One Armed Angler
Jessica's tumble off her bike made the newspaper. It was embarrassing enough to have fallen in the middle of Main Street but to have the details splashed in the paper was too much. She complained to the new editor and refused to make any comment to friends and acquaintances regarding her fall. The fact that the paper stated she ripped her favorite pair of jeans had her seething inwardly.
She knew she wasn't very angry at the paper. She had wanted to be a journalist when she was fresh out of college. She understood chasing a story, no matter how small or mundane. No, she was upset because she had gotten hurt and Seth wasn't there to fix it.
Seth Hazlitt was the premier doctor in Cabot Cove and one of her dearest friends. He was always there for every sniffle, every sore throat. He took care of her back like no one ever could but her arm hurt like the dickens and she just knew he would have made it all better.
Seth had gone to visit family, something he rarely did so she couldn't gripe about it. He more than deserved to treasure the remaining family he had left. There were only cousins left now if you didn't include his daughter Margie and her family.
She left the newspaper office without giving into the temptation to cancel her subscription. She waved off lifts from friends and walked home. A long walk would give her a chance to calm down and think about Seth.
He had been gone two weeks already and had another week planned to stay in South Carolina. As many times as she left him in Cabot Cove, she never considered how uprooted and off kilter she would feel if he was the one that left her here. At least once a day she picked up the phone to call him and tell him something she had heard from someone before remembering he wasn't home.
The doctor that patched her up had been adequate but didn't have Seth's relaxing bedside manner, in her opinion. He had looked her over, put her arm in a sling, and told her to take a pain reliever as needed. She huffed just thinking about his dismissal. And two days later her arm still hurt just as much if not more.
Her phone rang as she entered her house and she hurried to pick it up.
"Hello," she answered.
"Jess! What's this I hear about you in an accident?"Seth's voice came over loud and clear. "If it made the papers here, it must have been a bad one. I called the hospital but they said you had been discharged from the emergency room."
Jessica gave an unladylike snort. "Yes, I was discharged."
She sounded subdued to Seth and he was immediately on alert. "What's wrong, Jess?"
"It's nothing, Seth." She sighed. "I just wish they hadn't put it in the paper. It was bad enough lying in the middle of the road in an undignified heap."
"What happened?"
"I was riding on Main Street and a car pulled away from the curb and almost hit me. I had to swerve and I fell. The driver didn't even stop. I gave the license plate number to Mort so I hope he gets a ticket."
"Where are you hurt?" Seth's voice was deceptively mild.
Jessica hesitated. Normally she would brush it off but she deserved a little sympathy, having not gotten even a hint from the ER physician.
"Jess?"
"It's nothing, Seth." She knew he wouldn't let it go.
"It doesn't sound like it's nothing."
"I don't want to be a pest and go back to the hospital," she denied. "I'll be fine."
"Jess, I'm your doctor. I expect a detailed answer to my question or so help me when I get home, I'll admit you for a full physical with colonoscopy, cardiac workup, and drain enough blood from you to fill a hundred tubes."
"My arm hurts," she said softly. "He said its bruised and to take pain relievers."
"What did the x-ray show?"
"He didn't take any," admitted Jessica. She felt a little guilty but she knew Seth was about to go on a tirade in her defense.
"No x-rays?" shouted Seth. And he was off on a rant.
Jessica smiled listening to him and tears of gratitude filled her eyes. This was the Seth she knew and loved. Loved? Yes, she knew it was love. Now.
"Jess?"
She sniffed. "I'm here."
"You're crying?"
"I'm sorry, just a little overcome. I'll take a pain pill and lie down."
"Your arm still hurts? It's been two days!"
"Seth, I feel better just having spoken to you."
"I have the need to call that doctor and give him a piece of my mind."
"Thank you, Seth but it isn't necessary." It was really nice having spoken to him. "I'll see you next week."
She hung up the phone and went upstairs. She really did need to lie down. The walk had tired her out. She was going to have to exercise more.
The peal of her doorbell woke her. She looked out the window. It was much later than she thought. She had slept well into the afternoon. She left her bed and went to answer the door.
Seth barrelled through the door as soon as she opened it.
"I've been ringing for ten minutes! Let me see your arm."
Jessica could only stare at him. He took in her pale face and immediately took her hand and put his fingers on her wrist. He led her away from the door and to the couch and had her sit.
He gently removed the sling. "Can you move your arm?"
"Not very well. It hurts when I move it," she admitted.
He cleared his throat. "Would you mind if I took your arm out of your blouse?"
Jessica colored faintly but nodded. It was only a bra and he doubtfully would go to pieces seeing it. The thought that she was grateful she was wearing one of her prettier ones entered her mind.
Seth unbuttoned her blouse and gently pulled away the fabric to free her arm. He was focused and professional and the fact that her lacy pink bra was very becoming was tucked into the corner of his mind for contemplation later.
"Jess, this heat coming off your arm could mean it's broken or it could mean a blood clot. I need you back at the hospital for an x-ray."
"I thought the doctor wasn't thorough like you are," announced Jessica. "I have a sleeveless blouse upstairs in my closet. Do you think you could help me with it?"
Seth went upstairs to her bedroom and after a few minutes he returned with two sleeveless blouses. She chose the one she preferred and Seth removed the blouse she was still partially wearing. Neither commented that she was sitting there in her bra and a pair of pants before Seth helped her put the other shirt on.
"Thank you, Seth."
He drove over to the hospital, breaking all the speed laws to get there hurriedly. Jessica was a little concerned and Mort must have been as well because as soon as they passed his squad car, he gave a toot with the siren and Seth ignored it. Mort followed behind them.
They pulled into the emergency room bay and Seth went around to help her out of the car.
"What's going on, Doc?" asked Mort. "Are you supposed to be back this soon?"
"No," said Seth shortly. "Do me a favor and keep Dr. Melton away from me."
They marched into the emergency room and Seth ordered a portable x-ray immediately.
Every time he had to ask Jessica a question, he was gentle yet probing before barking orders to nurses and techs. Jessica began to get concerned as Seth ordered an MRI.
Seth was correct in advising Mort to keep Dr. Melton away as the physician came storming into the exam area demanding to know what was going on. The resulting altercation would make the rounds through town within the hour.
Jessica sat in admiration of Seth. His sharp tongue had always been legendary but he was in his element with the lashing he gave to Dr. Melton. The ER doctor didn't back down until Seth told him softly that Jessica had a deadly blood clot in her arm and the doctor would have been known as the negligent physician that killed a world famous author.
He turned to Jessica and winked at her reassuringly and she relaxed slightly. Her heart immediately started racing before she relaxed again. She noticed Mort was pale.
She was admitted to the hospital and put in a private room within the hour. Once settled Mort knocked on her door and was allowed entry.
"I just wanted you to know you'll have an officer outside your door throughout your stay," offered Mort.
"What? Why?"
"If you think your fall from your bike made the papers, wait until you read about the physician that almost killed you in a nefarious plot to usurp your spot as the premier mystery writer." Mort smiled at her. "There's already reporters in front of the hospital clamoring for interviews."
"Nefarious plot?" asked Jessica.
"One of the nurses told me that the doctor is a frustrated would-be novelist in his spare time. I was just adding two and two and getting five."
Jessica laughed. "Well, don't tell Seth. He is pretty angry."
Mort snorted. "Go figure. The Doc is upset that you're hurt." He looked away as she blushed. "He told me your clot is a small one and they're putting you on blood thinners. He wasn't breaking confidentiality. He told me you gave him permission."
Jessica remembered how pale Mort had gotten in the emergency room. "I did. I know you can keep my secrets."
Mort moved back to the door. "I better get downstairs and push the reporters to the parking lot. You feel better soon."
Jessica settled back after Mort left. A compression sleeve was on her arm and she wasn't certain but she suspected Seth gave her pain relief as well.
She was happy she had her cell phone with her. She called her publisher, Vaughn, to let him know what was happening. This might delay her writing endeavors for the immediate future. He was concerned, as they were personal friends as well. He told her he would have her publicist give her a call so they can release a statement.
Seth walked in as she hung up with her publicist.
"I should have known you'd be conducting business," said Seth. "You won't be able to type for four or five weeks. I don't want you writing a lot either."
"How dangerous is my blood clot?" asked Jessica.
"All blood clots are dangerous to some degree but as I said, yours is treatable and in a few weeks I'm certain it will be gone." Seth was in doctor mode with his answers but he knew Jessica preferred knowing as much as possible. "You have a surface clot which is easier to treat." He sat in the chair next to her bed. "I'm just keeping you here for the night and then I'm going to take you away for a week since I have the time off."
"Yes, why did you come home?" she asked. "I feel guilty that I took you away from your vacation."
"After two weeks, I had enough of my relatives for a few years," chuckled Seth.
Jessica pierced him with a look. Seth coughed.
"I might have been missing you a little, too."
Jessica beamed at him. "I missed you too."
"I thought we'd go down near Boston and do a little fishing," suggested Seth.
"Can I fish like this?" asked Jessica.
"You'll be a one armed angler but I might have a chance at catching more fish than you for a change," laughed Seth.
Jessica crooked her finger and motioned him forward. "Thank you for coming home." She kissed his lips lightly.
"Any time, Jess. Any time."