“Oh, no. No, no, no. They have to get a turn under the Mom Microscope.” She exhales, then her face pinches tight.
Alarm rises. “What’s wrong?”
“Contraction.” She shakes her head. “It’s nothing. Not the real deal. But…”
“You want Mom?”
She leans against the counter and gives me a rueful smile. “The microscope isn’t so bad when your uterus is doing practice runs for a baby eviction, yeah.”
CHAPTER 38
FRANKIE
I’m still at the hospital when Logan texts me his question about the TikTok challenge. It’s my final day of my ortho rotation, and while Dr. Chen has already given me my feedback, I have a few final patient notes I want to make. If I get matched with the ER residency downstairs, I’ll be working with this department regularly. Making a good impression matters to me.
Which makes it awkward that the very first thing I’m going to do when I start my next rotation, in the Imaging department, is ask for some time off.
It’s a good month for Logan to be visiting. It’s a relatively light rotation. I have a good set of learning objectives, but I don’t have any particularly early mornings and nobody will be paging me when I’m not at the hospital.
I’m still nervous about taking vacation.
So I’m pouring myself into these ortho notes as if the hard work might flow through the computer system and make itself known to the powers that be—in this case, my next attending, probably. Maybe the unit secretary.
“You’re still here,” Dr. Chen says in surprise when she comes into the staff lounge.
“Hi. Yes, sorry, I was just getting some work done.” I close my laptop.
She smiles. “Your rotation is over. You can go home.”
My phone lights up with another text from Logan. I turn it over.
“You know, Francesca, it’s important to find some work life balance.” She glances at her watch. “A reminder I should take as well.”
“I understand, I promise. That was my—” I stumble, unsure how to refer to Logan. Wanting to say husband, shocked at how strong that urge is. “My partner doesn’t live here, but he’s coming for a visit in two weeks, so I’m just trying to get ahead a bit.”
“That will be nice, I’m sure. You should ask for some time off when he comes.”
“Oh. Um…” I take a deep breath. “Yeah? You think that would be all right? I want to match here, and?—”
“You’ve made a very good impression, don’t worry. And you’re finished with your ER rotations, right?”
I nod. “I start radiology next.”
“The next three years are going to be the most intense of your career. Nobody expects you to pre-burn yourself out. The second half of your fourth year is when you should do things like take a vacation and sleep as much as you can.”
“Thank you. That’s a good reminder.”
When she leaves, I turn my phone over and read Logan’s message.
Logan
I told my sister about you tonight
My fingers shake as I drop a thumbs up. As soon as I respond, he’s typing again.
Logan
Didn’t tell her your name or anything, don’t worry
