Free New Beginnings by Charlotte Carter Page A

shoveling snow from the neighbors’ sidewalks and driveways.
    The snowplows had started working late last night, keeping the main roads in and around Deerford clear. Once James was out of the residential area, he had no problem reaching Hope Haven Hospital. He wasn’t quite as confident about being able to get home again.
    But the boys were with Fern. The house was well heated; and they had a generator they could start if they lost power, which happened with some degree of frequency during heavy snowfalls. James would be able to concentrate on his patients.
    In the staff lounge he found Candace sipping a cup of tea. “You look tired,” he commented. “Hectic Christmas?”
    “The usual, I suppose. But I think I ate too much at my sister’s house yesterday. My stomach’s feeling a little queasy.”
    “Overeating is easy to do this time of year.” As usual, James and his family had dinner at his mother-in-law’s house. While Fern was much stronger than she’d been last year at this time, she wasn’t up to cooking for a crowd. And preparing a big dinner for his in-laws, including Fern’s sister and family, was beyond James’s pay grade as well.
    Anabelle bustled into the staff lounge. “I hope this weather isn’t going to affect Elena’s travel plans. She was so excited on Christmas Eve, but I haven’t talked to her since.” She looked expectantly at Candace.
    Candace shook her head. “I didn’t even think to call her yesterday to wish her a good trip. I should have.”
    “O’Hare wasn’t closed yet when I came in to work,” James said. “But they’re anticipating they will be closed later in the day.”
    “This storm must be causing havoc with a lot of holiday travel plans.” Anabelle shrugged out of her heavy coat. “Maybe it’ll hold off long enough for Elena to get on her plane.”
    “Better hope the roads are plowed well enough for her to get to the airport,” James added.
    “How was your Christmas, Anabelle?”
    “Fine, I guess. I mean—”
    “What’s wrong?” Candace asked.
    “Nothing, really. The dinner was lovely. Evan’s girlfriend and her children came. They’re absolutely dear youngsters. Ainslee announced she’s pregnant again and—” She shook her head as though trying to dislodge an unpleasant thought. “Kirstie is moving to Chicago for a new job at the end of the semester.” She blinked several times.
    “You’re going to miss her, aren’t you?” Candace laid a consoling hand on Anabelle’s shoulder.
    “She won’t be that far away,” James reassured her. “You can pop over there to visit her regularly, and she’ll come home for holidays.”
    “I know.” She exhaled, one of those sighs that spoke volumes about the weight of the world on her shoulders. “I’ll be fine, really I will.”
    “We know you will. Congratulations on Ainslee’s prgnancy; you’ll be busier than ever. Of course, nothing could take Kirstie’s place.” James checked his watch. “Time to get to work.”
    Anabelle was as resilient as anyone he knew. She also doted on her family. It would be hard for her to have Kirstie move away.
    At the second-floor nurses’ station, he checked the patient census in Med/Surg. The most serious patient, who had been admitted last night, was Trisha Witten, a forty-seven-year-old female with chronic liver failure. Her condition was critical; she was already on the transplant list waiting for a donor.
    From her chart, James knew it would be unlikely that Mrs. Witten would live to see another Christmas if she didn’t get a new liver soon.
    James made rounds with the night nurse as she handed off the patients to him. He lingered with Mrs. Witten.
    “How are you feeling?” He noted she was severely jaundiced, a yellowing of the skin and the whites of her eyes. It looked as if she’d lost considerable weight, her collarbones protruding; and there was some bruising on her arms, likely a result of having blood drawn for tests.
    She smiled weakly.