Is It Love? Stories - Jarod

Season 1 - Chapter 1 (EN)

I grab a compress and carefully apply it to the wound on the little hand I'm holding in mine.

"Very good, Tony. You're such a brave boy. It's almost over, don't worry."

The child's red cheekbones lift a little as he tries to smile.

"Okay... but it stings!"

The nurse Sofia Flores and I exchange a smile, unlike Tony's mom, who looks at me angrily.

Tony's exaggerating. I numbed his wounded hand, so I know very well that little stinker can't feel a thing!

"If it stings, it means it's working and that you're healing. So it's a good thing, see."

Young Tony sighs theatrically. I hold back a smile. I certainly don't want to downplay his tragedy.

"Okay, I get it... Plus, I'm really strong, so I don't even feel it! Right, Mom?"

He smiles broadly, despite eyes that are filled with tears.

His mom gives me a look of gratitude.

"Sofia, can you go get a lollipop for our brave Tony?"

"Sure, of course, he's certainly earned it! And after that..."

She discreetly points to her watch. Yes, I know, we have to hurry down to the cafeteria for a presentation.

But my patient comes first!

"All right, Tony, now listen up. I've fixed your hand for now."

The child watches me with his big eyes. Good, I have his attention for about fifteen seconds. I need to explain things real fast.

"But you have to stop trying to climb over the old fence in your backyard, otherwise you'll hurt yourself again!"

"And every time you get hurt, you have to come back here, you know. Wouldn't that be just awful?"

Sofia returns with a lollipop she hands the child. He grabs it at once and shoves it in his mouth.

"That WOULD be awful! I never wanna come back here ever again! And why can't I move my hand?"

"I had to put in a few stitches near your thumb, so you have to be real careful and not use that hand too much, okay?"

And now he's looking at the instrument tray beside me and not listening to me anymore.

"Are you listening to me, Tony? You have to be real careful with your hand, as I said, and not get it wet, not get it dirty in the yard, and... Tony?"

"This lollipop's really good, thanks a lot, Ma'am!"

"You're welcome, champ. So you're going to be brave and be real careful with your hand then?"

Tony nods yes dramatically, all smiles.

"Is there anything I should do? Change his bandage, apply disinfectant, or anything?"

"Just bring him back next week so I can check the scar and remove the stitches if everything is okay."

Sofia shoots me another look signaling me to hurry up. Yes, I know we're supposed to attend that doctor's presentation, but I'm not done yet.

And I refuse to rush things and run the risk of neglecting one of my young patients.

"I'll prescribe some pain meds and anti-inflammatory ointment for Tony."

I finish writing up the prescription and run a hand through the thick hair of the little boy, who's still sucking on his lollipop.

We say goodbye in the hallway. It's a little emotional, watching Tony walk away, one hand bandaged up, the other holding his mom's hand.

"Are we done? Are you ready for Dr. Harding's presentation? Can we go?"

Sometimes it feels like Sofia spends so much time working with children than she speaks to me like a child too.

I find it touching that she's maternal with everyone. It shows she has a big heart, which is priceless.

"Let's go. And I don't say it enough, but I really like working with you, Sofia. You're very gifted with children."

"Thank you, that's sweet of you to say it. I love working with you, too. You're strict, but easy to work with, and that's nice."

We exchange a brief smile as we head out of Pediatrics and towards the cafeteria.

"Hello ladies, are you going to the cafeteria for Jarod's presentation?"

"Yes, it should be starting any minute."

"Have you two met this Jarod Harding person before?"

"Yes, he was working here when I was going my residency."

"Even back then he made everyone swoon! A real heartbreaker."

"That's true! I have to admit, I thought about it myself once in a while. What about you, Sofia?"

"Oh, no! I'm sure it was one woman after another with that guy. He was easy on the eyes, granted, but no thanks!"

"We'll see if he still gives off that same vibe of something wild and... inaccessible."

"A doctor who has time for serial encounters? Does that even exist?"

"Ha ha, it does! But you be careful, Lara. Don't fall for those pretty eyes of his."

I let out a little laugh to dismiss Camilla's remark.

Good thing I don't blush easily, otherwise I'm sure my cheeks would be red right about now.

I have to admit, I'm suddenly a little more interested in the presentation than I was a minute ago.

Even though I'm not looking for anyone at the moment, I'm anxious to check out this handsome and mysterious doctor...

"Well at any rate, I already know what he's going to say, and I already know it's not my cup of tea."

"There's no way I'm leaving the cardiac surgery department."

"And on top of it, I get to snatch up all of Adrian's patients!"

"Wait, Adrian is going? Did he sign up?"

"We have to sign up somewhere? What are you two talking about? I don't get it. What's this Dr. Harding's presentation about?"

"You haven't heard? It's..."

Camilla is interrupted by screams coming from the entrance lobby!

I feel shivers shoot across my whole body: those are children's screams...

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