White Wedding For A Southern Belle

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Kiefer followed the party up the hallway to one of the two functioning exam rooms. The camera crew stopped outside the door and allowed him to enter first. Mrs. McGuire was a forty-something woman neatly dressed in a casual shirt and jeans. When he entered she looked up from where she sat in a chair in the corner.

“Hi, I’m Dr. Bradford. I understand you’re Mrs. McGuire.”

Ashley, along with the reporter and cameraman, squeezed into the room.

Mrs. McGuire looked at the group with interest. “I am.”

“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” Kiefer nodded toward the people behind him. “I’ll tell them to leave if you’re not.”

“Mrs. McGuire—” Ashley started.

“Is my patient.”

Ashley said nothing more.

The patient nodded her assent. “Now, Mrs. McGuire, what seems to be the problem?” Kiefer asked.

“I’ve been having trouble with one of my toes.” She lifted her right foot. It was covered by a sock and she was wearing a house shoe.

“Would you please remove your sock? I’d like to take a look.” As she did so Kiefer pulled the other metal chair in the room closer.

A sweet smell of infection filled the room. He reached down and cupped her calf, lifting it so that her heel rested on his thigh. Mrs. McGuire’s large toe was a deep purple color that was extending to the next one.

The cameraman took a step closer.

“How long has this toe looked like this?” Kiefer asked, trying not to let his concern show in his voice. He didn’t want the reporter to get the idea that this might be more than an ordinary hurt toe.

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe a few months.”

Kiefer nodded. She should have been seen long ago. “Mrs. McGuire, have you ever been told you were a diabetic?”

“It’s been so long since I’ve been to the doctor I don’t remember.”

Kiefer took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. Why had she let this go on for so long? Did she realize how bad it was? He turned to the reporter. “I need you to leave now. I would like to talk to my patient in private.”

“But we really didn’t get anything,” the reporter complained.

“Dr. Bradford, could I speak to you outside?” Ashley followed the reporter and cameraman out.

“Mrs. McGuire, I’ll be right back,” Kiefer said.

Ashley waited in the hall. He closed the exam room door behind him. The reporter and cameraman were walking toward the waiting area.

“Why’re you making this so difficult?” she demanded, before he could say anything.

“Because that woman in there needs to be in the hospital. She’s going to lose that toe. If she waits much longer she could lose her entire foot. I don’t think that’s something that should be said in front of a camera.”

Ashley’s mouth formed an O of comprehension.

“That’s right, oh. Now, if we’re done here I’ll see about making arrangements to have her admitted.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I’ll see that she gets there. I know she lives alone and will need a ride. That’s probably why she hasn’t been seeing a doctor regularly.”

Kiefer had to admit Ashley’s focus turned quickly to compassion and willingness to help. Despite her appearance of having a one-track mind, only concerned about her agenda, she genuinely seemed to have the woman’s best interests at heart.

She headed down the hall toward the reporter and Kiefer returned to Mrs. McGuire.

He took the chair again and explained the situation to his patient.

Mrs. McGuire surprised him with her reaction when she said, “I’m not going to the hospital. Nothing good happens there.”

That wasn’t generally true but in her case it might be. Kiefer wasn’t sure if her prognosis might be worse than he’d anticipated. At a knock on the door he said, “Come in.”

Ashley entered. “Mrs. McGuire, I’m going to drive you to the hospital.”

“I’m not going.”

Ashley’s eyes widened as she gave Mrs. McGuire an incredulous look. “Why not?”

“Because I don’t want a bunch of people I don’t know poking at me.”

“Please, Mrs. McGuire, you need to have your foot seen to. I’ll be there with you. Didn’t Dr. Bradford tell you how important this is to your health?”

“I did,” Kiefer said.

“I understand the doctor is trying to help but I’ll be all right.” Mrs. McGuire started putting on her sock. “I’ll just give it a good soak and it’ll get better like it always has.”

Kiefer leaned forward, capturing her gaze. “That might work for a little while but not forever, and when it stops you’ll be in bigger trouble. Please reconsider.”

Ashley placed her hand on his shoulder. He was far too conscious of it remaining there as she said, “Dr. Bradford, would you let me speak to Mrs. McGuire for a second?”

“Sure.” He left. What did Ashley have to say that couldn’t be said in front of him? As he went into the next exam room he saw the reporter and cameraman still standing in the waiting room.

A few minutes later Ashley stopped him in the hall. “If you’ll make all the arrangements, I’ll take Mrs. McGuire to the hospital as soon as we go by her house and pack a bag.”

Ashley could work miracles. “What did you say to get her to go?”

She grinned. “What’s said between two women stays between two women.”

“That’s not been my experience.”

She looked at him with her chin tilted to one side. “Why, Doctor, I do believe you’re a bit jaded.”

“No, I’ve lived long enough to know differently. But it doesn’t matter. I’m just glad you convinced her.”

CHAPTER THREE (#ulink_0498d164-27c8-5572-950c-88fcdf17bcb6)

ASHLEY DROVE HOME well after dark. She’d got Mrs. McGuire settled in the hospital, but not happily so. Her only hope was that Mrs. McGuire would stay long enough to get the care she needed. Now having the clinic in the neighborhood, the older woman would have a place to go to for care. The clinic was already making a difference.

If only it had been around that day for Lizzy.

As she drove by the front door of the clinic she saw a couple of boys on either side of it. They were pushing over the urns. Ashley honked her horn and their heads jerked up. She recognized them as members of Marko’s gang. Rolling down the window, she hollered, “Hey, stop that!”

That was all it took for them to take off running.

With a sigh, she parked and climbed out. She walked over to see how big a mess had been made. It was late, she was tired and didn’t feel like cleaning it up. But if she didn’t do it now, what was left of the flowers would be dead by morning. She reached the door just as it was opened. She almost fell but Kiefer’s strong hands gripped her shoulders and steadied her. Her heart beat faster. She wasn’t sure if it was from surprise or from the jolt of having him touch her.

“Y-you scared me. I d-didn’t expect you to still be here,” she stammered.

He let her go. Disappointment washed over her. Not a feeling she should be having.

Kiefer stepped out. “I was finishing up some paperwork and getting ready to head home when I heard something going on out here. I came to check it out.”

She waved her hand around. “A couple of kids have been busy.”

“More like Marko trying to make a point.”

He was right but she wasn’t going to let him know that. “I’d like to just consider it a prank. I’ve got to get this cleaned up.”

“Can’t it wait?”

“The flowers could die overnight.” Ashley started picking up the plants.

“Ah, a woman and her flowers.”

“What does that mean?”

“Just that women have a thing for flowers.” He handed her part of a plant.

“You sound pretty cynical. Someone used flowers against you?”

“Something like that. Why don’t you get the broom and dustpan?” Kiefer began picking up pieces of the broken urns and putting them into a pile near the wall of the building. “I’ll get started cleaning this up.”

It was nice of him to offer to help. “You’ve had a long day. Go on home and I’ll see to this.”

“I’m not leaving you out here by yourself after this happened. So forget it. Get the broom and dustpan.”

“Don’t tell me what to do.”

“I wouldn’t have to if you weren’t so hardheaded,” he retorted as he continued to work.

Ashley put her hands on her hips and glared at him. It gave her little satisfaction because he wasn’t looking at her. “I am not hardheaded.”

“You’re sure acting that way. I’ve made a simple offer of help and you’re still standing there.”

“Are you always so bossy?” Ashley glared down at the top of his head.

He looked over his shoulder at her. “Are you?”

With a huff, she stomped through the door and down the hall. Kiefer’s chuckle followed her. She hadn’t enjoyed growing up with a father controlling her every move and she sure didn’t like Kiefer telling her what to do. It was time to make that clear to him. She snatched the cleaning supplies out of the closet along with a bucket and returned to the front door. Kiefer had all the pieces picked up and the flowers laid off to the side.

“I tried to save your flowers but I’m not sure they’re going to live.”

He really was making an effort at being helpful. Maybe she could cut him some slack. “Thanks. I was afraid of that. Would you like to do the honors of sweeping or holding the pan?”

“I’ll take the pan.” His hand brushed hers as she handed it to him. A shiver went through her.

“I rather like the idea of you at my feet,” Ashley said as she swept the dirt into a pile.

“Don’t get carried away with the idea.” Kiefer held the pan while she moved the dirt into it then dumped it into the bucket. “Maybe if we put the flowers in here they might make it.”