My Hometown Love

Chapter 33 – Back to Work

Lexie’s P.O.V

With my parents working, Kevin busy in Salem while Jake and Maria at their new house, I had a lot of time on my hand to work on my project.

I looked up from my laptop to the multi-colored sticky notes stuck on my wall. Each labeled with a different idea, location, or event.

I can’t believe within a week I have built a blog, did research, typed out my findings, and posted my very first post. I proudly read the title of the blog post.

Camping Adventure at John’s Peak.

I guided my mouse to the ‘publish’ sign and tapped it as I watched my brain baby get released to the worldwide web.

I quickly sent the link to my friends and family, eagerly waiting to get some feedback. Minutes turned into hours and those hours turned into the next day as I impatiently craved some kind of feedback from someone.

I knew that they were all busy so I comforted myself and told myself to wait patiently. That afternoon, I was in the kitchen when I received a video call from my Fantastic Four group. I put my sandwich down and answered the call as I hopped on the kitchen counter to sit down.

Lexie: Hey you guys! How are you? How come you guys are together?

Jimmy: Hey Lex. We’re great. We decided to have lunch together to celebrate your new blog!

Lydia: We read and it was amazing!

Amy: You know I don’t usually read blogs and stuff but yours had me hooked.

Jimmy: Well, if you can get Amy to read a blog, then it must be really good.

Lexie: Aww, you guys. Your feedback means the world to me.

Jimmy: You know, what you wrote made me want to come and visit it myself.

Lexie: Oh my God! You guys should come and visit!

Lydia: That’s not such a bad idea.

Amy: I’m sure we can plan something out.

Lexie: I can’t wait! But are you guys sure you can handle the country-side?

Jimmy: Are you kidding me? Jimmy is a chameleon, Jimmy can adapt to anything.

Amy: Yeah, we’ll just see about that, Jimmy the chameleon.

Lydia: Oh shush you guys. It’ll be fun! We’ll let you know the details soon, Lexie!

Lexie: Thank you, guys! I’ll let you all enjoy your lunch break while you still can. Miss you!

Everyone: Bye Lexie! Love you!

I took a bite of my sandwich feeling excited because they liked my blog and that my friends are coming to visit! I was walking up the stairs when I heard the doorbell ring.

That’s weird. Who could it be?

I wasn’t expecting anybody and my family all have their keys. I walked up to the door and peeped out to see who it was.

That’s Odd.

It was some sort of delivery man. My parents must have ordered something. Anyway, I opened the door and stepped out.

“Hi. Can I help you?”

“I have a delivery for a Miss Lexie Cooper?”

“Yes. I am she. “

“This is for you. Have a nice day.”

And just like that, he passes me a sparkly paper bag with a big ‘Congratulations!’ floating balloon tied to it. I stepped into the house and sat on the stairs as I examined the contents of the bag.

I pulled out a greeting card with a big ‘Congratulations’ sign printed on it. I curiously opened it and read the contents.

Congratulations Lexie!

We are all so proud of your new found passion and how hard you work to achieve it. We all read your post and it was beautifully written. Thanks for telling the world about our little town. Just know that you will always have all our support. All the best! We love you.

Love,

Mom, Dad, Jake & Maria.

I gently folded the card close as I held it close to my heart. My family is so sweet. What did I ever do to deserve them?

I peeped into the box and found a box of my favorite ‘Ferrero Roche’ chocolates with a sticky note.

Try not to finish it all in one day. Jake.

Jake! I grumbled under my breath at the note and how he knows me so well. Just when I thought that there was nothing else left in the bag, my hands felt a cold metal-like object. I wrapped my fingers around it and pulled it out as a postcard followed along.

I opened my palm to see a cute red motorcycle key-chain with my name engraved on the back. I was ecstatic and yet confused at the same time. I turned my attention to the postcard with the picture of Salem city, knowing very well who it was from.

I slowly turned the card over, eager to see what is written on it.

Dear Lexie,

Hello from Salem! Congratulation on your blog!

I read it and it was amazing. I see that you’re writing about the farmer’s market next, I can’t wait to see how you describe it from your point of view. All the very best. I am so proud of you. See you soon.

Kevin.

p.s. I hope you like the keychain.

I leaned back against the railing of the staircase in glee. It was so nice of him to send it despite his extremely busy schedule. I quickly pulled out my phone and sent a brief thank you message to him and my family for their thoughts as well as the amazing gifts.

I ran up the staircase with a sudden surge of motivation and determination to write my next piece.

**************

Kevin’s P.O.V

I tapped on the message from Lexie as I stuffed my face with a sandwich.

Thanks for the card and keychain. Hope to see you soon.

I smiled with my face full of my tuna sandwich.

“You alright there, Dr. Walker?”, Doctor Freeman asked.

Doctor Harry Freeman was a local doctor who I was assigned to work with throughout my duty.

“Yeah. Just reading a message from someone back home.”, I replied as I put my phone back in my pocket.

“Oh. So you have a girlfriend back home, huh? Must be tough.”, he said as he took a sip of his coffee.

“Yeah it is.”, I replied, astonished that my brain and heart didn’t bother to correct him but instead enjoyed the thought and agreed to his statement.

“We’ve got a Code Blue!”, a nurse shouted from the end of the hall.

Both of us dropped our food and sprinted to the end of the hall. I monitored the patient’s stats as Dr. Freeman ordered the nurse to charge the defibrillator to 200.

“Clear!”, he shouted before he placed the paddles on the patient’s chest.

“Nothing.”, I said back as I watch the patient’s monitor closely for anything.

“Charge to 300”, Dr. Freeman ordered.

“Clear!”, he said as he delivered an electric shock to the patient’s heart.

“We have a pulse!”, I tell him as I watch the active rhythm strip on the cardiopulmonary monitor, signaling a heartbeat.

“It’s not as strong as it was earlier. Nurse, monitor him and let me know if there are any changes.”, Dr. Freeman said as we exited the room.

“That was amazing.”, I said in awe to Dr. Freeman.

“Have you ever done one before?”, he asked me as we returned to our lunch.

“No. I don’t believe I can compose myself like how calm you were in there.”, I said as I thought back at this emotional state when performing the procedure.

“Well, it’s always important to remain calm in these situations. The minute you start to panic, your brain stops thinking straight.”, Dr. Freeman advises as he takes a sip of his coffee.

“Well that seems feasible, but I don’t think that is possible when you have to do it on your loved one in front of you.”, I replied as I tried to push the thought of me having to ever do that to any of my family or friends.

“That’s true. Unfortunately, I have been in that situation many years ago. My wife was accidentally electrocuted and was admitted into this very hospital. I was sitting next to her when her heart suddenly stopped and since I was the first and only person on the scene, I knew I had to do something as soon as possible while trying my best to remain calm as I sent electrical shocks into my dear wife. Now, we’ve been happily married for 40 years.”, Dr. Freeman explained.

“Wow. That must have been hard.”, I said before I felt my pager beep.

“Oh, I have a consult. You coming?”, I asked him.

“Yup. Let’s go.”, he said as he followed me.

*********

We made our way to the medical camp outside which has drastically shrunk as most of the patients have been moved back inside the hospital. I look up to some construction workers working hard on the major burnt part of the hospital.

I walk alone to the center of the tent as a nurse passes me a chart. I look back to see Dr. Freeman talking to another doctor, regarding a patient.

I shift my attention back to the little girl in front of me who complains of a stomach ache. After checking her, I write down my report in her chart as I ask the nurse to take her to get checked out. I tell the parents to wait in the lobby until we get the results back.

I turn to walk away from the bed when I feel a light tug on my coat. I look back to see a little arm pulling me towards her. I turn to face her and lightly stroke her hair.

“Don’t worry Ashley. We’re going to take good care of you and make your tummy ache go away, okay.”, I tell her comfortingly.

“Please don’t go.”, she says sadly as she grips my fingers.

“Okay pumpkin. I’m just going to go over there to tell that doctor that I am going to take you upstairs then I’ll come right back. Okay?”, I say as I point to Dr. Freeman who is standing in a distance.

She replies by nodding solemnly as she lets go of my hand. I tell the nurse that I’ll be taking her up myself as I walk towards Dr. Freeman to tell him as well.

SLAM!

The sound of something big slamming against the tent sends vibrations throughout the tent as we look at each other, wondering what and where the voice was coming from.

SCREECH!

The loud tearing sound alerts me to look up, and to my astonishment see a big cement chunk ripping through the tent roof.

I gasp in horror as I look down at what is directly below it.

Ashley!