“I didn’t have much other than triple antibiotic ointment.I ran out of large bandages yesterday and meant to buy more today once I got to a store.”
“My friend, Jo, is a nurse.I can call her and ask her to come look at it if you don’t mind.”
She worried her lip between her teeth as she considered my offer.
“I trust her with my life.She won’t tell anyone.”
In the time it took for her to nod her head, consenting to it, I had my phone pressed to my ear as I called for help.
Six
Charlie
Iheard voices as theycame up the stairs after Axel went down to meet his friend.I had been a nervous wreck from the moment he mentioned her, but I also knew that I wasn’t doing my baby girl any good by allowing the cut to stay infected.Having her come to treat it was the best I could do right then, since I couldn’t risk seeing a doctor I didn’t know and having to explain what happened.
As soon as they walked through the door, I felt a mixture of relief and anxiety when I saw the woman from earlier.
“Charlie, this is Jo,” Axel said as he stepped to the side and let her approach the bed where I was sitting.She had a decent-sized medical bag with her, which made me wonder how many times she’d madehouse callslike this.
“Thank you for doing this,” I said, hoping to keep any emotion out of my voice.
She kneeled in front of me and looked up as her eyes caught mine.Beneath her left eye was a faint scar that I hadn’t noticed before.
“Do you mind lifting your shirt and holding it up for me?”she asked, her voice lacking any emotion.
I nodded and slowly lifted the fabric, hoping it didn’t get snagged on any dry blood.
She didn’t show any reaction to the wound like I had expected she would.Her eyes quickly scanned my stomach before she reached into her bag and started gathering supplies before putting on medical gloves.
“How did this happen?”she asked, briefly looking up at me as she waited for an answer.
I looked from her to Axel, who was standing there with a frown on his face and arms folded across his chest as he looked at the gash across my stomach.
“You can trust her,” he assured me, his features softening again.
I looked down at her and let out a heavy breath.