhere. Now I have a son in Tennessee I hardly see and three kids here who spend as little time with me as they can manage. I never thought my life would turn out like this. Let that be a lesson to you, J.C. When you have someone incredible in your life, do not do something stupid and thoughtless to ruin it.”

J.C. nodded, thinking of Laura. “Advice I’m doing my best to heed.” He regarded Bill curiously. “Do you think Delilah Jefferson and Jane Trainor really will take their kids over to Columbia to see other doctors?”

Bill shrugged. “So what if they do? Their loss, not ours.”

J.C. admired the cavalier attitude but still felt the need to reassure his partner. “I’ll do my best not to chase off any more patients, okay?”