“Apparently, they started scheduling appointments last week for these services, and we already have several patients scheduled for this week.”
My eyes widen.
“This week?” Allison asks.
“Yes. The podiatry services have been in the works for a while, while the other two services are fairly new in discussion. However, when they started calling patients who are on a waitlist at other clinics, they found it fairly easy to start filling a schedule.”
“Wow, that’s great. I thought it would take longer to get those started,” Allison adds.
“Honestly, me too, but once the ball started rolling that way, it just all fell into place. The physicians had clinic availability, so working out an updated schedule and whatnot seemed painless.” She pulls out two sheets of paper and hands one to each of us.
“This is the schedule for the rest of the month. It’s also been updated in the system, so you can check there when needed. But I wanted to show you the physicians who are coming to us until Doc comes back. Mondays and Wednesdays will be Dr. Rhenna Barnland, Tuesdays and Fridays will be Dr. Lance Williams, and Thursday and Saturday morning will be Dr. Beverly Clawton.”
A swishing fills my ears as I register her words. I scan the paper, searching for a name and praying I misheard somehow.
But there it is.
Dr. Lance Williams.
And I’ll be his nurse on Tuesdays and Fridays directly.
“Oaklee? Is something wrong?”
I glance up, my eyes wide. “What?”
“You just gasped.”
“Oh,” I reply with an awkward chuckle, clearing my throat. I’m suddenly parched, so I take a quick drink of my iced coffee. “Uhhh…”
“Dr. Williams is her ex,” Allison announces, clearly picking up on my lack of ability to speak all of a sudden.
“Oh, no. I didn’t realize that,” Fiona says, shuffling a few papers. “I can ask Dina if we can do some finagling.”
“No,” I blurt out. Even though I’d rather have a root canal with no numbing medicine, I won’t ask for my new bosses to switch things around. I refuse to be a high-maintenance employee, even though I really want to. If they were to ask me to be the RN for specialty services, then great, but I refuse to ask for a change.
Even if I really, really want to.
“It’s fine,” I state with an awkward chuckle. “Really. We parted on decent terms. I can handle working with him for a few hours.”
“Well, it would be more than a few hours,” Fiona says. “I mean, it’s two days a week.”
“I don’t mind switching,” Allison interjects, trying to help.
“I appreciate that, really, but it’s fine. I know Allison is the better fit for specialty services. She’s filled in for some of them at other clinics, so she knows the routine,” I state.
Fiona nods. “That is true, which is why we chose her over you. She’s already cross-trained in their procedures.”
“I’ll be fine, promise,” I say, trying to sound lighter than I feel.
“All right, but if there’s any issues, I want you to tell me ASAP. I mean it.”
I nod a few times and take another drink. “Will do, Fiona.”
Just then, the door opens and Dina walks in. “Morning, all,” she says breezily as she passes through the front office and heads for the corner desk she uses when she works from this office.
“Hi, Dina,” Allison says.
“Hi,” I add, feeling a bit numb still.
