Heart Failure Read Online Free PDF Page B

his need to become “one of those people who uses pillboxes.” That was far better than becoming “one of those people who didn’t take their medicine properly and died as a result.”
    Carrie was walking through the ER on her way back to her office when paramedic Rob Cole stopped her. “Dr. Markham, what’s the latest on the man we brought in with the digitalis toxicity?”
    “He’s out of the woods,” Carrie responded. “Good pickup on the diagnosis, by the way. He’d also taken too much HCTZ, so his potassium was in the cellar.”
    “Ouch. I noticed the atropine we gave him in the ambulance wasn’t enough to get him straightened out. Glad he’s doing better now.”
    “Thank you for asking.”
    Carrie turned away and had taken a step when Rob said, “Dr. Markham?”
    She stopped and looked back at him. “Yes?”
    He frowned and looked away. “Never mind. I’ll ask another time.”
    As she traversed the enclosed breezeway that connected Centennial Hospital with the building that housed the Rushton Clinic, Carrie wondered what else Rob wanted to say. It seemed to her that, more and more, Rob went out of his way to run into her, sometimes in the ER when he and his partnerdropped off a patient, occasionally in the cafeteria, once or twice in the halls.
    It was flattering that he seemed to want to be around her. Rob was a little younger than Carrie, possessed of good looks that had all the nurses talking—wavy black hair, deep brown eyes, sparkling white teeth. There was no question he was what some of the staff would call “a hunk.”
    Get a grip , she told herself. Stop wondering if Rob is coming on to you. This isn’t junior high . She looked at her bare finger and wondered if she’d acted hastily in giving back Adam’s ring. Until thirty-six hours ago, Carrie was sure she was in love with Adam Davidson. But what about this new Adam? And what about their future? With the old Adam, it seemed certain and secure. Now it was uncertain and dangerous.
    It was obvious that Mrs. Berringer loved her husband. She was right beside him in the ER, putting into practice her vow to love him in sickness and in health. Carrie had been ready to make that vow and more to Adam, but now was she really prepared to be with him “for better or for worse”? Especially if “worse” meant running from someone trying to take his life . . . and hers along with it? That was the question she had to answer. She was hurt at his deception, but it ate at her that if she really loved him, she wouldn’t be running away when Adam needed her.
    Carrie leaned against the wooden handrail that ran the length of the breezeway, pulled out her cell phone, then paused with her finger over the keys. She closed her eyes for a moment and tried to prepare for the call she was about to make. She at least needed to listen to his whole story. She’d set up another meeting with him. After that? She’d wait and see.
    As hesitant as a child climbing onto a jungle gym for the first time, she pushed the speed-dial button.

    When Adam felt the buzz of his cell phone in his pocket, he experienced the epitome of “mixed emotions.” The display showed that the call came from Carrie—and she’d be calling for one of two reasons: to give him a chance to explain, or tell him to get out of her life and stay out.
    “I’m glad you called,” he said, hoping that her next words wouldn’t make him a liar.
    “Adam, I don’t have long to talk. We need to finish our last conversation. But I want to meet somewhere safe. I don’t want to be a target again.”
    Adam ran through the choices. He figured his apartment was out. If the gunman had found his car, he’d no doubt located where Adam lived as well. And there was no way he would lead a potential killer to Carrie’s home. “How about the law firm where I work? Everyone is out of there by five—five thirty at the latest unless something unusual is going on.”
    “Is it safe?”
    “I’m not sure any