Point Of View 2 [*Do not read until you've read the same chapter of ATW]

Chapter 102 Gotta Get Better

*Trisha*

I worry about Nate. He doesn't get sick often but it seems like when he does, it's serious. His heart condition will only get worse as he ages and that scares the fuck out of me. Just thinking about someday losing him brings instant tears to my eyes. He's already been through the ringer with all the tests he has had since arriving here. So far he's had a chest x-ray, a CT scan, and something called an Esophageal X-ray.  The diagnosis?  Pneumonia. And because he is coughing so much he reopened that tear in his throat from a few months ago. He's now on a shitload of medications and breathing treatments every four hours and, once again, no talking so he can heal. 

"You're a nurse. Tell me the truth, Casey. How bad is it?" I ask while we sit in the hospital cafeteria sipping coffee with Evan as our bodyguard. Not many people are in here but the ones who are all stare up at the local news spotlighting Nate Hollan on TV. They can never get enough of Nate Hollan.

"It's not ideal when you have a preexisting health condition such as his." She answers truthfully which I appreciate. "But Jonah caught it quick and already started him on antibiotics last night so he is one day ahead of the game. Jonah is good like that. He just...knows what he's doing."

I nod and take another sip from my to-go cup. Jonah IS good. Probably the best nurse I have ever seen, that's for sure. We are lucky to have him.

"I think Nate staying here to be monitored is a good thing, though. Most hospitals try to give people meds and instructions to take home- discharging them too soon to get the available beds needed. But because he is in the Presidential Suite he will get all the care he needs for as long as he needs. The system sucks but works wonders for people with money." She says

God she is so true. When my mom was first diagnosed with breast cancer I wasn't making the kind of money I'm making now. The hospital was useless in the beginning and by the end, I was caring for her at home. Those medical bills are no joke.  We couldn't afford luxuries such as the presidential suite. We were admitted and discharged constantly to make room for other patients. Usually mom would just need IV fluids for a few days and then once she was hydrated enough they'd send her packing. Our system is flawed in so many ways.

"How are you holding up though? I know you don't like hospitals. You don't have to stay if this is overwhelming. Nate gets it." Casey continues and gains Evan's attention. When the conversation turns over to me his ears perk up. I think he has a little thing for me. Either that or he is like Nate. A constant flirt to anything with a pair of legs.

"I'm ok for now. Being in the suite helps."

"You don't think that ex of yours will show up now that it's on the news, do you?"

Evan's green eyes dart from Casey's to mine, now more alert.

"He showed up here? The abusive guy?" He asks, now needing more information in order to do his job properly.

"Yeah. But I have a restraining order against him now. Thanks to.... Jeremy."

"Wait. What?" Evan knows about Jeremy so is surprised to hear this.

"This was before anything happened. Before he royally fucked up he was an amazing doctor. Even after it all went down. To this day he remains a very smart physician. I don't know what the hell happened in between. He went off the deep end with his Moretti obsession and took it to a harmful level." I explain. "The guy's just a dick."

I recall how we somewhat set him up when that whole Marriott incident went down. He met with me for therapy sessions and hitted on me right away. Even made it seem like after the kiss he regretted it and began overthinking it. I still don't know if it was sincere or part of him being a player. He's conniving, that one. I will never trust him. I will never understand how anyone else can.