Page 31 of Double Exposure

Chapter Nine

Jade Choi

Sitting in the emergency room with more of the Colton-Weston, Search & Rescue team, I'm not too sure what to do with myself. The only two I actually know, Ross and Ryan, are not here. They’re servicing the helicopter, and I don’t know if they’ll return. I did shake Brock Weston’s hand when he arrived an hour ago. He’s a taller, leaner version of Carter, older by a couple of years, but he seemed more concerned with his brother than with my dad and he’s been on his cell phone most of the time. Riley Delgado, his girlfriend, and one of the three partners, is sweet but quiet.

After a series of whispered discussions with Carter in the hall, peppered with furtive glances to me, Riley leaves and I have another round with Carter about being seen by a doctor.

I’m fine.

I'm still worried about my father. He was in triage for an hour and then they whisked him away. That was two hours ago. This widening timeframe leaves me anxious. Dad seemed okay after what he’d been through, but maybe there were complications.

I can also tell Carter is upset with me for not getting attention myself, thus the serious discussion with Riley. He keeps urging me to register with the admitting desk, but I don’t need it. I’m not suffering from frostbite. I'm not dehydrated. I also don’t want it getting back to my father that I was caught in an avalanche looking for him. He won’t let me travel with him anywhere if that gets out.

Finally, the door to the waiting room opens and a doctor enters. He’s of medium build, tall, sandy haired, maybe mid-thirties. I’d hoped for a more seasoned clinician. My dad is near sixty now—and he pretends when he’s in front of people and he can be pretty damned convincing. An older doctor might see through him.

But this guy’s manner is efficient and with a tablet tucked under his arm, he nods to Carter and the team, then turns his attention to me.

“I’m doctor Harrison,” he says and doesn’t even glance at the tablet. Instead, he meets my gaze. “Your father is an extremely, and I want to underline this, extremely lucky man.”

I nod and Carter’s hand lies warmly against the small of my back. Just there, like a presence telling me: I’m here for you.

“First of all, his exposure to the elements was astonishingly minimal. He’s conscious and alert. His story is that there was a small avalanche.”

My heart catches.

“When it hit, his avalanche bag inflated properly, though. He floated to the top of the snowpack and he was able to crawl out, get his tarp in place and wrap himself up.” He pauses. “His extreme cold weather gear did its job.”

Now he removes the tablet from under his arm and taps the screen a few times before speaking again.

“His vitals are strong, and we are not worried about his heart. But his tibia is broken in two places, I think he may need a pin. We have an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Obuyo, who will be taking a look at the x-rays tomorrow and we can schedule the surgery then if your dad needs it.” He taps a few more times, forwarding files I guess, and then tucks the tablet back under his arm.

“It’s a miracle he’s not in shock,” says Dr. Harrison. “Your dad must have been in excruciating pain.” Now he smiles. “He was able to pull the tarp out, lash it, and get himself insulated.”

“Then there was a snowstorm.” Carter clears his throat. “He positioned the tarp with southern exposure and on the other side of a large outcropping of rock—”

“So, he was protected from the wind. Right.” Dr. Harrison puts a hand to his chin as if mulling over the facts.

My father has this effect on people. He is so unassuming, with a small build and quiet manner that people underestimate him all the time.

“Ken Choi knows what he’s doing in cold weather.” Harrison’s statement ends on a higher pitch, opening up the conversation like a question in search of an explanation.

I oblige. “My dad spends a lot of time in the Arctic.”

“Really? What does he do?”

“He’s a wildlife photographer slash videographer.” It’s nice to meet people who don’t know who Dad is. This makes me feel more like a normal person rather than his personal assistant. “When can he go home?”

Harrison shakes his head. “It’s not up to me, but if he makes the surgery schedule tomorrow morning and sails through with no complications, he should be able to be released the following day.

“I'll come and get him and then. Will he be able to fly? I want to get him home.”

Carter stiffens and shifts his weight and I realize this makes him uncomfortable. His hand drops from the small of my back.

He wants me to stay.

I have to push this thought far away from my mind. I need to take care of my father. But the thought of leaving so soon . . . there’s anxiety there too.

Harrison looks thoughtful. “I’d think we may want to wait a few days but talk to Dr. Obuya, the surgeon, about specifics like that. It isn’t really up to me.” He pauses and then asks an unnecessary question. “Do you want to see your dad?”