“You’d sell me the practice if I were married?”
He cleared his throat, pushing his wire-rimmed glasses up his nose and averting his gaze. “That’s what I said, isn’t it? But considering there’s no one on the horizon for you—not a surprise, really—it’s a moot point.”
“Do you understand how misogynistic that is?”
He scoffed. “I’m not misogynistic! I hired a lady doctor to work at my practice, didn’t I?”
I clenched my teeth over the fact that he had to signify my occupation withladyin front of it. Not misogynistic, my ass. “You hired me because you didn’t have a choice. It was only to counteract the complaints you’ve received from your female patients and because your malpractice insurance was in jeopardy because of it.”
“And?”
I threw my hands up in frustration. “Andit’s fucking ridiculous you can’t see the issue here.”
“I will not be cursed at in my own practice, Ms. Cartwright, so I think we’re done here.” With that, he walked down the hallway toward the front of the clinic and didn’t spare me another glance.
Because I’d never been one known for holding my tongue, I called after him, “It’sDoctorCartwright, by the way.” And then quieter for just me, I added, “You pompous, self-important, fragile little dickweed.”
I stormed into my office, muttering to myself the whole way. What I desperately wanted to do was stand back and watch Dr. Dicknose burn this practice to the ground and then swoop in to build something from the ashes.
But I couldn’t. Especially when I knew the lack of care his patients were receiving—had been receiving for years. I just had to find another way to make this happen sooner rather than later.
After ditching my white coat on the hook behind my door, I quickly changed into the pair of jeans and blouse I’d brought today, knowing I wouldn’t have time to run back home before heading to the impromptu cupcake festival happening this evening. I had promised Addison McKenzie—youngest McKenzie sibling and Starlight Cove hurricane who was not used to hearing the word no—that I’d attend and support the bachelor auction she’d thrown together for Everly, a resident in need.
Even if Everly wasn’t a friend—which she was—and I wasn’t interested in helping Starlight Cove—which I was—I would have done this for Addison simply because she had to deal with five brothers every day—one of whom was a giant pain in everyone’s ass, mine included. That was worth a heaping dose of sympathy in my book.
I strode down the hallway to make sure Dr. Dicknose had locked up the front when he’d left, but I stopped short when voices greeted me from the reception area.
“What’d you tell her?”
The voice was tinny, as if it was coming over speakerphone, but it was one I’d recognize anywhere, considering it’d haunted my accomplishments for the past thirty-plus years and made my stomach clench at the mere sound. My father and Dr. Dicknose were thick as thieves, even after my parents had retired down to Florida, though that wasn’t a surprise. Assholes tended to flock together.
Dr. Dicknose snorted. “I told her she’d need a husband before I’d ever sell this practice to her. And you and I both know that’ll never happen.”
My dad laughed, the sound burrowing deep inside my heart, poking at the tender bruises he’d never let heal. “Not with the size she’s at. Not to mention, she never got the memo that men don’t want a wife who’s more successful than they are. She’s going to be alone the rest of her—” His words trailed off as Dr. Dicknose walked outside, closing and locking the front door behind him.
I took a deep breath, forcing back the sting of tears. This shouldn’t still hurt. Not after growing up with my father’s special kind of “encouragement.” Not after the years of therapy I’d been through to move past this. To work through this. But the truth was, I wasn’t sure I’d ever numb myself enough not to care.
For years, I’d tried to be the kind of daughter my parents could be proud of, even after it had become clear I’d never be a carbon copy of my mom. Not when I was four inches taller and about a hundred pounds heavier. Not when I’d gravitated toward academics rather than cheerleading. But I’d tried.God, I’d tried.
I’d had a full plate of extracurriculars, volunteered for any and everything I could, graduated as salutatorian. Then gone on to undergrad and med school, and now I was intent on opening my own practice.
But none of it mattered in their eyes because I wasn’t a petite size six like my mom. Because I hadn’t dated the quarterback. Because I’d never been prom queen or on the homecoming court. Because I was in my thirties and hadn’t yet snagged myself a handsome husband.
Because I’d dared to want something more for myself than to be a shadow of my parents’ former selves or someone’s arm candy.
I was nothing more than an embarrassment for them, and they weren’t shy about reminding me every chance they got.
I’d thought I’d be able to come back to Starlight Cove without their constant judgment since they no longer lived here, but I’d failed to account for the ties they still had to this town.
Well, fuck them.
At one time, their words would’ve been enough to send me into a downward spiral that would have taken my therapist and me months to get out of. Now, they only served to fuel my fire. I grabbed a tissue, dabbing the corners of my eyes and refusing to let any tears fall. Those assholes didn’t deserve them.
But their words, as hateful as they were, were an excellent reminder of why I did what I did. Why I pushed on even when it was difficult. Why I wore my armor like a shield, not letting them see how much they got to me. Why I’d worked so hard to become the woman I was.
I’d been dealing with people like them my whole life, had fought and clawed my way to the top of a male-dominated field without letting anything stand in my way.
I had no intention of changing that now.
