The Healing Place Read Online Free PDF Page B

wanted him to stay.
    She seemed so lost. Maybe they both were.
    “Emma, are you——” He swallowed. “Are you free for lunch?”
    Mark didn’t need any more complications in his life, but he couldn’t seem to help himself. It was just lunch. No big deal.
    “Thanks, but I can’t. I’ve got to work.” Emma choked the doorknob with her hand. “Don’t forget to see Darcy at the front counter to set up your next appointment in one week.”
    And she was gone, just like that. Mark told himself he should be relieved. Instead, he felt empty inside.

     
    Taking Angie’s hand, Mark led her out of the examination room and through the long hallway to the front reception counter. Nurses passed back and forth, calling for patients, prepping vials of medicine and IV drips.
    Two nurses and three office staff workers stood at the counter, surrounding an elderly Hispanic couple. Mark spoke Spanish fluently and it was difficult not to overhear the conversation. The man and woman sounded upset, their voices escalating until Emma came down the hall to see what the commotion was about.
    “What’s going on?” Emma asked the receptionist in a disapproving voice.
    With just one look, Emma sent most of the office staff scurrying back to their desks. That left Darcy to face the fallout.
    “I’m sorry, Dr. Shields, but Mr. and Mrs. Valdez don’t speak English, and she seems worried about her treatment,” Darcy said.
    “Where’s Maria?” Emma asked. “She can translate.”
    “She took some blood samples over to the hospital.”
    Frustration was apparent on Emma’s face. Engrossed in the conversation, Mark didn’t notice Angie until too late. The little girl sidled over to Mrs. Valdez, her large eyes filled with sympathy as she reached up and took hold of the woman’s hand.
    “It’s okay,” Angie soothed as she stared up at Mrs. Valdez’s wrinkled face. “You can use my EMLA Cream, and the needle poke won’t hurt a bit.”
    Angie handed the tube of cream to Mrs. Valdez and Mark’s heart turned over. What had he done to deserve this sweet little girl? Truly he had been blessed. Even though she didn’t understand what Mrs. Valdez was saying, Angie knew instinctively it was the woman who was sick, not her husband.
    “Excuse me, but I speak Spanish,” Mark interceded. “Perhaps I can help translate?”
    Emma’s eyes glowed with relief. “Yes, I would appreciate it. First, tell Mrs. Valdez not to be worried. We only want to help her.”
    Emma waited patiently while Mark translated for Mrs. Valdez. He could see the earnest concern written on Emma’s face and heard the soothing tone of her voice as she explained what Mrs. Valdez could expect from her treatment. Mark’s respect for Emma grew as he interpreted questions and responses back and forth. In a matter of minutes, both Mr. and Mrs. Valdez relaxed and smiled. Mark realized then that Emma really did care about her patients, though she seemed to fight it.
    “Gracias.” The woman nodded at Mark and Emma before she squeezed Angie’s hand.
    “She’s ready,” Mark told Emma.
    Accompanied by Sonja, the Valdezes shuffled to the treatment room, leaving Mark and Angie with Dr. Shields.
    “I didn’t know you spoke Spanish, but I’m sure glad you came to my rescue,” Emma said.
    “Yeah, I took it in college and spent a semester abroad in Spain. It comes in handy for my Hispanic clients.”
    The tension eased from her shoulders. “Thanks for helping out. I owe you big-time.”
    He smiled and sank his hands into his pants’ pockets. “No problem. I’ll collect from you on Tuesday, when I bring Angie in for her next treatment.”
    Emma glanced at the little girl, a momentary look of panic in her eyes.
    “Well, I need to get back to work.” Emma headed down the hallway.
    “Yeah, thanks again, Emma.”
    Boy, he was getting mixed signals. Something about Angie bothered her. What could it be? He tried to tell himself Angie’s welfare was all that mattered right