Free Just Like Heaven by Barbara Bretton Page A

watching over her.

Five
    Dr. Lombardi scrolled his way down the screen of information, then turned toward Kate. “Looks perfect,” he said, breaking into a smile. “You’re a free woman.”
    “You mean, right now?” she asked. “This minute?”
    “As soon as I can fill out the paperwork and you can find yourself a ride home.”
    “And I can go back to work on Monday?”
    “I didn’t say that.”
    “You said everything looks perfect. I feel wonderful. My shop is less than a mile away. It’s almost silly not to go back.”
    “Sit down, Kate. You’re going home but you’re not in the clear just yet.”
    He explained her situation, the slim odds of a recurrence, the steps he wanted her to take to avoid one, the regimen of meds and physical exercise that would be part of her daily schedule, some behavioral modifications he hoped she would adopt.
    “I’ll do my best, Doctor, but I have to tell you I’ve tried meditation and it didn’t work.”
    “Try again.”
    “It stressed me out more than the problems I was dealing with.”
    “I highly recommend you keep trying. It will help you deal with the emotional aftereffects that accompany MIs.”
    “Everyone keeps mentioning these emotional aftereffects, but I have to tell you that I just plain don’t know what on earth you’re talking about. I feel the same as I did before this happened.”
    “No euphoria?” he asked. “No renewed appreciation for life?”
    “I wish I could say yes, but life seems pretty much the same as it did before this happened.” Which wasn’t a bad thing. She liked her life just fine.
    “Well, there are exceptions to everything, but as a rule my patients have a period of intense euphoria and renewed joy in life.”
    “Is the euphoria permanent?”
    “No,” he said. “Sometimes it lasts a few days, sometimes a few weeks, and it disappears without warning. I warn my patients not to make any big decisions for a few weeks because their judgment may not be as keen as usual. Most stick close to home and family, but I’ve had a few patients who married, divorced, quit their jobs, and ran off to Tahiti in those first few postcardiac weeks. You need to take care.”
    “You just described my family,” she said. “I had the heart attack, they’re suffering the aftereffects.”
    “Just take it slow,” he warned again. “This isn’t the time to make life-changing decisions.”
    “Doctor,” she said, unable to hold back the laughter, “believe me, I’m the last person you have to worry about.”

Rocky Hill—later that same morning
    There had to be a limit to how many times a man could check his e-mail without causing serious damage to the motherboard.
    He’d clicked SEND/RECEIVE so often since breakfast that the touchpad was showing signs of wear.
    Three new messages.
     
TO: [email protected]
FROM: [email protected]
SUBJECT: revised contract attached
     
WHERE’S THE CONTRACT????? pls sign it asap and send it to Bishop Clennon so he can put the final stamp on it.
    What are you waiting for?
Maggy
     
He wished he had an answer to that question.
     
TO: [email protected]
FROM: [email protected]
SUBJECT: meeting
     
The church basement will be closed next week—renovations. Temple Beth Israel said we can use their auditorium, but not Friday. Any ideas?
    Ann
     
He’d get back to her.
     
TO: [email protected]
FROM: [email protected]
SUBJECT: info
    Room 405 - Central Jersey Medical Center
Katherine Margaret Lee French
dob 01-06-65
622 Indigo Lane
Coburn, NJ
     
Good luck.
SCOTT
     
He couldn’t stop smiling as he printed out the note.
    Sometimes God didn’t just show a man the way. Sometimes He handed him a road map.
     
“We’re going to miss you,” Janine said as she gestured Kate toward the obligatory wheelchair. “The last time we had this much fun was when Robin Williams came to visit a friend.”
    “And all that chocolate,” one of the nurse’s aides piped in. “We’ll need to start a Weight Watchers