Chapter 8: Hospitals & Jerseys II
Taz sighed and turned the page in her book. She was well used to this. The appointment was at ten-thirty, but in the grand tradition of Mr. Lambert, he was running approximately forty-five minutes late—well, that's what the whiteboard proclaimed in the waiting room. It was already eleven-thirty and she still hadn't been seen.
She shifted in her seat, trying to get more comfortable. Naturally the pain had stopped this morning, but the aches were still there. It always happened this way, she'd be in agony the few days before seeing the doctor, and then magically it would vanish the day of the appointment.
She was glad of her book, it distracted her from the bubble of anxiety building in her stomach. She wondered why there were only ever copies of Good Housekeeping in waiting rooms. Surely they knew that it wasn't only middle-aged middle-class housewives that had to see bone specialists.
"Taryn McDonald?"
Taz and her father stood up. "That's me," she said.
"Mr. Lambert will see you now."
They followed the nurse. Out of all of her doctors, Taz liked Mr. Lambert the most, he was actually the first doctor her parents had ever seen about her condition in America. There were two or three others that she saw when Mr. Lambert was working in other hospitals. Her Dad said that Mr. Lambert was one of the best.
She didn't know if he was or not, but he always remembered her and asked questions about her life before getting down to business—not all of the doctors bothered to put her at ease before starting.
"Hello, Taz," he greeted her, then shook her father's hand. That was another thing, he always remembered that she was Taz, not Taryn.
He noticed her jersey. "Good heavens! Don't tell me you've joined the hockey team!"
Taz grinned, feeling better. "No, it's my boyfriend's jersey. He played in the Junior Goodwill Games for Team USA." She told him proudly.
"Really?" he replied with genuine interest. "My kids watched that religiously. My eldest even saved up the money to go to LA and watch it live. Which one is your boyfriend?"
Taz grinned, this was the quickest time ever she'd relaxed at the hospital. She wasn't sure what she was so scared of—she already knew what was wrong with her, and what would happen as it progressed, but it didn't stop the fear building.
"Fulton Reed. The one with the killer slapshot."
"My kids will be interested, they loved him." He smiled. "Now, hop up on the table and we'll see how your hips are."
Taz got up and allowed the doctor to move her legs around, wincing in pain when he pushed her too far. He frowned every time she winced, and she began to worry.
He decided to send her for X-rays, and her heart sank.
Her Dad squeezed her shoulder supportively as they walked over to the other side of the building where the X-rays were done.
"I hate X-rays." She muttered.
"I know," he replied. "Believe me I do. I remember the fuss you used to kick up when you were a kid. I'm glad you've grown out of that now."
Taz smiled. "You think I'd get away with throwing a tantrum?" she asked hopefully.
"I don't think so. And besides, when you were little all we had to do was bribe you with sweets. I don't know what would work now."
"Money is always good," she said.
He smiled at her. "If you don't throw a tantrum I'll buy you the DVD of your choice. And I won't even criticize it."
"Done."
She gave her name to the nurse at reception, and sat down. She had barely got comfortable before someone called her name. It always went this way, in Mr. Lambert's surgery there was always an hour or so delay, at X-rays they were calling your name out before you'd even given it over.
A few minutes later, Taz was laid flat on the X-ray table, trying not to shake. It didn't help that she was only wearing her underwear. Here she was facing her biggest fear, and she was half-naked. It wasn't fair.
She looked longingly at Fulton's jersey.
"Eyes straight ahead, Taryn."
She complied, hoping this would be quick. Sometimes they just did the obligatory two X-rays not really focusing on whether Taz was lying straight or not. And sometimes it took ages, arranging her so she was lying straight, and taking many X-rays from various angles.
"Ok, Taryn. Hold your breath and look straight ahead."
She almost smiled. This was going to be quick.
She got back to Dr. Lambert's office, brandishing her new X-rays.
"You wanna take a look at my holiday snaps?" she asked, holding out the folder.
He smiled at her and took it. He slipped the X-rays into their holders and flipped on the light behind it.
Taz's face fell.
"Taz, you wanna go get that DVD?" Her father offered, as they were driving home.
She shook her head, her mind elsewhere.
"Do you want to get something to eat?"
She shook her head again.
"Do you want anything?"
Again she shook her head.