In Flames - Elise Faber Page 0,31

to be herself, to be strong, powerful, and confident, fear warring with taking what she needed—it had meant so much. Especially, after she’d spent the walk nearly turning back more than a handful of times, having to force her hand to the door (not even getting around to knocking).

“Hey—” Gabby appeared in the doorway, crossing the room and helping Suz tear the paper covering off the bed, dragging down a fresh swathe. “Do you need a break before you clear the waiting room?”

Suz paused. “What’s out there?” Maybe Who’s out there? would have been a more prudent question, but she stood by her inquiry. If they had an influx of patients, she’d need to triage.

“Just three yearly physicals out front,” Gabby told her. “But the rooms are full.”

Shit.

“With what?” she asked.

“With what appears to be bruised ribs in room one, but I’m not skilled enough to know for sure,” Gabby said and began ticking off on her fingers. “Split chin in room two. The broken ankle in here. And then what appears to be a case of Man Flu, a pregnancy, a sprained wrist, a fever, and an earache in rooms four through eight.”

“Full moon or something?” Suz muttered. There hadn’t been any other patients when she began to work on Bets’s ankle, but it always seemed like the celestial changes made it so there was a parade of Rengalla through her front door.

Sometimes that was fun.

Today, when she was exhausted from the previous day’s events, not so much.

But this was her job, her calling. Her soul.

Gabby smiled. “Unfortunately, my skills don’t extend to knowing the moon phases.”

“So disappointing.”

A snort. “I’ll borrow a book from the library. Be prepared for next time.”

Suz laughed then got down to business. “The fever is first,” she said, rolling her shoulders. “Then the split chin, followed by the earache. Then the rest of ‘em. Can you speak to the others and make sure they’re okay with waiting?”

“Of course.”

“Then if you’re up to it, do you feel comfortable doing the physicals? I can pop in to speak with them, but if you can do measurements and vitals, that would help us speed through.”

“Should I call in Doreen?” Dor was another healer and although mostly retired, she did spell them when the infirmary got packed, especially since Gabby was still learning how to use her magic and healing took an exceptional toll.

“No,” Suz said. “She’s off on a picnic with her grandkids today. Can you find out if Cody isn’t bogged down with LexTal duties, see if he can lend an hour or two?”

“Sure.” A beat. “Fever is in room seven.”

“Got it.”

Gabby left with a little wave.

“Okay,” she murmured to herself, pausing for a moment to fix her ponytail and to take a breath.

Then she got to work.

The fever turned out to just be a childhood bug, but since Jess’s baby was little and Jess was a new mom, Suz took a few extra minutes and used her magic to give the infant a thorough scan.

“Sophia’s fine,” Suz said once it was complete. “Her immune system is fighting hard.”

“But she’s so hot,” Jess said, brushing her hand over Sophia’s fawn-colored hair.

“Yes, honey. That’s her body working to make her feel better.” Suz moved to the cabinets and pulled out a thermometer. “This,” she said, “is the most accurate thermometer on the market.” It wasn’t, but Jess didn’t know that. “Your job is to take her temperature once an hour, and if it goes over one hundred and one, you call me. Can you do that?”

“I—” Jess’s bottom lip trembled for a moment before they pressed together. Then she nodded. “Yes.”

“Good.” Suz moved to the sink and washed her hands then input what she needed into the computer as she gave a few more instructions about continuing to nurse so little Sophia would stay hydrated. “Okay, honey?”

“Okay,” Jess whispered.

“Now, go home and get some rest. I’m calling Colleen”—Jess’s partner—“to have her come home as well.”

“But she’s working, and she has a big project going. I don’t want to mess—”

“This is more important.” Suz pushed away the keyboard and turned back to Jess. “And you know she’ll think exactly the same as I do.”

Jess’s blue eyes were damp. “It’s supposed to be my turn to handle things.” That bottom lip trembled again. “I’m supposed to be able to handle this. What good am I if I can’t take care of—”

“She’s got a cold, honey. That’s not anybody’s fault.”

“But—”

“It’s not,” she said firmly enough to make Jess stand up