Chapter 142: LA

Monday, January 9th, Afternoon

A hospital is a busy place, but a calm place. If the hospital was chaotic, it was a good thing. Doctor Candace "Candi" Scott, MD, walked through the hallway to one room, turned in, and knocked on the door jam. The Woman sitting in the chair looked up and nodded.

"Come in, Doctor Scott," Ms. Wilson said.

Candi walked in and looked at Ms. Wilson and then turned to the teenage boy lying in bed. The boy smiled at Candi, and he smiled back.

"So, are you ready?" Candi asked.

Lamont Wilson nodded, "As I'll ever be," he said.

"Good, well Your Mom signed for everything, and someone will be soon to prepare you for surgery," Candi said.

"Will you be doing it?" Lamont asked.

"I'll be there during the surgery," Candi said.

"I'm…well, I don't know," Lamont said.

"Well, it's a big deal," Candi said.

Lamont nodded, "Yeah, and I'm scared," he said.

"It's scary," Candi said, "I know."

"How could you say that? Have you ever been in my place?" Lamont asked.

"I have been, several times," Candi said.

"No, you haven't," Lamont said.

"Lamont, listen to Doctor Scott," Ms. Wilson said.

Candi screwed up her lips, "Well, there is a big reason I've become a doctor, and turned down fame and glamor of an athletic career," she said, calmly.

"What is that?" Lamont asked.

"I had atrial septal defects, as well as a ventricular septal defect, in layman's terms, I was born with holes in my heart. It took several surgeries to fix them, and a few other things. I started school a year late because of it," Candi said.

"I don't believe you," Lamont said.

"Have I ever lied to you, Lamont?" Candi asked.

"I don't know," Lamont said.

"Have I told you anything that's proven to be wrong?" Candi asked.

"No," Lamont said.

Candi smiled, "I'll tell you this, get through the surgery, and we'll compare scars," she said.

Lamont smiled, "Okay," he said.

"So, how did you like your visit, James last night?" Candi asked.

"It was great; how did you get that to happen?" Lamont asked.

"I just asked him," Candi said.

"That's all it takes?" Lamont asked.

Candi nodded, "Sometimes, but at least to get it started," she said.

"My Mom said you asked Nathan Scott to visit me," Lamont said.

"That I did," Candi said, "And as you know, he said no. Which is fair, as he is raising his youngest daughter and three grandchildren."

"Doesn't seem that much," Ms. Wilson said.

"His daughter is a handful," Candi said.

"How old is she?" Ms. Wilson asked.

"She's fifteen-years-old," Candi said.

"Oh yeah, she's a handful," Ms. Wilson said.

"That you don't know," Candi said.

"Candi, what are they going to do to me?" Lamont asked.

Candi looked at Lamont, "Well, we're going to go in there and fix what's wrong with you. It's what we have to do to fix this," she said.

"It's a big deal," Lamont said.

"You'll do fine, Lamont," Candi said.

"But it's scary," Lamont said.

"I know it is," Candi said.

"I just want to get this over with," Lamont said.

Candi nodded and looked at a clock, "They'll be coming for you soon," she said.

"I don't want to wait any longer," Lamont said.

"Just rest now," Candi said.

Lamont nodded and leaned back. Candi started to walk out of the room. Ms. Wilson got up and walked over to where Candi was heading.

"He's petrified," Ms. Wilson said.

"I know he is," Candi said, "I was from the surgery, I remember."

"I've never seen him this scared," Ms. Wilson said.

"Ms. Wilson, I'm not a mother, I don't even have pets, so, all I could do is tell you he will do alright. I don't want to give you hollow promises," Candi said.

"I don't know what to do or think," Ms. Wilson said.

"Be supportive; that's all you could do," Candi said, "We'll take care of the rest."

Ms. Wilson nodded, "Candi, why aren't you a mother, you seem well fitted for the task?" she asked.

"Wow! Change of subject, and that's one hell of one," Candi said.

"I've wanted to ask for a while, but never felt it was the right time," Ms. Wilson said.

"Now is the right time?" Candi asked.

"I need something to take my mind off his surgery," Ms. Wilson said.

Candi nodded; she believed in treating the whole patient, which included the family. "Well, in all honesty, I've not found someone yet," Candi said, leaving most of her back story out of her statement.

"I can't believe it," Ms. Wilson said.

"I've been busy since high school, and it wasn't important," Candi said.

"You need to take care of yourself, and people to take care of you," Ms. Wilson said.

Candi smiled, the smile that she would use when she put up her façade of calm, "I'll find someone eventually," she said.

"Eventually?" Ms. Wilson asked.

"I find it better to find and let them happen when it comes to romance, Ms. Wilson," Candi said.

"That seems weird; you chase anything else you want but companionship," Ms. Wilson said.

"I'm a mystery, inside a riddle, surround by an enigma," Candi said.

Ms. Wilson looked to the bed and saw Lamont sleeping a bit. She nodded, "I hope it works out," she said.

"It will," Candi said, "I have to go check on other patients."

"Go ahead, I've kept you long enough," Ms. Wilson said.

"It's no bother, I'll see you later," Candi said.

Ms. Wilson nodded, "I'll see you later," she said, "Doctor Scott, is this a big deal?"

Candi nodded, "Of course it's a big deal. Lamont is an important patient, or why else I wasted wearing my best scrubs," she said.

Candi's last statement got a chuckle out of MS. Wilson. Candi smiled and slipped out of the room and headed to the next room.