excerpt
The door to Millie’s hospital room opened. Tyne came to with a start
and realized she had been dozing. The book she had been reading
clattered to the floor as she got unsteadily to her feet. Two doctors,
still in surgical scrubs, came into the room which had grown dim in
the fading light from the window. But she could see that Dr. Dunston
led the way, his face grim. Tyne’s heart thudded against her chest wall
as she stood rigid, waiting for him to speak. But when he stood aside
and motioned his companion forward, she thought her heart would
totally stop.
“Tyne … uh … Mrs. Cresswell, this is Dr. Osborne, the surgeon
from Medicine Hat.”
He stepped forward with his hand out. “I believe we’ve met,” he
said quietly, his eyes riveted on her face, “a long time ago. We both
worked at the Holy Cross. I’m Peter Osborne.”
“Of course,” Tyne said as she shook his hand. “You were Cam
Tournquist’s friend.”
“That’s right, we were both surgical interns.” He took a deep
breath. “Sorry, I’m sure you’re not feeling up to small talk right now.
You’re anxious about your aunt.”
“Yes,” Tyne whispered, “how is … is she all right?”
“Please sit down, Mrs. Cresswell, and rest assured that she came
through the surgery. She’s just waking up in the OR.”
Tyne’s sigh of relief stopped short when she realized both doctors
looked too serious to be announcing good news
Manolis Aligizakis 