Episode 1216: How I Roll

“You’re leaving my daughter-in-law?” he asked.

“I need to step out for a short time. Your daughter-in-law will be fine while I’m gone and she isn’t alone, that’s what the call button is for. In all likelihood my brief absence will barely be noticed and she’ll be much happier just to have the company of someone she knows.”

Phillip highly doubted that Ava would prefer his company over a rattlesnake, let alone a medical professional. “It hardly seems like VIP Treatment to abandon your patient.”

“I’m not abandoning anyone, sir, your daughter-in-law can reach out to us at all times, and as I said, I’ll return soon enough. Now if you’ll excuse me, I do have other patients.”

“You shouldn’t have other patients, that’s not VIP!” Phillip called out as the nurse exited. Phillip shook his head and walked to Ava’s bedside. “I’m sorry the staff here aren’t up to standard. If this hadn’t been an emergency situation I would have taken you to Katherine’s hospital where you would have received superior care. Although I suppose it’s for the best that we didn't attempt to go there. I’m afraid there’s a massive traffic snarl in that part of the city. A jack-knifed truck or some such thing.”

“The part of the city Sebastian’s in right-” Ava paused on a gasp of discomfort, “now?”

“There’s going to be something of a delay in Sebastian’s arrival, yes, but on the plus side when he does arrive, Katherine will be with him and your care will receive a definite upgrade even if this isn’t her specialty.”

“She also isn’t my doctor. My doctor is in this hospital and she is not inferior. I asked you to call my husband and my father. I didn’t ask for Katherine. I definitely didn’t ask you to commandeer a private room and berate the staff on my behalf, like-” Avalon grimaced. “Like the nurse said, like everyone has said to you, I’m not their only patient.”

Phillip frowned. His daughter-in-law’s penchant for moral superiority had always rubbed him the wrong way. It rubbed him the wrong way to the point where he was tempted to leave her to this on her own, leave her to the laissez-faire attitude of these so-called medical experts, with no one to advocate for her.

Rather than leave, Phillip pulled a chair over to the bed, sat, and reached for Ava’s hand just in time for her slim fingers to squeeze the life out of his hand. “Your husband and father are delayed for the time being due to traffic. I’m afraid you’re stuck with me, like it or not. I realize you don’t generally approve of the way I do things, but securing a private room, challenging that nurse, these are the things you and my grandchild deserve. I will not back down on anything until the two of you come out of this safely on the other side. You can thank me later.”

Episode 1217: Magic