Chapter 58 : Advice
On the day after, they all went to Raleigh General Hospital. Before going there, Neil took Gabbie apart to explain to her they have to go the hospital to help Dr. Cameron and Nurse Lisa will take care of her.
"But she won't give an injection, right?"
She looked at him with her big brown eyes. He couldn't resist but smile. "Why are you saying this, Gabbie?"
"Because the last nurse I saw made me an injection and it hurt."
"Don't worry, Lisa is one of the best nurses I know and she's very nice. And she's Claire's best friend here…"
"Really?"
"For real, sweetie." Claire came next to Neil to calm her anxiety down. "And she has long hair… I'm sure you can comb her if you ask gently…"
"So she's a princess like you… And Morgan?"
"I guess so!"
Gabbie remained silent for a while. "And can I bring Scooter with me?"
Claire and Neil let out a laugh. "It's not gonna be possible, Gabbie. The dogs can't come into the hospital. But he'll be waiting for you when we all come back later. Right, Scooter?"
The dog came as soon as he heard Neil calling him and sat next to him. "You see? As soon as we'll be back, you could play with him as long as you like!"
She hugged her brother before reaching Claire's hand. She helped her to go in the car and came to get her handbag. "Neil, you're ready? Morgan, Alex and Gabbie are waiting for us in the car."
"Be there in a few minutes, just need to grab some files in my office."
"Ok! Will be in the car!"
Neil came back a few minutes later with a big file under his arm. He handled it to Claire who was sat in the passenger seat. Then he sat in his own seat. "We can go!"
He drove till the hospital and parked the car in their reserved spot. All got out of the car and Gabbie automatically gave her hand to Claire. Neil loved to see their complicity growing through the years. He loved watching at them laughing, listening to any of their unicorn, seal and princess stories. Her little sister and her wife were the most important people in his life. And seeing them so conniving enhanced his opinion of having taking the best decision of his life when it had come to choose Claire over Bonaventure.
"Lisa! Thanks so much for helping with Gabbie. She's a sweetheart, I promise she won't bother you." She turned to Gabbie and crouched. "Gabbie, this is Lisa. She's my friend and she will take care of you while your brother, Alex, Morgan and I will be with Dr. Cameron talking boring stuff. I'm sure she has some tricks in store for you! And promise me you'll be kind with her."
Gabbie nodded and looked at Lisa. "You won't make me an injection, right?"
"Why would I do this? You're not sick! And Claire told me you like to comb hair… Mine is pretty messy. Would you like to help me?"
"Yesssss!" Gabbie started to jump.
"Easy, peanut!"
"Don't worry about this, I've got some ideas. Good luck with Dr. Cameron."
Claire winked at her. "And once again thank you so much! Goodbye Gabbie, see you later."
Claire watched Lisa walking away, holding Gabbie's hand. "She's fine, you can let her go, doting mom."
It was Morgan just behind her. She turned to see her. "I know, it's just I don't like to let her alone when she's with us."
"Relax! This Lisa girl seems nice. And Gabbie is ok with Neil and you not being around. She's a big girl."
Claire pouted and walked with Morgan to join Alex. Neil arrived a few minutes later. "Sorry I've called Cameron. She'll join us in my office in half an hour. We can go and visit Claire's office while waiting if you're ok with that?"
They all nodded, took the elevator and went to the 4th floor. Claire walked behind and went to the end of the corridor. "And this is my new work home!"
"Open the door and end this suspense!" Morgan was hopping up and down with impatience.
"Tadaaaaaa!"
"OMG it's so huge!"
"And you've not seen the view yet!"
"Claire, this is another level from Bonaventure!"
Neil remained in a corner looking at the scene. Smiling at his good luck. Maybe this earthquake had been a good thing after all. Not always pleasant but it had brought him all he truly needed. Alex and Morgan looked by the window. Claire was right when she told them about it. It was beautiful.
"Don't want to hurry you but if you want to see mine before Cameron arrives, we need to hurry a little bit."
They got out of Claire's office and reached Neil's one. "And here is mine!"
"Wow, bro, that's a hell of an office and this time you have a door and walls."
"Yeah! Not a bad thing." Neil let out a laugh. Alex looked at him with a mischievous look. "Not what you think, Alex!" And he laughed harder.
They enjoyed the view once again when a little voice behind them remembered them they were here for another reason than visiting the place.
"I can come back if you need some more time."
"Oh no, please come in! Cameron, please meet Alex Park and Morgan Reznick, our two friends who run the clinic in San José and helped us to raise funds."
"Nice to meet you both! I'm Dr. Cameron. I run this place and I definitively need more place." She laughed.
"Let's sit at the table to talk. I've brought the old file we prepared for the clinic!"
Neil introduced Cameron to the project they led in San José. How they convinced the Bonaventure board jury to give them the funds. He talked about the people he went to meet in Bakersfield for instance, people like him who had built clinics for people who couldn't have access to medicine.
"I know it's not really the same goal for you but it's important you meet people who had been through the same problematics. Because they can reveal some aspects of the problems or bring new highlights on the situation you have not thought about in the first place."
"And think about reading articles on specialized reviews! It helps to find people to contact. And don't lose hope. Morgan and I spent hours, evenings, weekends to look for the good people to call."
"And don't underestimate your close ones! One of my friends had his entries to the city hall and it helped us a lot!"
Cameron couldn't stop taking notes of everything they said. So many ideas she didn't have and that could be useful for the future. She asked questions about the financial aspect and the details that made the jury decide their project was a good one."
"I'd say the conviction with which you defend it in front of them." Alex answered. " Neil talked with passion. He knew every possible aspect of the file, including the ones he didn't work on. And of course, you need to be surrounded by the good people, the people who can give you the strength to fight."
"I'd like to thank you all to have come on your days off to help me. Really appreciate this!"
"Our pleasure!" Neil told, nodding. The meeting lasted two more hours, Neil detailing the whole file he had brought with him, Alex, Morgan and Claire bringing some details when it was needed.
"All I said, it's that it was a very hard time but this project kind of redeems myself…" Neil confessed closing the file.
"And it made us grow as people, learned so many new things. Opening our eyes on problematics, we had not thought about. " Claire added, winking at Neil.
"And it opened so many other perspectives for someone who believed medicine was over for her. "
Alex put his hand over Morgan's one and smiled at her. "Let just say this kind of project, change a life and open up your eyes. See where the priorities are and what being a doctor really means."
Cameron nodded and smiled. "For sure, this kind of project changes a life! Once again, thank you for all your advice and ideas! Just have to find the sponsors now!"
Neil gathered all his stuff, while Cameron talked with Alex and Morgan. Claire wished a good day to Cameron before going out in the corridor. She joined the nurse station and asked after Lisa. She came out of a small room just behind her, holding Gabbie by the hand.
"Claire, you're back? Where's my brother?"
"He's coming, Chiquita. Did you have fun with Lisa?"
"Yes! She helped me draw something for you all but it's a surprise for tonight."
"That's great! I can't wait to see it! And look who's here!"
She saw her brother coming and came to hug him.
"Thank you very much for today, Lisa!"
"My pleasure, she's very cool!"
"She is! Did she comb your hair?" Lisa nodded. "Ah ha ha I was sure you will let her do it! She should have been a hair dresser. Once again, thank you. See you in 2 weeks? Except if you want to come home to have a coffee?"
"Would love to but I've got my parents at home for the moment. They come from Georgia to see me and the kids. And Sonny prefers when I'm not far away for too long. Not that he doesn't like my parents but he's the solitary kind." She let out a laugh.
"See you when I'm back then!" Claire waved at Lisa before joining Neil, Alex and Morgan. Neil enjoyed the moment to thank Lisa from a distance before she was called by the nurse chief to take care of a wounded patient in the ER.
"What about eating an ice cream in town?" Neil proposed to the whole crew.
[…]
They spent the whole afternoon walking in Raleigh downtown, enjoying the parks of the city. They sat from time to time for Gabbie who was getting tired easily. Despite her good will, her body sometimes showed her she couldn't do everything she wanted to do. Tomorrow they will remain at home for her to rest. Anyway, they had to prepare the house for Shaun and Vera who were about to arrive in 2 days.
As they drove home this day, Gabbie felt asleep. A smile on her lips. This day will remain in her memory forever. Alex and Neil hold her till her bed. She didn't even wake up when they put her in her bed and Neil walked over a toy and cursed the whole world.
"Is she sleeping?"
"Like a stone! She didn't wake up when Neil yelled because he walked over a Lego!"
"Oops." Claire burst into laughing. "Will clean this up tomorrow to avoid it happens again. Anyway, someone is hungry?"
"I was thinking about doing some pizza and a salad?"
"You're on holidays Morgan, not you to cook."
"Neil, it's Ok, I enjoy doing this and Claire's gonna help me. Take care of the dishes and later of cleaning everything. And let us alone for a couple of hours."
Claire and Morgan vanished in the kitchen giggling. Alex and Neil stayed in the living room. "What about a glass of whiskey to start this evening well?"
"With pleasure!"
And in less than 2 minutes the two men were drinking and talking about the last sport results while cleaning the table outside to eat soon. Back in the kitchen, Claire and Morgan were preparing the ingredients to start cooking.
"Soooo what's the news?"
"What are you talking about?"
"You know, Neil, you... And maybe more?"
"Like a dog and two chicken. " Claire laughed. "And believe me it's already a lot! And it's a good practice for maybe…"
"Having babies?"
"Yeah, something like that. Speaking about babies, what about you and Alex? Do you plan anything?"
"To be honest, no. We haven't talked about yet. And I don't know if I'll be a good mom. Don't know if I'll have enough patience. And for the moment, I only focus on creating a good relationship with Kellan."
"Oh, how is he?"
"He's fine! He's going to Columbia next year. He has just received his letter of acceptation 2 weeks ago. He's gonna study law and arts. Alex is relieved he's finally found his path in life. He was so anxious…"
"And what about you in this?"
Morgan sliced the onions to try to avoid the question but she could feel Claire's look upon her. "I'm not gonna lie, it's not easy. He has always hoped his mother and father get back together. Especially after the earthquake when Alex considered to go back to Phoenix definitively. Actually he did for some time and it was a total failure. Alex came back to San José and Kellan has been angry at him for a long time. To make him believe they could live the three of them again… So when I came into the picture almost 2 years after, I was not really warmly welcomed."
Claire saw tears rolling down Morgan's cheeks and she was sure the onions were not only responsible for this. But she'd rather ignore it and keep asking questions.
"But it's better now, right? After all, Alex and you are together for more than 3 years…"
"It's getting better, thanks God! Kellan even asked me for advice when he chose his university. He even called me to talk about his father's birthday gift. "
"That sounds great. He's not a mean kid. He had just a dream and it had never happened. He was just bitter and you were the person he chose to blame for this when you arrived when all was already over."
Morgan nodded and changed of subject. She had already confessed too much. "Ohhhh you want to know the best thing I've ever heard in years?! I swear I laughed so hard when I heard about it, it's like crazy!"
"Tell me everything! It seems juicy!"
"I went to Bonaventure last week to meet Alex after work. He was finishing his shift late and we had to go to the restaurant after and I saw Ellie, you know the nice nurse from the ER. The one I turned crazy when I was an evil bitch."
"Ahhh yes the little one with the curly hair!"
"That one precisely. Anyway, now we're friends and we were talking as I was waiting for Alex who was I don't know where and then she told me Glassman and Debbie had been admitted to the ER a few days before. They were covered with bruises."
Claire looked at Morgan, hungrily with gossip. "OMG, tell me more! What were they doing here?"
"This is when it's getting even more interesting!" Morgan remained silent some long seconds, slicing the mushrooms and throwing them over the tomato sauce.
"Come on, what was happening? I mean I can't slice ham before I hear about the end of this story!"
"You're not gonna believe it! Ellie told me she was in charge of both of them. So she asked them how they got all these bruises. Glassman even had a black eye!"
Claire took the bag of chips next to her and started to eat it as she was listening to Morgan very carefully. She needed to know how this story ended!
"They were sooooo embarrassed but they finally confessed they were doing pole dancing in their living room and Debbie fell over Aaron and one of her heels hit his eyes."
Morgan let out a laugh. "I shouldn't laugh but it was too funny. Ellie had so much trouble to remain serious when they told her about the story!"
"No way they did this! I'm shocked… And embarrassed for them… And…" She burst into laughing.
"Told you it was hilarious!"
"What was hilarious?" Alex burst all of a sudden in the kitchen to come and pick the dishes.
"Morgan was telling me about her last patients."
The two women shared a conniving look.
"Oh, the one who came wearing a clown costume!"
"Yeah this one precisely!" And the two women laughed louder, letting Alex completely astounded.