“I hope so,” Maggie whispered.
“I know so,” Kim said firmly. “Now go tell Evie. And Maggie?”
“Yeah?”
“Enjoy this. You’ve earned it.”
Maggie had one more call to make before Evie got home.
She dialed Dr. Chen’s direct line, half-hoping it would go to voicemail.
Chen answered on the first ring.
“Maggie. What can I do for you?”
“I need to see you tomorrow,” Maggie said. “It’s important.”
“Everything okay?”
“Define okay,” Maggie said. “Can you do eight AM? Before rounds?”
“Of course. My office?”
“Please.”
“I’ll see you then,” Chen said, and hung up.
Maggie set the phone down and looked around her apartment.
In less than twenty-four hours, she’d initiated a job change, interviewed for the change, and accepted the said change.
It was the most impulsive, least controlled thing she’d done in years.
And it felt absolutely right. She felt alive again, and she knew if Sarah could see her from above, she’d be smiling at how far she’s come.
At 6:30 PM, Evie’s key turned in the lock.
Maggie was in the kitchen, pretending to cook dinner, her hands shaking too badly to actually accomplish anything useful.
“Hey,” Evie called, dropping her bag by the door. “Sorry I’m late. Doctor Patel had a—” She stopped, seeing Maggie’s face. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong,” Maggie said.
Evie crossed to her immediately, hands on her shoulders. “You look like you’re about to throw up. What happened?”
“Sit down,” Maggie said.
“Maggie, you’re scaring me.”
“Please. Just sit.”
Evie sat at the kitchen table, watching Maggie with worried eyes.
Maggie turned off the stove—she’d been stirring nothing in an empty pan anyway—and joined her at the table.
“I had a phone call this morning,” Maggie began.
“You said. With who?”
