Four hours later, Seth stopped pacing the floor and turned toward the door when it opened. Callie glanced over her shoulder, then slowly rose to her feet. Seth moved to stand next to her.
The doctor stepped into the room and stopped when he saw them. Tired lines etched his craggy face, and his wrinkled, green scrubs hung on his slender frame. He pulled the surgery cap from his head and sighed.
Beside him, Seth heard a mewling groan in Callie’s throat, and he grasped her arm to steady her as the doctor walked toward them.
TWO
It’s bad news. I know it is.
The thought wouldn’t quit running through Callie’s mind as the doctor came closer. She wished she could put her fingers in her ears and not hear what he was about to tell her, but that wasn’t practical. She felt Seth grab her arm, but she couldn’t turn her head to look at him.
“Miss Lattimer?”
“Yes, I’m Callie Lattimer.”
The doctor stopped in front of her. The green surgery mask dangled from his hand. “I’m Dr. Singer. I’ve just finished operating on your uncle.”
Callie hadn’t thought it possible, but her heart rate increased. “H-how is he?”
Dr. Singer rubbed his hand across the top of his head. “He made it through surgery, but he’s not out of the woods yet. He’s fortunate that the EMTs arrived so quickly, especially since he almost quit breathing on us. But on the way here they were able to stem some of the blood flow, which is very important in wounds of this nature. Another favorable factor in his case is that the tract of the bullet doesn’t seem to be extensive. There is good brainstem function, which gives me hope that if he survives, his rehabilitation may not be too extensive.”
Seth’s hand tightened on her arm and then released. He exhaled a deep breath, and she knew he was as relieved to hear the news as she. “Oh, Dr. Singer, this is good news.”
He held up his hand in warning. “Don’t get me wrong. There are still a lot of things that can go wrong. We’re moving him to the Critical Care Unit to monitor him. There is some swelling of the brain, and I’ve removed a portion of the skull to relieve the pressure. We can take care of that later if all goes well. The next few weeks are critical.”
Callie nodded. “I understand. When can I see him?”
“Now, if you want to. He’s settled in the unit, and the nurses there will let you in for a few minutes. Then you should go home and get some rest. You’ve been through a lot tonight, and you’ve got some tough days ahead.”
“I understand, Doctor. And thank you for what you’ve done.”
He smiled. “I’m glad I could be of service. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Callie turned back to Seth as the doctor left the chapel. “Would you like to go with me to see Uncle Dan?”
“I would, and then I’ll drive you to Dan’s house.”
“You don’t have to do that. I can get a cab.”
He frowned. “I don’t mind.”
“No, really, Seth. You don’t have to do it.”