Cathy Thacker - The Bride Said, 'Surprise!'

“You gotta do something, Uncle John! Kevin’s bleeding!”

“I can’t find Dad—I forget where he’s supposed to be today.”

“I know we were supposed to be baby-sitting him, but it wasn’t our fault.”

“No one told Kev he could go on the roof. Honest.”

Immediately taking charge of the situation like the veteran doc and family man he was, John held up a hand.

“I’ll locate Sam. You see to Kevin,” John told Luke. “You four,” John regarded his nephews sternly, “calm down, and don’t go anywhere until I get back to you. Kate, maybe you’d like to stay out here with the boys?”

“Sure thing.” Kate smiled.

Luke couldn’t help but note Kate looked a lot more comfortable and enthusiastic about her professional duties than she had about her pending nuptials.

“C’mon boys.” Kate herded them off to the waiting room sofas while Luke headed inside the examining room.

Meg was bending over Kevin, talking quietly, as she gently tended to lacerations on his face and arms. Although his face was streaked with tears, Kevin McCabe was no longer crying. Impressed by the tenderness Meg showed their young patient, Luke strode forward. “Hi, Kevin, I’m Dr. Luke. I heard you took a tumble this morning.”

Kevin said nothing.

Noting the boy seemed alert and that his pupils were equal and responsive, Luke tried again to engage him in conversation. “Must have been something pretty important to get up on the roof. How’d you get up there, anyway?” Luke continued, noting Kevin’s pulse and blood pressure were okay.

His face registering no emotion, Kevin turned his glance away. Luke looked at Meg. “Has he been talking since he arrived?”

“Not a word, but apparently that’s not unusual.” Meg’s voice was calm but her expression radiated concern. “His brothers said he hasn’t talked much since his mother, Ellie, died, six months ago.”

Luke continued his examination. To his relief he found no evidence of any neurological, internal or permanent injuries. “Okay, Kevin,” Luke smiled down at him, “you just take it easy. We’re going to get you fixed right up.” To Meg he said, “I want to get his right wrist X-rayed. I think it’s just a sprain but let’s be sure. We’re going to need some stitches here on his forehead. And he’s got some pretty nasty abrasions on his arms and legs. Let’s get some antibiotic ointment on them.”

Meg nodded. She was already preparing the suture tray. “No problem. Stitches first?”

Luke put the immobilizer back around Kevin’s wrist. “Yes.”

Meg smiled down at Kevin, squeezed his uninjured left hand. “You just hold on to me. This will all be over before you know it.”

With Luke and Meg both working to put their young patient at ease, Kevin weathered the procedures well.

Luke left Kevin with Meg and was looking at the X rays of Kevin’s wrist when Sam McCabe finally arrived. The successful Texas businessman bore a striking physical resemblance to the rest of the McCabe men. But Luke thought he looked awfully young—he guessed mid-thirties—to be widowed and the father of five boys, a few of whom would soon graduate from high school. Luke knew how tough it had been on him and his three girls when Gwyneth died. Judging from the looks of things, for Sam McCabe and his five boys it had been even tougher.

Sam looked harried and upset as he stopped briefly at the admitting desk, then strode toward Luke. “How’s Kevin?” Sam demanded, concern etched on his face.

Briefly Luke explained. “We had to put seven stitches in a cut on his forehead. He’s probably going to have a little scar, but it’s right at the scalp line so it won’t show, unless someone is really looking for it. He’s got a sprained left wrist and some nasty abrasions on his arms and legs that are going to require a bit of care for a few days. But other than that he’s one lucky kid, considering the kind of injuries that could have occurred if his fall hadn’t been broken by those shrubs.”

“Thank God for that,” Sam McCabe sighed, the shadows of fatigue around his eyes becoming even more pronounced.

Luke led Sam down the hall toward the examining room. “Initially,” Luke continued, casually filling Sam in, “we had a little trouble evaluating him, since none of us could get Kevin to say a word.”

Looking all the more anxious and upset, Sam shrugged off Luke’s concern with a tired sigh. “That’s not unusual. Kev hasn’t talked much to anyone since Ellie died.”

“Has he seen anyone about that?” Luke asked, as they rounded the corner.

“He’ll be fine,” Sam replied curtly, looking irritated at Luke for even bringing it up. “Kev just needs some time. Can I see him now?”

“Sure.” Luke led the way into the exam room. Despite the attention he was getting from Meg, as well as John and Lilah McCabe, Kevin looked very happy to see his dad. The two hugged. “You gave me quite a scare,” Sam told his youngest son, still holding him close. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

Kevin clung to Sam. Tears trembled on his lashes, but again he didn’t speak.

Luke gave them a moment more, then, interceding gently, said, “Kev. I need to borrow your dad for a minute. Maybe while we’re talking, your uncle John and aunt Lilah can get a special ‘patient’ teddy bear for you to take home with you.”

Sam hugged Kev again, reassuring him gently, then Sam and Luke stepped out into the corridor. Luke knew what he was going to say was not going to be welcome—nevertheless it had to be said. “Part of my job, as your new family physician, is to treat the whole family.”

“You’re concerned about how the accident happened,” Sam guessed.

Luke nodded.

“I am, too,” Sam said grimly. “Do you know where the rest of my boys are?”

“In a conference room down the hall, with Kate Marten, the hospital counselor.” Luke led the way. To his surprise he found the boys, sans counselor. “Where’s Kate?”

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