Reviving Her Heart: (Rescue Me Book 1) Read online

  Don't get me wrong, I'm very thankful for modern medicine. After all, it's what's keeping me alive, but having to take over twelve pills every day isn't very sexy. I can’t even remember the last time I went on a date, let alone had sex; I’m damn near a virgin again.

  I miss sex; I’ve refrained per my doctor’s orders. God forbid I get too excited my heart just might burst. The way I’ve been feeling lately it would be worth it, death by orgasm, I can’t for the life of me think of a better way to end it all.

  I sent my dad home. The poor man has been working overtime to help me. So, he can be there during all of my consultations, doctor visits, and hopefully another surgery if all my tests continue to come back with positive results.

  My current doctor is very hopeful that this procedure may be able to reverse my condition, so off I go. After about another hour of packing alone, I’m finally finished and ready for my early flight in the morning. A new adventure let’s see where this one will take me. Off to meet the doctor with two last names.

  Chapter 3

  Davis

  I wake up to my phone vibrating on the bed next to my ear. I didn’t know whether to be happy that I’d finally slept through the night or pissed off that I was being woken up from my well-deserved nocturnal bliss.

  Being extra careful not to step on Fiona, who loves to lay on the floor right in harm's way near my pathway to the bathroom, I grab my phone, checking my texts. It’s from Dr. Taylor letting me know that my special patient has arrived and is here taking a tour of the hospital.

  Great, another big shot that thinks they’re entitled, I hate hospital politics. Dr. Taylor told me somewhat reluctantly that I’d be working with a new VIP patient, so he's depending on me not to mess this one up.

  He also informed me that I’d be performing the same surgery that I performed on Mr. Salenger. Then it all became clear to me, the check in’s about how I was doing, the surprise impromptu visit from Dr. Garner, they all knew, and they just wanted to cover their own asses.

  I took that notion home with me that night and also allowed the reality of me doing that same surgery once again sink in with it. I suddenly felt afraid, and all of the old memories of Mrs. Salenger’s face and their children’s faces when I told them came flooding back to me as if it was still happening.

  My chest became heavy, and I couldn’t breathe, I clenched onto my chest through my shirt, hoping to be able to collect myself on my own.

  Another panic attack this time when I was fully awake, I needed help fast.

  I reached for my phone to call my brother Sam since he lives right next door, and usually home from work at this time, so I knew he would be able to get to me quickly. As a doctor, I probably should have called in a professional. Still, I couldn't run the risk of anyone finding out that I was literally falling apart. I’ve dealt with my own panic attacks before, but this one was different.

  “Bro, what’s going on, you never call me at this hour?” Sam questioned.

  “Sam, I need your help, can you come over right now?” I managed to get out in between strained breaths. “Sure, I can bring over some beers and…”

  “It’s an emergency, Sam, Hurry ...please!” Suddenly everything around me became blurry and faint as I collapsed to the floor. I could see my brother rushing in the front door running towards me. I could barely make out the look of confusion in his eyes. Eyes that so resembled my own. Thank goodness he still has his key.

  “Bro!” he said panicked. “Davis!” I tried for the life of me to answer, but the words just wouldn’t come. I began to cry, not knowing what to do or how to feel anymore. All I knew was that it was time to talk to someone if I ever make it through this damn attack.

  “I’m calling someone right now,” He said, putting a pillow from my couch under my head frantically looking for his cell. “NO!” I yell, finally being able to get my mouth to catch up with my thoughts.

  “What do you mean no, I find you here on the floor covered in sweat barely able to speak, crying and looking at me as if you didn’t know who I was,” he barked. “What the hell is going on with you?”

  “I’m fine; just promise me that you won’t call anyone.”

  “I promise no such thing until you explain to me what the hell is going on!”

  “I had another panic attack that’s all, I’m fine now.”

  "Fine, my ass, and wait, did I hear you correctly? Did you say another panic attack? How long have you had them?" he probed, leaning me up against my couch pouring me a glass of water from the canister I keep on my kitchen counter.

  “I’ve had them for a while, but never while I’m awake. The attacks have primarily happened while I’ve been asleep,” I admit judging the quick look of worry in my twin brother’s eyes.

  He looks so much younger than me even though he’s the oldest by four minutes.

  All the years of sleepless nights during my residency and medical school really took a toll on my boyish looks and apparently my sanity and health as well.

  “So, is this about Emma, I thought you were doing much better?”

  “No.”

  “Look, bro, it's okay to miss Emma still. I know it’s coming up on the anniversary of her death.”

  “No, it’s not that,” I say. Taking a sip of water, reaching for the paper towel, I happened to have on my coffee table to wipe some of the remaining sweat from my forehead.

  “Oh, sorry, bro, let me get you a towel.” I watched as he got up and headed towards my bedroom, thinking to myself how lucky I was to have my brother nearby again. I spent the remainder of the night explaining what’s been going on with me since the death of Mr. Salenger.

  I told him everything from beginning to end, sparing no details. The guilt, the night sweats, and the panic attacks. The days I felt like ending my career as a cardiothoracic surgeon because I questioned if I was going to be able to hold a knife again with confidence.

  We talked until we both fell asleep. It felt good to just be Davis for once and not Dr. Anderson, the surgeon who has it all together. I was a human, at least for one night, with someone I trust.

  Sam left the next morning but not before asking if I was sure I was going to be okay. I reassured him that our talk and my episode last night helped me open my eyes to a lot of things. I was ready to face facts. I needed to pull myself together and fast before it's too late.

  ~~~

  “Nice to finally put a face to the chart Ms. Heart, I trust the flight and move went well?”

  “So nice to meet you as well, Dr. Taylor, and yes, the flight was pleasant, the move, on the other hand, is still in question,” she smiled. Dr. Taylor and his small talk. “I’m sure you’ll be able to settle in soon enough, it takes a bit of, and fortunately, you’ll have a lot of time once you’re in recovery to get used to your new surroundings.”

  “I’m sure that I will,” she said unenthusiastically. “Let me introduce Dr. Anderson, he’s going to be in charge of your care here from beginning to end along with our entire team.”

  “So nice to meet you, Dr. Anderson,” she said, extending her hand towards me. She was breathtaking, so much so that it was almost painful to look at her. At first glance, I would never have known that she was sick and has been according to her medical records for a very long time.

  “The pleasure is all mine, Ms. Heart,” I respond, taking hold of her perfectly manicured hand. Clearly, a sign that she has the money and the time to take care of herself. I couldn’t help but stare at her full and supple lips as she spoke to both Dr. Taylor and me about what to expect for the next couple of months. I immediately wanted to taste them. I haven’t felt this way since Emma passed. This is a dangerous situation, especially since she’s my new patient.

  Keep your distance, Davis.

  “Did we lose you, Davis?” Dr. Taylor said in not the friendliest of voices.

  “Of course not,” I lie.

  “Good to hear since Ms. Heart has come all this way to be in our care.”

  Fo
cus Davis.

  “It’s perfectly fine, Dr. Taylor,” Ms. Heart said, smiling. “I’m sure he hears these things all the time.” These things. I assume she’s talking about what I obviously wasn’t listening to because I was too busy lusting over her mouth.

  “Not at all, Ms. Heart, I love hearing the story of each of my patients outside of their medical charts. I find that all of my patients are different and interesting in their own way.”

  “I like you already, Dr. Anderson, but please call me Chris. Mrs. Heart was my mother.” She’s feisty, I like that, I like that a little too much.

  “Well, now that all the formalities are out of the way,” Dr. Taylor interrupts. “We can move forward with our plan of action for Ms. Heart.” I’m definitely being put in my place, am I that obvious?

  “Absolutely, Dr. Taylor, Ms. Heart, if you and your father will follow me, I can go over in more detail what to expect in the upcoming months.” Without even realizing what I was doing, I instinctively put my hand on the small of her back, guiding her towards the hospital’s main consultation room.

  It felt good to touch a woman again, even if it was just for a moment. She smelled terrific like spices and fresh cinnamon, it reminded me of my childhood when my brother and I used to make hot apple cider during the wintertime.

  It felt like home, and I couldn’t help but close my eyes just a little, taking in the delicious scent of her. Thankfully, once we arrived at our destination, I kicked back into doctor mode. I became Dr. Anderson again, confident and focused, no longer distracted by my beautiful new patient. At least that’s what I told myself.

  I had rounds to do and another procedure scheduled later in the afternoon. I excused myself, leaving her in Dr. Taylor’s care, but not before a thorough examination and scheduling her for her follow up before surgery later in the week.

  She’s so warm and bright even after all she’s been through. You wouldn’t know it by looking at her outer appearance, but she’s actually quite ill, she definitely needs me, and for some odd reason, I feel like I need her too.

  Chapter 4

  Christine

  When I woke up this morning, I thought to myself, today will be the day that I’m going to meet my new surgeon, Dr. Anderson. This is a huge deal, this man could change my life forever, this surgery could change my life forever. But instead of being able to relax and take it all in, I also awoke to a massive amount of missed calls, texts, and emails all related to the new shows production.

  I wish it would all just go away, if I could snap my fingers and make it all disappear I would in a heartbeat. The closer I get to my dreams of being healthy again, the more I’m coming to realize that growing my brand and starting this live cooking show isn’t what I want for my life.

  It’s been nothing but stressful from the very beginning, and the more people tell me that this is the next logical step in my career, the more I disagree.

  “What’s on your mind sweetie,” my dad says, interrupting my inner monologue.

  "Nothing much just looking over all these emails I need to go through. Checking my missed calls from angry, confused production crews and personal assistants,” I smile, trying not to look and sound annoyed unsuccessfully.

  “Don’t you give them a second thought, I’ll give Kyle and Susan a call so that they can take care of everything while you concentrate on you, that’s what you hired them for right?”

  I knew that he was right, but being the control freak that I am, it felt weird to finally relinquish all of my control, giving my new team the task of keeping the trolls at bay.

  "You don't have to do that, dad. You've done enough. Just you being here with me holding my hand through this like grandma used to means the world to me," I said, holding his large course hand in mine, squeezing it just a little the way grandma used to.

  “Of course, sweetie, I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”

  One Skype conference with my amazing assistants Kyle and Susan, two cups of herbal tea, and a shower later, I was finally out of the woods and ready to concentrate on myself again.

  Most people would've cringed at the idea of hiring two assistants that are married and own a company together. Not me, I find it to be very refreshing, and they're very good at keeping things to themselves. Everyone, including the press, has been lined up around the block. Trying to find out why Christine Heart has suddenly decided to go off the map just before her big live show debut.

  They probably think that I'm somewhere in rehab, secretly having a nervous breakdown. Or that I've run off and married a mystery man, even though I haven't been seen with a man in public other than my dad and Kyle, who is very happily married in months.

  Dating kind of takes a back seat when you’re so busy, and you have to stop during sex to catch your breath because your heart feels like it’s about to burst your own chest. So, thanks to this damn heart of mine, I haven’t had a decent lay in years.

  The few friends that I do have are always trying to set me up. Still, it never works out, so I’ve replaced a relationship with work and my very well utilized vibrator, Alberto.

  He was one of the first things I packed, I couldn’t survive if I made a mistake and left him behind. I check the time on my cell, and it’s about time for dad and me to head out to go meet Dr. Davis Anderson, the surgeon with two last names.

  I laugh at the concept of giving your child two last names, and my dad gives me a look of bewilderment no doubt wondering why I’m laughing at a time like this. He’s always nervous when I go to the doctor’s even more so since I moved so far away from him, but for me, it’s become pretty much routine.

  “Let’s get this show on the road,” my dad says no doubt to help him work through his own jitters. “It’s going to be great dad; I have a feeling that it’s my destiny to meet the famous heart surgeon with two last names.”

  “You sure have a way of looking at things, only you would choose to put all your faith in a doctor that you can make fun of,” he chuckled.

  “I’ve got to have something to make fun of him about. Have you seen his picture, the man is a Greek god and smart to boot nothing like my other doctors?”

  I wasn’t exaggerating, he was gorgeous, young and single. I made sure that I was looking my best, even though I didn’t feel as much. One more sip of my favorite cinnamon flavored tea, a personal favorite of mine. I was on my way out the door and into my rental car, driving towards my destiny.

  The streets are already alive with people even though it’s pretty early on a Saturday morning. The air is crisp and pretty fresh for a bustling city, I loved it immediately. I was so thankful that the hospital was so open to me coming in at such short notice and providing us with a guided tour. That was a welcome bonus added to my father and me.

  I really wanted to get a feel for the hospital since it’s going to be my home away from home for the next couple of months while I recover. I'm finally cashing in on the perks of being kind of a celebrity. Sometimes I genuinely forget that I’m not just an ordinary woman with a heart condition, I’m in the public eye, and someone’s always watching.

  Once we pull up to the hospital and park in the parking garage, we take the elevator up to the main entrance, which is your typical hospital. Once you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all, and I’ve seen my fair share.

  We pause at reception, giving the nurse our names so that they can inform Dr. Taylor, our lead contact, and the hospital lead physician, that we had arrived. Our greeting from Dr. Taylor was warm and full of enthusiasm, he had kind eyes, and I liked him right away.

  I started to wonder as we began our tour if he could bottle up some of that warmth and send it to some of my previous doctors. We went down one hall then another and another until they all started to run together, and I was utterly lost.

  “I’m sure this is quite overwhelming for you, Ms. Heart. We'll soon be getting to the meat and potatoes of our fine little hospital, the cardiac wing,” he commented proudly. He guided us in introducing us to nurse
s, fellow doctors, and several members of his team.

  He excused himself, explaining that he was sending a quick text to Dr. Anderson to see where he was. I have no idea why, but as soon as he mentions us meeting Dr. Anderson, my heart begins to beat just a little bit faster.

  I wonder why he’s single. There must be something wrong with him. He’s pretty much perfect, according to Google. Any sane woman would jump at the chance to snatch him up off the market, so the only conclusion is that something must be terribly wrong with him beneath the surface.

  “What’s going on in that head of yours?” My dad said, nudging me. “I was just thinking, nothing big.”

  “It doesn’t look like it’s nothing big to me, don’t forget I raised you, young lady.”

  “I promise dad, trust me, you don’t want to know,” I blushed.

  “That look has trouble written all over it, I’ll take your advice and leave this one alone,” he surrendered. “Thanks, Dad. A woman has to has some secrets even if that woman is your daughter.”

  “More reason for it, in my opinion,” he finished. Dad and I were so busy chatting that I didn’t even notice that the infamous Dr. Anderson was headed towards us. He’s even more striking in person, tall, dark, and so much more than just handsome he’s beautiful. I don’t like this effect he has over me, I find myself caught off guard and totally out of my comfort zone. He hasn’t even uttered a word to me yet, and I’m already daydreaming about seeing him naked.

  Christine Liliana Heart, you’re acting as if you’ve never been in the presence of a good-looking man before. Pull yourself together, you’re a grown woman, not a lovesick teenager.

  When Dr. Anderson finally made his way to us. I had pulled myself together just enough to be able to continue my conversation with Dr. Taylor. Working harder than I'd like to admit to appear totally unfazed by Dr. Anderson.

  The three of us engage in idol conversation. Basically, it felt like we were just passing the time until Dr. Anderson excused himself to finish up whatever it was, he was doing before we arrived. He seems to be quite a bit distracted, which only helped to prove my original theory further.