I lower myself into the chair across from his desk, keeping my posture straight but not stiff.Calm, or at least trying to look it.“Dr.Harrison,” he says, a warning all on its own.
“Sir?”
He doesn’t answer right away.Just steps to his monitor, swivels it toward me, and taps the screen.“Have you seen this article?”
I lean forward, shaking my head, embarrassed he saw it.“It’s not true.None of it.I don’t even know where they got this from.”
Dr.Thomas stands slowly, gripping the back of his chair with tight knuckles.“Are nurses witnessing anything?Inappropriate conduct, anything that could be misinterpreted?”
“God, no,” I say quickly.“I mean… we disagreed about a case.That’s all.She was pushing a sedative support, and I didn’t think it was the right move.That’s it.There was no misconduct.Just a professional disagreement.”
“She can be… difficult to reason with,” he mutters.
His tone is a mixture of frustration and affection.A father talking about his daughter, not a director about a resident.I tread carefully, but I am relieved that there’s no investigation.
“Stubborn,” I say carefully.“But smart.I respect where she’s coming from.I do.But I didn’t agree with her decision, and I said so.”
Dr.Thomas finally pulls out the chair behind his desk and sinks into it.He bends forward, elbows on the wood, hands clasped, and fixes me with a hard stare.“Let me be clear.No one touches her in this hospital.She’s here for her residency, and I expect her to stay focused.”
I nod, understanding he wants his daughter to succeed.“Of course, sir.And for what it’s worth, you don’t need to warn me.I wouldn’t go there.But I’m happy to keep an eye out.You may need to talk to people like Mason…”
He lets out a slow breath and tilts back in his chair, rubbing the side of his jaw like the weight of all this has been building.“I’ll have a chat with Mason and remind everyone of the company policy.”
The image of Mason’s hand settled on her lower back and the way she smiled at him comes to mind.So I agree with him, but I’d say his daughter is a distraction too.
I lean forward slightly, forearms resting on my knees.“I get it.Honestly, I don’t date anyone from work.Never have.This job is my entire life.”
His expression softens a touch.“That’s exactly why I brought you in.I was shocked when I read that article.But you know how the gossip is here.”
I exhale, relieved, and shake my head as I sink back a little in the chair.“They just want to stir up drama.Get clicks.Doesn’t matter what’s true.”
“Well,” he says, sitting up straighter, “not on my watch.Not anymore.”
Feeling relaxed compared to when I first come into the office, I meet his determined gaze.“I’ll look out for her.For you.Let you know if I hear anything.”
He nods once, grateful.“That’d be great.Thank you, Harrison.”
“My pleasure.”
He inclines back in his chair, crossing his arms loosely across his chest.“While I have you, I wanted to let you know we’re ahead of schedule.The demolition is finished, and construction starts next week.”
“That’s good,” I say with a nod, the pivot to something more productive another welcome relief.“Are there any issues with the King family’s funding requirements?”
“No, they’ve been pretty hands-on with their donations,” he says, adjusting the cuff of his sleeve.
“Dusty’s been asking about when he can see the new playroom.”
I’ve grown pretty close to him and his family over the last year.There’s just something about that kid that I see myself in.
My pager goes off, and I glance down.It’s a pediatric emergency.“Is that all, sir?”
He gives a final nod.“Yes.You’re good to go.”
I rise quickly, chair legs scraping lightly against the floor.“Thank you.”
Then I’m out the door, walking fast, my mind already calculating the quickest route to the ER.
After dealing with the emergency, I’m rounding the corner down the hall and nearly collide with Regan.
