Truths Unveiled - By Kimberly Alan Page 0,29

as a child. And her sanity.

When Pam’s six-year-old brother contracted leukemia, Pam spent every possible moment with him. She stayed with him at the hospital and at home, helping him through the side effects of the treatments. And each night she prayed continuously that if God spared his life and cured him, she promised to devote her life to becoming a doctor and helping to cure all the other sick people in the world. Miraculously, God heard her.

After more than a year of treatment, Jason went into remission. Later, the doctors said he was cured. Pam turned twelve at the time and began her medical studies by buying a medical dictionary and memorizing its contents.

And her brother? He was now a happy and healthy computer geek, living in Seattle with his beautiful wife and two-year-old daughter.

Ironically, Pam reaffirmed her promise to God while recovering from her injuries from the accident. This time she asked God to forgive her for her actions and promised to devote her life to saving people in emergency situations, like Megan and Ryan Collins.

Thankfully, God again heard her and gave her back her life, including the mental capabilities she’d lost in the crash. He also reaffirmed her knack for medicine. For that, she felt truly grateful. To her, it came automatically. Like breathing. And could not be ignored. Under the circumstances, losing the lower half of one leg seemed like such a small price to pay. But how could she possibly fulfill that promise to God and take care of a husband and children?

I’m such a fool, Pam admonished, while the hot water from the shower pelted her back. It was stupid to let down her resolve this weekend and fantasize about a future. Not to mention how Tom would feel about her if he discovered the whole truth about the accident.

The horrid message on the mirror made it clear to Pam that someone else knew the devastating secret she’d been hiding. If she returned to Middleton, eventually it would come out. Carrying around the guilt of that night was awful enough. Just the thought of Tom’s rejection made her ill. So, she’d done what the author of the message directed. She left. And she refused to return.

“Please God,” she begged. “Please let this be the end of it. And please heal those I have hurt.”

Truths Unveiled

Truths Unveiled

Chapter Seventeen

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. We will be arriving at Logan International Airport in approximately eighteen minutes. Please fasten your seat belts. Flight attendants, prepare to land.”

“It’s about time,” Tom mumbled. His fingers itched to use the phone on the headrest in front of him. He’d already tried calling Pam three times, in Newark. Each time he let it ring at least a dozen times, but she didn’t pick up. Nor did he reach an answering machine to leave a message.

Once on the ground, he dialed directory assistance for Boston Community Hospital. The staff nurse told him Pam wasn’t expected until seven the next morning. He then considered calling her parents, before he remembered Pam saying they had left a few days earlier on a cruise. Besides, even if he did reach them, what could he say?

Frustrated, yet still determined, Tom rented a car and followed the directions he’d received to the address listed on Pam’s résumé. It took him over an hour to find it. He spent another ten minutes ringing the doorbell. Fearful of drawing attention to himself, he finally left.

Where are you, Pam? Tom wanted to shout. He stared out at the dark and mostly deserted streets. Starving, he grabbed a bite to eat at an all-night diner and then miserably checked into a Holiday Inn. Thankfully the clerk at the rental car office had been right. As promised, Pam’s hospital was only a block away.

At precisely seven the following morning, Tom approached the desk nurse outside the entrance to the emergency department at the hospital. He’d spent a dismal night tossing and turning and redialing Pam’s number in the hope that she’d answer. No such luck. At six-thirty, he drove past her condo, hoping to see her when she left for work. But she didn’t appear and he didn’t know what kind of car she drove. Before heading to the ED, he checked out the doctors’ lounge. It was empty.

“Will you please page Dr. Pam Harrington?” he asked the desk nurse. It took all his control to sound pleasant, instead of grumpy, discouraged and somewhat annoyed.

“Sure.” The young nurse reached for a clipboard. “I