Chapter Four:
Elizabeth couldn't believe what she was seeing. Dr. Mueller was standing in the doorway, yelling at Allie and Jack about their presence, specifically how children had no place in the hospital. Jack's face was red and teary, and Allie held him close, her own eyes rid-rimmed. Rosemary and Abigail were both standing as protectors, shielding the children from the brunt of this angry man's ire.
"Doctor, you have no right to speak to me or the children this way. These children are here to support their injured father. Where is it your place to tell these quiet, well-behaved children that they must leave?" Abigail defended them.
Dr. Mueller's bluster was at a peak, and his voice continued at top volume. "There's no point to the children being here. They will just see his slow decline towards death. And cause a scene while they're at it."
Rosemary squared her shoulders and took over the defense of the children. "Excuse me, but I believe it's you who is causing the scene, Doctor. These children were acting as a perfect young lady and gentleman. How can you even call yourself a doctor?"
"How dare you speak to me that way! I want all of you out of here, immediately!" Dr. Mueller yelled in an even louder voice now.
At this point, Elizabeth made her presence known. She cleared her throat and spoke in her most severe teacher voice. "Dr. Mueller, would you step out into the hallway with me?" Without a word, she passed Daniel over to Rosemary, not trusting herself to not get worked up while she told Dr. Mueller how inappropriate his behavior currently was. The man in question lost none of his pride or haughtiness as he followed her out.
Elizabeth took a deep breath to center herself before she began speaking. "Doctor, I appreciate that this is a place for healing and rest. I'm a teacher, and I know that not all children have the patience or understanding to contribute to a calm environment. But I have made sure that my children know how to behave in a public place, and if their father could tell you what he wants, he would say he wants nothing more than to have them by his side, no matter his prognosis or current state. So, unless you have a specific complaint or rule that my children have broken, they will remain here, with me, until I determine it is time for them to leave. Do I make myself clear?"
Dr. Mueller's face remained steely and unmoved, and once Elizabeth's speech had ended, his response was equally cold.
"Mrs. Grant, I am not accustomed to being ordered about by my patients, and I don't intend to start now. If you wish me to treat Mr. Grant, then you will see the children removed immediately."
Elizabeth squared her shoulders, refusing to give even an inch to this bully of a man. "Then I would like another doctor to treat Constable Grant. And if that requires us to go to another hospital, we will be taking him there."
Dr. Mueller deflated only slightly. "Take him away. I don't need to treat a dying man anyway." He turned sharply and stalked down the hallway.
Elizabeth had to take a deep breath to calm her emotions. She had never liked this man, but the way he had spoken to her children was the last straw. It was completely ridiculous to ask her to endure another second of this doctor's arrogance and pessimism. As she realized that she had now cut Dr. Mueller out of the equation, a lightness of energy brought hope to her heart. She knew that Dr. Mueller hadn't been the right doctor from the beginning, and she felt so free knowing that she must be able to find a more compassionate person to take on Nathan's care. She turned and found a nurse coming down the hallway.
"Excuse me, could I bother you for some advice?"
After speaking with the nurse for a few minutes, Elizabeth returned to Nathan's room, and a much more tranquil scene than the last time she was there. Jack's head was thrown backwards in laughter as he sat on Abigail's lap and she told him about Jack Sr. attempting to give his dog Rip a bath for the first time. "It was the only time I think I ever saw Rip running," Abigail said.
Between giggles, Jack managed to get out his story about giving Scout a bath. "Allie and I had gotten him all soapy, and then he saw a bunny and started chasing it. He ran straight into the mud!"
While Abigail helped Jack be a kid for a moment, Rosemary and Allie were talking quietly next to Nathan's bed. Rosemary was offering words of comfort and reassurance to Allie while she rocked softly to keep Daniel asleep.
Elizabeth passed closely by Abigail and Jack. She gave her son a tight hug, but it didn't even faze him as he continued his story of Scout. Elizabeth reached out and grabbed Abigail's hand as she whispered a thank you. Abigail returned it with a smile.
She walked over to Rosemary and Allie and sat herself down on the foot of Nathan's bed. "Do you mind telling me what happened? What made Dr. Mueller so mad?" she asked.
Rosemary and Allie both shrugged. "I suspect that man has been mad since childhood," Rosemary said.
Allie took up the story. "Jack and I were here, sitting and talking to Dad. Miss Abigail had just gotten here with sandwiches, and then the doctor came in and started yelling, out of the blue! He said a hospital was no place for children, and that Jack and I had to leave right away. Miss Abigail was trying to get him to calm down, but then he started yelling at her about how he didn't take orders from women. That made Miss Abigail angry, and so she began talking back even more. Then you came back, and… what did you say to Dr. Mueller?"
Elizabeth gave a succinct explanation. "I asked for another doctor, so we won't be seeing Dr. Mueller again anytime soon."
Little pitchers certainly had big ears today as Jack chimed in from across the room. "No more of the scary doctor?"
Elizabeth turned to her son with a reassuring smile. "No, no more of that doctor. There's a nurse looking into getting another doctor to care for Dad."
Jack gave a little cheer. Then he became ponderous. "Why couldn't Dr. Carter be the one to help Dad? She's super nice! She always gives me candy when I have to see her, even if I say I don't want to take her yucky medicine."
Elizabeth smiled at the innocence of her son and how a simple penny candy could so easily placate him. " Well, Dr. Carter doesn't have all the equipment the hospital has, and she has to stay in Hope Valley to take care of everyone there. But we can ask the new doctor if they have candy."
"Yay!" Jack said. Then he turned his attention back to Abigail. "Miss Abigail, will you tell me another story about Rip?"
Abigail obliged, and Elizabeth finally got the chance for a conversation with her friend when Allie went in search of a water closet.
"How are you doing?" Rosemary asked, pulling Elizabeth in for a tight hug. Elizabeth couldn't do anything other than hug her friend for the time being.
When she finally got enough time holding her friend, Elizabeth pulled back. "Thank you for bringing the children. Having them here will be a strength to me, and to Nathan."
"And you'll be a strength to them. We tried not to talk too much in front of Jack; he's not really understanding what the implications of Nathan's conditions are for his future. But Allie has been quite despondent. I think the two of you will need a long conversation."
Elizabeth nodded, knowing her daughter would be feeling all kinds of fear and uncertainty. "I will make time for the two of us to talk as soon as possible. Thank you for looking out for both of them."
Rosemary squeezed Elizabeth's hand. "And I'm here for you as well. I packed a bag for you. I'll take it over to your hotel room before I leave this evening."
Logically, Elizabeth knew that her friend had responsibilities and commitments in Hope Valley, but hearing that she would have to leave that evening made her anxious to use their current time wisely. "Thank you for everything. Having you… I don't know if I could do this without you. You've been such an amazing friend, always."
With another tight hug, Rosemary murmured, "and I always will, as long as you need me."
There was the sound of a masculine throat clearing over Elizabeth's shoulder, and she turned to look at a man wearing a white coat. "Mrs. Grant? I'm Dr. Lewis. I'll be taking over your husband's care."
He held out his hand and shook Elizabeth's with a confident firmness. Dr. Lewis's warm brown eyes exuded softness and set Elizabeth at ease. He had smile lines etched in his youthful face that let her know his personality was miles away from that of Dr. Mueller.
"Dr. Lewis, it's nice to meet you. These are my friends Rosemary Coulter, and Abigail Stanton. And my children, Allie, Jack and Daniel." Elizabeth indicated each of the people in the room as she made introductions, and Dr. Lewis gave each a personal handshake, treating Allie and Jack with just as much respect as the adults in the room.
After greeting each person in the room, with a little coo for the still sleeping Daniel, Dr. Lewis turned back to Elizabeth. "Family and friends are wonderful for healing. But I wonder if I can trouble you for a moment alone with you and Constable Grant. Dr. Mueller and Nurse Lethbridge have each presented me with reports of his condition, but I would like to do my own assessment. I will be able to perform better if we're not all crowded in here."
Elizabeth assented quickly. Already, Dr. Lewis spoke to her in a respectful, concerned tone, and her heart lifted to know that Nathan would be cared for in this manner. "Of course. Actually, let me get my children settled across the street at the hotel, if you don't mind?"
His response was a sympathy-filled smile. "Yes, that will work well. I'll see you again in a few minutes?"
Before she left the room, Elizabeth leaned over Nathan and placed a long kiss on his forehead. "I'll be back soon," she whispered. Allie and Jack also gave him a tender goodbye. Abigail said she was going to wait for Elizabeth to return, and Rosemary headed to the car to grab the bag she had packed for Elizabeth and the children.
At the hotel, Elizabeth rushed through getting a second room for Allie to stay in, and arranged for a small cot for Daniel and extra blankets for Jack to be delivered to her room so her sons could stay with her. Deep yawns from Jack told her just how worn out the boy was, and Elizabeth had Allie stay there with the boys. "I'll be back soon, and then you can spend more time with Dad. Will you be alright with that?"
Allie didn't have a problem watching her sleeping brothers. "Just let me know soon what Dr. Lewis says. I hope he can do something for Dad."
The same prayer went through Elizabeth's heart and mind. "I hope so too."
Back at the hospital, Elizabeth found Dr. Lewis bent over Nathan, listening to his chest. "How is he, Dr. Lewis?" she asked.
Dr. Lewis removed the stethoscope from his ears. "Firstly, I don't agree with Dr. Mueller's assessment that Constable Grant will not recover. I'm cautiously optimistic for the future. I do have to say that there is not much we can do to help. Much of his recovery will come from time and his own strength."
Elizabeth's heart lifted, even with Dr. Lewis's matter-of-fact words. He gave her enough hope that her own faith would not be proved false. "So there is hope?" She had to hear the words.
"Yes, Mrs. Grant, there is hope for the future."
Sorry about the extra long time between updates. This last week was jam-packed. Thanks so much to all of you who have taken the time to read and review this story. It means so much to know there are others out there enjoying this adventure I'm on. I also gave myself the additional challenge of another story surrounding Allie's current love triangle (though I hope hers is much, much shorter than Elizabeth's triangle was dragged out to be!) Both of these stories should be updated next Sunday. Happy reading!