When Morning Comes by Francis Ray

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    â€œKara, you do understand, don’t you?”
    He was trying to reassure her. “I live in Glen Oaks off thirty-five.” She gave him the address.
    â€œI know the area. I can be there in twenty minutes.”
    â€œAll right. Good-bye.” She disconnected the call, scared and excited. Soon she’d know if her work was salable. She didn’t know why she trusted Tristan’s opinion, but she did.
    *   *   *
    Sabrina stepped off the elevator on the sixth floor of Texas with a smile on her face. She was dressed in one of her favorite outfits, a slim-fitting pair of black pants, ruffled yellow-and-white checkered blouse with bouffant sleeves, a thin red belt, and red skimmers. She’d checked on Ann twice during the night and this morning after Kara had gone home. Each time the report had been good. On one of those calls, the nurse had reported Dr. Mathis was there as usual.
    When Sabrina had asked what she meant, the nurse had gone on to explain that if Dr. Mathis sent his surgical patient to ICU, he always visited the patient sometime during the night. He understood the critical nature of patients and made himself available. He was one doctor who didn’t mind being called. He’d only had to take one nurse to task for not checking one of his patients’ vital signs on time for nurses to get the message.
    Waving to the nurses at the nurses’ station, Sabrina pushed open the door to Mrs. Ward’s room. Her husband’s head was on the bed by her elbow, his hand holding hers. Both were asleep.
    Smiling, Sabrina let the door close, turned to leave them, and came face-to-face with Cade. Her heart knocked crazily in her chest. “Good morning, Dr. Mathis.”
    His gaze flickered to the badge on the pocket of her frilly blouse. “Aren’t you off on Saturdays?”
    Sabrina would have been happier that he knew her schedule if he wasn’t frowning. Otherwise, he looked as yummy as he always did, even if he was in surgical scrubs and running shoes. A stethoscope hung around his neck. “Yes. I wanted to check on Mrs. Ward.”
    He peered down at her with suspicion. They both knew she could have called.
    She smiled and forged ahead. “She’s resting.”
    He grunted. “I suppose her husband is still with her.”
    â€œI was trying to figure out a way to break the news to you gently.”
    â€œI okayed it.” He brushed by Sabrina and entered the room.
    Surprised, Sabrina followed. Dr. Mathis was known as a stickler for protocol. Doctors made exceptions for the strict ICU visiting hours, but she’d heard him order Mrs. Ward’s husband to let his wife rest. She wanted to know what had changed his mind.
    Rounding Mrs. Ward’s bed, he gently touched her arm. “Time to wake up again.”
    Mr. Ward jerked awake. “You can’t wake her up?”
    Cade looked at Mr. Ward as if he’d like to toss him from the room.
    â€œWe just came in,” Sabrina supplied.
    â€œI’m sorry.” He looked from her to Dr. Mathis and rubbed his hand over his face.
    Sabrina patted his hand. Dr. Mathis looked as if he might toss her out after Mr. Ward.
    â€œMrs. Ward.”
    Her eyelashes fluttered, then opened. “Dr. Mathis?”
    â€œRight.” He took her hand in his. “Squeeze. Good. Now, the other hand. Follow the light. How many fingers? Good. I’m going to listen to your heart.”
    Since she’d turned her head and was looking at her husband, it was Sabrina’s guess that she didn’t care what he did.
    Cade straightened. “I’m going to move you to a regular floor today.”
    â€œThen I can see Clarissa,” Mrs. Ward said.
    â€œI’m not a proponent of children under twelve visiting patients, especially post surgical. The potential for passing germs and picking them up is too great,” he told them.
    â€œI