Mattie glanced at her watch. Wow, one am. She sniffed and stretched her neck. They were certainly taking their time in there, but that was a good thing, she supposed. They'd be home by, what, two- thirty or so, at the earliest. She picked up her tenth home improvement magazine to flip through.
"Are you Mrs. Adamore?"
Mattie smiled to herself and looked up at the young woman in pink scrubs standing in front of her.
"Is he ready to go home?"
"Yes, your husband sent me to tell you that you can come back now." She nodded and turned to leave.
"Thank you."
Mattie shook her head, picked up her shoulder bag and cane, and walked slowly through the swinging door, and continued down the hall toward his room. As she entered, she saw that he was standing on one leg, pulling up his jeans and she caught a glimpse of the white bandage that covered his entire left calf.
"How was it?"
"Not as bad as I anticipated," Clay glanced at her as he tucked his navy-blue polo shirt into the waist of his jeans. He zipped up his pants, buckled his belt, then sat on the end of the examining table. "I'm feeling much better. We can leave as soon as Dr. Roth gives me insructions."
They looked over as the doctor, holding the clipboard, pulled aside the curtain, and this time, left it open.
"Well, you're all done here, Mr. Adamore," he smiled at them both, then handed Mattie a small sheet of paper. "Here's the prescription for his pain medication. He'll feel fine for a while until the shots wear off, then he'll definitely need them - three days at the most, I'd say. They'll make him drowsy." He eyed Clay. "Change the bandage as I told you before. The nurse will give you some rolls to take with you, and don't get the stitches wet for a week or so. The stitches will absorb over time. Of course, if the site looks red, or feverish, call your doctor. Do you have any questions?" He unclipped a couple of papers and held them out.
"When can I put my weight on that leg?" Clay took the papers from him.
"We're giving you a pair of crutches to use. You'll know when it's comfortable. Again, my estimate would be four to five days, but if it's painful, wait a little longer." He turned to leave. "Good luck."
"Thank you." Clay nodded and squinted down at the instructions, then glanced over at her, and took a deep breath. They looked up as the nurse entered, and she handed a bag filled with bandages to Mattie and the wood crutches to Clay.
"I hope these are the right height for you," she smiled. "Stand up and we'll check these out." Clay slid off the table and balanced on his right leg as he stuck the padded tops of the crutches under his arms and walked a couple of steps. "I think they're all right."
"Good. Well, you're free to leave," she turned to leave. "I hope you two can get some sleep tonight."
"Thank you," Mattie smiled at the nurse, and picked up her shoulder bag, and she and Clay eyed each other. "Do you want me to pull the car up front?"
"No, I'll walk with you. It's late."
"Here's a wheelchair for you." The nurse met them as they left the examining room. Mattie looked at Clay.
"I think it's a good idea."
She laughed at his grumbling, but he sat down and she handed him the crutches and her cane and began pushing him toward the exit. Mattie wheeled him out the front door and set the brake.
"Stay there, I'll be right back."
He handed her the cane, and she walked as quickly as she could to her car. She was exhausted, but she knew he was even more so, and she had to get them safely home, and back to her apartment.
Mattie pulled the car up to the entrance, and he hobbled over and managed to get himself in the front seat after tossing the crutches in the back seat. She put the car in park and went back to return the wheelchair. When she slid back into the driver's seat, she saw that he'd leaned his head back on the headrest, and closed his eyes, and his face was covered with a sheen of sweat. She pulled out of the parking lot, and headed through the dark, deserted streets toward Brooksford and home.