Recluse Island

Chapter 23

October 2013

"Burn. Glass House. Isaac."

            Dr. Shane MacMachon quickly looked up from the chart he was scribbling in to find Dr. Edith Silverstein, his colleague, good friend, and maybe someday something more, in the doorway. Shane had known Edith for twenty-two years now, so he was good at reading her and quickly pieced together the situation.

Her tone was one of panicked excitement which meant their patient required immediate care, her expression showed relief not Shane knew that a seriously injured patient had come to their clinic but that the monotony of their afternoon had been broken up and finally the fire in her soft brown eyes was evidence she was itching to get started.

            Edith was three years younger than Shane. Both had decided to complete their training in the Trinity Clinic rather than Heyer Medical Clinic despite being residents of Stormy Shore. It was here in the compound they first met.

Shane recalled at the time being surprised someone else had agreed to join Dr. Augustus Moss, Chief physician in the Trinity Clinic in his pursuit to supply the Clinkirk Compound with highly trained doctors. Since then, no other doctors had arrived which suited Shane and Edith just fine. They liked having the freedom to run things how they preferred without having to explain themselves to anyone who may disagree with their decisions.

            Despite the years that had gone by, the memory of the day Edith first arrived at the Trinity Clinic had not paled in the least. Back then it was just Shane and Dr. Moss both were vastly relieved when they were notified another doctor would be arriving even if they were not fully qualified yet as Edith was still completing her training and had elected to do so in the Trinity Clinic.

            On this day, the clinic was hopping, Shane was stressed and for the fifth time that month seventeen-year-old Elena Lopez had presented as usual with nausea and vomiting and an inability to keep food down. Initially Shane thought she might be pregnant, but Elena swore that was impossible and the subsequent pregnancy test and examination proved she wasn't lying but that didn't explain her symptoms. Shane had set her up in bay four with the usual anti-nausea meds and was about to confer with Dr. Moss when Edith swept through the door.

She was dressed in civilian clothes. A gauzy yellow skirt, short sleeved white blouse and black flats with her hair pulled back into a ponytail. She carried a red folder and had her brown purse slung over one shoulder.

            "Oh hello," Shane had hurriedly replied on his way to Dr. Moss's office, "You must be here about the nurse position." In addition to needing more physicians they were also in desperate need of another nurse, but it was difficult finding women who wanted to work in the Clinkirk Compound.

            Edith narrowed her eyes at him, "No, actually I'm not. My name is Dr. Edith Silverstein. I believe you've been expecting me."

            Until that moment Shane had unwisely assumed that Dr. Silverstein was a man. But now as he looked at the woman before him, he realized how fortunate he really was. Dr. Silverstein was gorgeous, young and though they'd only exchanged a few words he could tell by her tone and the spark in her eyes that she was highly intelligent. As for the clinic, it needed a woman doctor. There were certain instances when a woman needed to speak with another woman even if Shane was perfectly capable of helping them.

            "Oh well in that case, welcome I hope you're ready to get to work."

            "I am. How can I help?" she briskly replied.

            Shane quickly relayed Elena's symptoms and past medical history. The longer Shane talked the more narrowed Edith's eyes became until she suddenly snapped her fingers.