She Looks Like A Student

Christie’s POV

Lyon didn't hug her back. He stood as stiff as a board. His hands stayed flat against his sides while the woman clung to his neck. It looked more like an anchor than a hug.

I stood on the gravel, clutching my I e a with the other. I felt like an uninvited guest at a party I was forced to attend.

"That's enough show, Kendra," Lyon said.

His voice wasn't loud, but it had a note of warning. He reached up and peeled her hands off him, one by one. He stepped back and moved closer to my side.

Kendra smoothed her dress. She looked like she had spent the whole night under a spotlight. Every hair was in place. I felt like a mess in my wrinkled lab coat.

"I was just worried," she said. Her eyes darted between us. "You’ve been gone for hours. The house has been a disaster since you left. Like I predicted."

"You know nothing matters to me right now more than my mother's life," Lyon told her.

He didn't look at her with any of the intensity he had used on me in the car.

Okay. That's me overreaching. He didn't look at me any sort of way. Well, I guess?

"I told you I’d do anything to see Nima well. This is the Dr. Christie.”

Kendra didn't offer a hand or a greeting. She stepped toward Lyon again. She grabbed his sleeve to keep him from moving.

"Lyon, be reasonable. I know you’re desperate, but look at her. She looks like a student."

She looked me up and down with a sneer.

"Nima’s condition has gotten much worse. I really doubt this doctor girl can do much to fix what’s happening."

She leaned in closer to him but she didn't whisper.

"Maybe we should just let Nima rest. Poking her with more human medicine isn't going to change the inevitable."

She turned her head toward me. Her smile was thin and forced.

"Doctor Girl. Lyon and I are engaged to be married, I'm Kendra.”

I looked at her, then at Lyon.

"I’m here because a patient needs me," I said. "I don't care who you’re marrying."

I adjusted the strap of my bag on my shoulder.

"If Nima is as bad as you say, you’re wasting air talking to me instead of letting me get to her."

Lyon looked like he had reached his limit. He stepped around Kendra.

"It would be much better for both of us if you acted less senseless, Kendra. Move."

Kendra gasped. Her mouth hung open in shock. Her eyes began to well up with tears that looked entirely practiced.

"Lyon! How can you be so cruel when I’ve been the one staying by her side?" she wailed.

She stayed on the porch, dabbing at her eyes. She was probably waiting for him to turn around and apologize. He didn't.

A young man in a dark vest ran out of the house. He looked terrified.

"Sir! It's Nima. She’s breathing unusually. It’s loud, like she’s struggling for every breath."

Lyon didn't have to ask some more questions. He grabbed my hand and pulled me into the foyer.

"Christie, please," he muttered.

We ran up a wide staircase. Our footsteps echoed against the stone walls. We reached a set of double doors at the end of a long hallway.

Lyon pushed them open with so much force they banged against the walls. The room was huge and smelled of lavender.

A woman lay in the center of a massive bed. Her face was gray. Her chest was barely moving. Every breath she took sounded like tearing paper.

I dropped my bag and moved to the bed. My professional instincts took over. I reached for my stethoscope.

The woman's temperature was so high.

As I moved about her, Lyon followed me. He was waiting for me to give him directions to do anything.

“Someone has to get a bowl of cold water and a clean towel here now.”

“Hey, you! Did you hear the doctor?” Lyon called out to one of the domestic helps standing by the door. “Go get that now!”

The help scurried away.

“I'm not sure you should be raising your voice, Lyon,” I said as my eyes rested on him.

Your mom here may be having a migraine.”

The door came open again.