"How are you, Paul?" James shook Dr. Stoker’s outstretched hand.
Dr. Stoker insisted everyone call him Paul, but Gabe respected the man too much to address him in such a casual manner.
"What brings you to our neck of the woods?" Dr. Stoker asked.
"I have something I'd like to discuss with you. Do you have a few minutes?"
"Sure." Dr. Stoker motioned him to the back of the gym.
James' gaze landed on Travis as they passed. He stopped. "Hey Travis, how's that shoulder coming?"
"Slow." Travis’ bored expression said he'd rather be anywhere but here.
"That's to be expected. You do what the therapists tell you and you'll be leading us to another state championship next year." James patted Travis' good shoulder before following Dr. Stoker to the small office the therapists rarely used. They preferred to spend their time on the gym floor with their patients.
Gabe's gaze followed them, his curiosity piqued. He turned back to Travis. "I assume that's Dr. James Young from Providence?" There were only a couple family practitioners in Providence and no specialists that Gabe was aware of.
"Yeah. He's cool, I guess."
"You guess?"
Travis shrugged. "You know, for an old dude."
"Old?" Gabe gaped at Travis. Because of his silver temples, he figured Dr. Young was in his early sixties, but he hardly looked old.
Gabe didn't dare ask Travis how old he thought he was. If the kid thought Dr. Young looked old, he’d call Gabe, who was only thirty, middle aged.
Several minutes later, both men stood at the glass window of the office looking out over the gym. Gabe could have sworn he saw Dr. Stoker point in his direction before he lowered his hand.
"Gabe, will you come here for a minute, please?" Dr. Stoker summoned Gabe into the small office after he finished with Travis. He made introductions. "This is Dr. James Young from Providence Medical Center. And James, I'd like you to meet Dr. Gabriel Rivera. He worked here for three years as an assistant before going to PT school. Then he returned after completing his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree two years ago. He's a skilled therapist and the perfect man to take on your project."
Gabe's chest swelled with pride at Dr. Stoker's words. He gave Dr. Young a questioning look. "Project?"
"Have a seat, Gabe," Dr. Stoker said. "Dr. Young has an interesting proposition. He wants us to open a…satellite office, if you will, in Providence."
"A PT office in Providence?" Gabe gave Dr. Young a sharp look as he settled into a chair. "I know you often send patients our way, but is there that big of need for a full-fledged office in your small town?" Gabe couldn't recall ever stepping foot in the town that was little more than a dot on the map.
"Not full time, no. That's why I feel it would be best to make it an extension of this facility."
And Dr. Stoker wants me to take on the project?
Gabe's heart raced in anticipation. The prospect of an hour-long commute was not appealing, but he'd have his own office. He'd been ready to branch out on his own for some time now, but office space and equipment were expensive, and he was still paying off student loans.
He looked at Dr. Young again. "What kind of space and resources are available?"
"A few years ago, Providence's medical center received a generous donation. We used the funds to add onto the hospital and have been working to bring in specialty clinics like optometry, orthodontia, chiropractic, and counseling, so our citizens don't have to travel so far for their medical needs."
Gabe found himself nodding. Those were all important services but not necessarily on a full-time basis. Was there a big enough need for physical therapy in Providence to make even a part-time clinic sustainable?
Dr. Young went on. "We have a thousand-square-foot space intended for a PT office. I've got personnel and a legal team standing by to complete the necessary paperwork regarding insurance contracts and such. All I need is a list of equipment and supplies from you." The older man's posture exuded confidence, and even though Gabe had just met the man, he read a hint of challenge in Dr. Young's intense blue eyes.
Another surge of excitement filled Gabe, but he tamped it down.Did he want an office that only saw three to five patients a day? He struggled to see the value in the deal for him professionally and financially.
He narrowed his gaze on Dr. Young and shook his head. "Other than having a vacant space you want to fill, why are you so keen on opening a PT office?"
Dr. Young exchanged a look with Dr. Stoker, who shrugged and nodded. "Your call, James."
Dr. Young stared out the window behind Gabe for a long moment before speaking again. "My daughter was nearly killed in an auto-pedestrian accident two months ago. She suffered multiple fractures to her pelvis, femur, and shoulder.”
