Page 41 of After You Returned

“I haven’t gotten my shots yet,” I say as I walk away.

Their laughter trails me as I reach the receptionist. She points down the hallway. “Third door on the left.”

I knock on the door. “Major Phillips?”

He smiles and rounds his desk to reach me. “Hazel Harris. It’s been a while.”

I met Major Phillips when I did my internship at the Army Medical Retention Processing Unit back in college. He was a captain then.

I shake his hand. “When did you get stationed here?”

“When I got promoted.”

He ushers me to a chair before sitting across from me. “I was surprised to come across your resume. Didn’t you say you’d never leave Smuggler’s Hideaway?”

“I plan to stay on the island. I can commute.”

“That’s your choice.” He snatches a stack of papers off his desk. “Now, tell me what you’ve been doing since you graduated.”

I clear my throat. “I started my own practice on Smuggler’s Hideaway.”

“Impressive. Having your own practice. Why would you want to give it up to come work for us?”

This is where things get tricky. How to sell myself to this man without making myself appear to be a loser who can’t build a PT practice.

“Major! Major!” An elderly man says as he rushes into the room.

“What is it, Frank?”

Frank notices me and stumbles to a halt. “Are you busy?”

“I’m always busy, Frank. But it never stops you.”

“Do you work here?” Frank asks me.

“Not if I can’t finish this interview.”

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t realize. I better go. I wouldn’t want this pretty young thing to tank her interview.” His eyes sparkle. “We can always use more pretty things to look at around here.”

“I’m happy to oblige.”

“Oh, she’s good. You should hire her, Major.”

The major sighs. “I need to interview her first.”

“Right you are.” Frank salutes before pivoting toward the door.

“Frank,” the major calls before he reaches it, “did you have a reason for interrupting me?”

“Shoot. I nearly forgot. The vending machine’s out of pretzels again. You know how much I enjoy those little pretzels.”

“I’ll notify Command.”

Once Frank wanders off, Major Phillips stands and shuts the door behind him. “Let’s see how long we last before the next interruption.” He sits across from me again. “You were telling me about your practice back home.”

“Yes, Major, I—”

“Ed. You’re not in the military. Feel free to call me Ed.”