It was a Wednesday evening, and I ran along the pathway of Cliffside Park. My feet thudded against the pavement as I dodged walkers, sweat beading on my brow. After an hour, I finally slowed near the edge of the small cliff the park was named for. Resting my hands on my hips, I caught my breath, watching the golden rays from the setting sun kiss the top of the water below as boats sailed past the cove, headed toward the marina.
My phone buzzed against my bicep in the arm band I had on, and I reached over, pulling it out. When I glanced at the screen, I saw a notification for a job listing from one of the recruiting platforms that I may or may not have signed up for a couple of weeks ago, when I couldn’t sleep.
One new job listing matches your criteria:
Emergency Medicine Physician - Bayport General Hospital.
I clicked the notification, and it brought me right to the listing: Level II trauma center. Teaching hospital. Full-time. Day shift, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
It was perfect, and it washere. I wouldn’t need to take the ferry from Bayport into Charleston—Bayport Cove was one of five towns on Halloran Island, which was located off South Carolina’s southern coast, and only accessible by boat, so Iwouldn’t have to accommodate extra travel time. It was a day shift position, which I preferred. I did night shifts during my residency, and I fucking hated them.
Slipping my phone back into my arm band, I turned toward the path again and began jogging back to the parking lot.
Was I actually ready to go back to work? Would it help distract me or make things worse?
I talked to Nate about possibly going back to work during my last session. He said it was something I had to decide for myself. I hadn’t spoken to anyone else about it. I had a feeling my parents would tell me to take more time. At the same time, they weren’t aware of how stir crazy sitting at home was making me, or how often I drowned in my thoughts with all the downtime. Plus, Nate was right. I had to make the decision on my own.
I didn’t have to think much about it. The opportunity just felt too good to pass up.
When I got home from my run, I applied.
Things were moving fast.
I had an interview with the emergency room medical director a week after applying for the position, which I thought went well. She told me there were a few more candidates to be interviewed, and in the meantime, they’d be verifying all of my credentials and information.
I didn’t say a word to anyone about it. I didn’t want to, not unless I got the job and was given a formal offer. I didn’t want anyone to try to talk me out of it if they didn’t think going back to work was a good idea.
It wasmydecision.
While I waited for news, I focused on celebrating Lucas’s and Callie’s upcoming wedding. We all went to Monaco for their joint bachelor and bachelorette parties. The guys did their own thing for a few days, the girls did theirs, and we all met up on our last night. As one of Callie’s bridesmaids, Haley was there, but our interaction on that one night we were all together consisted of nothing more than a passing glance.
The trip proved beneficial to Wes and Morgan, however, who were now officially acouple. I never thought I’d see the day when Wes“I don’t do relationships”Callahan wouldproudlyadmit to being head over heels in love and absolutelywhippedfor a woman he once claimed tohate. Stranger things had happened, I supposed.
And a few days after we returned from Monaco, I received a call with a formal offer of employment.
I told my parents that same night, along with my brother, who’d happened to be there for dinner. I could see the surprise on their faces, but much tomysurprise, they didn’t question me about it, even if I knew they wanted to.
I also dropped the bomb on them that night that I’d be looking for my own place.
Was I moving a little too quickly? Maybe. But with me going back to work, I felt like I needed my own space. Iwantedit. I had a month before I started at the hospital, and my goal was to at least be under contract by then.
With my credit, established finances, and now the job lined up, I was preapproved for a loan. That would make the process go even faster once I found a place. Morgan’s mom was a realtor, one with experience with quick closings, so she put me in touch with her to get started. I gave her my price range and a list ofthings I was looking for in a potential home, and she didn’t waste a second getting to work.
I’d already been shown five houses.
I was currently standing beside my brother inside the kitchen of a three-bedroom Cape Cod—house number six—not too far from Gabe’s place. My parents were there, walking around the outside of the property.
“Well?” Morgan’s mom smiled as she entered the kitchen. “What do you think?”
I nodded as I looked around. “It’s nice.”
“But it’s not home,” she said with understanding in her voice.
I offered a rueful smile. “It doesn’t feel like it.”
“That’s alright.” She patted my arm. “We have one more place to look at today, and if that doesn’t pan out, we’ll keep looking. Let me make a call and make sure everything is set at the other home before we head over there.”
I nodded, and she stepped out. “It’s not that bad,” Gabe said as he glanced around.
