The Enchanted Life of Adam Hope - By Rhonda Riley Page 0,122

came to the . . .”

“He was healthy and working horses before he went to the hospital.”

“I have X-rays I’d like to show you. There are multiple abnormalities. We scheduled the exploratory surgery for removal and biopsy. Your husband needs surgery badly.”

“I’ve heard about the X-rays, doctor. Something in his chest and something in his brain. The lobes are unusual.”

“That’s right, Mrs. Hope.” He smiled as if I were a well-trained dog. “But that’s not all. His blood work shows some abnormal cells. It could be a pathogen or a rare form of cancer. We need to test him further.”

I turned to the sheriff. “Have we broken a law?”

He pulled at his shirt and turned his blank face to me at the mention of law. “No, ma’am, none that I know of. But if your husband is sick, maybe you should bring him back to the hospital.”

The doctor pulled an X-ray out of the envelope and held it up. “You say your husband has no trouble breathing, Mrs. Hope. Well, that is miraculous. There is this region of the chest—” The X-ray showed a collarbone, rib cage, and a fainter, milky area vaguely shaped like a star in the center of his chest. A sudden desire surged through me. I wanted to touch that image. My hand shot out.

The doctor jerked the X-ray away. The sheriff shifted his weight.

I forced myself to look away from the pale, broad star to the doctor’s face and stepped back inside, putting my hand up near the screen-door latch.

“Whatever this lesion is, it may have something to do with his unusual blood cells. Mrs. Hope, if I came in and took a few more blood samples, then when you brought him back to the hospital, we would know more by the time you arrive. If this is a pathogen, it could be dangerous to you or your children.” Polite authority filled his voice as if he spoke to a stupid but obedient child.

“My husband is resting and should be left alone.”

“Mrs. Hope, you must bring your husband back to the hospital. The sample has been sent to the Centers for Disease Control. He may need to be quarantined. If I could just take a few more blood samples now . . .” He stepped closer to the door. I did not step back. I smelled the musk of my fear and felt it solid in my chest. Suddenly, I couldn’t remember what quarantine was.

“Sheriff, have I broken a law?”

A wrong move. The sheriff uncrossed his arms and took a step toward the door. “Ma’am, there is no law against leaving a hospital. But if, by refusing to return your husband to the hospital, you are endangering his life and possibly your children’s, then you could be held accountable should any of them suffer harm or die. Do you understand that?”

“Yes.” My face reddened. I slipped the latch down. My hand trembled and they heard the lock slide into place. “You can’t cut on him. You can’t take anything out. I won’t let you.” The doctor opened his mouth to interrupt but I kept on, lowering my voice to steady it. I didn’t trust myself to look at them. “I’ll have him there by noon tomorrow for your blood test, at Duke University Hospital. No sooner. You should go now.”

The doctor started again, his face redder, his voice rising, “Don’t be stupid! Your husband is very sick. You need to bring him in now. Today.”

But the sheriff turned and walked off the porch. Sputtering, the doctor followed. Halfway down the steps, he turned to glare back at me. “Your husband needs help. He needs surgery, Mrs. Hope. We can explain everything to you.”

“No, you can’t. He’s not like us, doctor. He’s not one of us. And he doesn’t need your help.” I had never said those words out loud before. My whole body shook.

After a long, puzzled squint, the doctor trudged off.

From the bedroom window, I watched as they got in the car. The doctor shook his head and said something about “goddamn hillbillies.”

I had a little less than twenty-four hours. I wasted the first hour pacing the house. We had to leave, that much was clear. But where could we go? Adam made frequent trips to Kentucky and Tennessee for his work. I or one of the girls had gone with him a few times. Lots of people we could stay with there, but the police would look in that direction first, where he