Page 49 of Kiss Marry Kill

Through clenched teeth, I managed to say, “So then youdidn’ttake the antibiotics?”

“Well… Dr. Martin said—”

“Dr. Martin isn’t your doctor,” I snapped.

Her face fell. “But he was so nice to me that day, and I didn’t want to take the medicine anyway. I thought if I could do it the natural way, maybe that would be better.”

“Then you should have told me that when I prescribed the antibiotics for you. You had walking pneumonia, Mrs. Henrietta. I suspect you still have walking pneumonia because you didn’t take your antibiotics. That’s why you’re having trouble breathing and your heart rate is elevated. Your body is still trying to fight off the infection.”

“Are you sure? But I’ve been meditating and drinking apple cider vinegar religiously. Just as Dr. Martin instructed.”

It took all of my self-control to speak calmly. “You have a bacterial infection. I tested you, do you remember that?”

“Yes.”

“I prescribed antibiotics for you because they will help get rid of a bacterial infection. While apple cider vinegar has anti-inflammatory properties, it’s not enough to cure pneumonia. Especially once the pneumonia has progressed, as yours had. You could take apple cider vinegar inadditionto the antibiotics. I’m not saying meditation is bad, but if I prescribed you antibiotics, it’s because I want you to take them.”

Her lower lip trembled. “You don’t have to yell at me.”

Since I was doing my best not to yell, her comment was twice as annoying. But I tried to remember that it didn’t matter whether I thought I was yelling or not, she perceived me as yelling. I took a deep breath and said, “I apologize. I’m upset because your health is my priority. You ignored my instructions and listened to Dr. Martin instead.”

“He seemed to know what he was talking about.”

“But I didn’t?” I narrowed my eyes.

“Oh, I didn’t mean that. Of course you know what you’re talking about.”

“And yet you ignored my instructions and deferred to Dr. Martin instead.” I sighed. “Do you want to be my patient, Mrs. Henrietta?”

“Well… er…”

“I’m sure Dr. Martin could make room for you if you’d rather he was your physician.” I kept my tone as pleasant as possible, even though I wanted to smack her. “I can have Girdy transfer your paperwork to Lilly.”

“You don’t want to be my doctor?” She looked shocked.

“I didn’t say that. But you seem like you’d rather have Dr. Martin as your doctor. If that’s what you want, I’m not going to force you to be my patient.”

“But… I’m still sick.”

“Yes. Because you didn’t take my advice; you took Dr. Martin’s. Because of that, you still have pneumonia.” I made a note of the blood pressure reading and took the cuff off her arm. “I can’t force you to do what I tell you to do. But if you come to me for my advice, I assume it’s because you know I’m qualified to treat you.”

She nodded, looking chastened. “Of course. I think you’re an excellent doctor.”

“But you didn’t take my advice.”

“That was just because Dr. Martin was so charming. I knew he was trying to help me.”

“I was trying to help you too. I’m the one who examined you and ran the tests. I knew that we were dealing with a bacterial infection. Dr. Martin didn’t examine you, therefore he had no right to try and diagnose you.” I sighed. “But if you’re more comfortable with him than me, I understand.”

She shook her head. “No. I want you to be my doctor. I didn’t mean to insult you.”

I was surprised by her apologetic admission. I blinked at her, gathering my thoughts.

She grimaced. “I can see that I offended you. I should’ve listened to you and not been so stubborn.”

I wasn’t exactly sure how to respond, but I knew I needed to say something. “I… I also didn’t mean to raise my voice with you. I take my patients’ health very seriously. The fact that you’re still sick makes me feel like I failed you.”

She shook her head. “No. I failed you. I didn’t listen to your advice, and I was obstinate. The apple cider vinegar didn’t work. I enjoyed the meditation part, but I still feel sick.” Her shoulders drooped. “I screwed up. I should have listened to you.”