A breath rushes out of me.
I feel a gamut of emotions.
Relief.
Fear.
Gratitude.
“We’ll redistribute cases. The residents will survive. The department will survive.”
My eyes sting for a second before I blink the tears away.
“Rhys, I’m proud of you.”
I frown. “Huh?”
He laughs, full and loud. “I’mveryproud of you,” he continues. “This couldn’t have been easy.”
“No,” I admit. Then I shake my head. “The decision itself was easy. What wasn’t easy was getting honest enough with myself to see it was the only choice I had.”
“Then go take care of your family.” A flickerof compassion crosses his face. “And take care of yourself while you’re at it.”
I stand on unsteady legs. “Thank you,” I whisper.
“You’re a damn good surgeon, Rhys. One of the best I’ve trained.” His lips curve as a teasing warmth enters his gaze. “But excellence isn’t worth much if it costs you your life outside these walls.”
“I’m not going to lose my life,” I say with more confidence than I feel.
“I know you won’t.”
I leave his office, pulling the door closed behind me.
The hallway seems different—quiet and soft—like the hospital is letting me go for a while. Because, as Paul said, I’m not choosing between surgery and my marriage.
I’m choosing the order.
I’m choosing to put my wife first.
CHAPTER 21
Jayne
“You what?” I say slowly. Because truly, Rhys growing an extra head would’ve shocked me less.
Rhys stands in the kitchen doorway, still in his scrubs, hair mussed, the day clinging to him.
“I’m taking a sabbatical for six months,” he repeats, slightly amused. “Starting in a week.”
My pulse kicks up. “A sabbatical? From the hospital?”
“Yes.” He steps closer, hands shoved into his pockets. “Our marriage is more important than my job.”
I blink at him, trying to make sense of it. “And you did this without talking to me first?”
He hesitates. “Yeah. I did.”
My arms cross on instinct. “So, you just decided?”
