a penny-pincher as they call them here in the States. I can’t stand the thought of someone wasting their money for no reason, so I might’ve mentioned it to Herold when I was going over the books.
“Okay Miss Smarty Pants. You can tell me how to access the patient files then. Can’t you!?” He raises his voice. Herold is in his late-sixties and probably should’ve retired like his wife has . . . but he can’t stand to be home with her for that long. He’s flat out admitted it to me a few times, how he loves her yet can’t sit around and watch tv shows with her all day long. I can’t say I blame him. I could never be the type to sit around and do nothing either.
“Alright, you see the patient’s name?”
Herold nods.
“Click it twice.”
Herold double taps his mouse.
“Now you’re going to see all their information pop up, from their address, birth date, insurance information, and more. On the left-hand side there will be a series of tabs. I’m assuming you’re trying to access someone’s x-rays, so . . . did we do it here, or did the hospital send it in?”
“Hospital,” Herold answers me lowly, craning his neck to get closer to the screen.
“Tap on the upload button then, because it’s something I would’ve uploaded into our system.”
“You mean the old system?” Herold questions.
“Yes, but when it transferred it would’ve gone to the upload section.”
“Stupid,” He grumbles, showing he’s not pleased.
“Smart,” I retort back, sticking my tongue out at him.
“Don’t you have work to be doing? We have our new patient who will be here any minute now.” Herold tells me, so I take the hint and leave him alone, walking to the front. Once I’m there I take my jacket off, put my coffee down behind my receptionist desk, and set the bag down next to my coffee. I turn the phones off voicemail mode and go to unlock the door, then come back over to the desk.
Every morning I sort through the patient files before we open while I eat whatever I’m having for breakfast. I take a couple sips of coffee and grab a giant bite of my burrito when the door to the clinic opens. It must be the new patient.
“Hi. How’re you today?” I ask, while chewing like a starved cow. Once I swallow, I look up and see him.
“Good morning.” He smiles brightly, flashing his pearly whites.
I raise my brows, a bit taken aback. “Morning. Um, thank you for the breakfast. You didn’t have to do that but thank you.”
“It was my pleasure. Looked like you had a rough mornin’, then Chas’ told me you’re a single mom of three girls and I figured you could use a little pick me up.”
“Chas’?” I question, never hearing this nickname before.
“Yeah.”
“You know her, on a personal level?” I wonder if they’ve been sleeping together and she’s kept it from me. The last time I remember she was seeing a guy . . . God, what was his name?
“Sorta. She was datin’ one of my brothers, Turmoil. Told her she was too good for him, though.” The man before me chuckles.
Turmoil? I thought she was joking when she told me that was his name . . . Lord, people name their kids some weird stuff around here. “It was probably true. She’s a real sweetheart.”
“Yeah, she sure is. So, am I supposed to give you my name or something?”
I nod like an idiot, completely forgetting I’m at work. “Yes, sorry.”
He smiles again. “Grim Braxton.”
Like I said, weird names up here. “Ah, you’re our new patient.” I say, realizing this is the guy whose chart I was reading over yesterday. The one who was lucky as can be. He could’ve died from his motorcycle accident.
“That would be me. Y’all come highly recommended.”
“Am I hearin’ things or did I just hear Grim Braxton?” Herold comes walking down the hallway and comes to the front.
“Shit, Mr. Her?” Grim sounds happy as can be.
Mr. Her? What in the world . . .
“Natalie, why didn’t you tell me who I was seeing today?!”
I blink a couple of times. “I don’t know, maybe because I never do. You see the patients when they get here. It’s your rule.”
“Well, this is Grim.” Herold smiles brightly, smacking Grim on the back.
“I know,” I mutter, getting a bit annoyed. Though, I notice as he smacks Grim on the back he grimaces in pain.
“Grim here helped me out ages ago when I