I saw patients for the next two hours—until the clinic closed at seven. Dr. Meadows walked out with me while Liliana stayed behind to finish some paperwork and lock up.
“Good work today,” he said. “I’d never know you hadn’t done a residency yet.”
“I did a rotation in primary care up at Maple Grove Medical,” I said. “Got plenty of practice before deciding to specialize in surgery.”
“You’re a natural with people. Great bedside manner. When Liliana told me you came from the surgical department, I had my doubts. Not the most personable doctors sometimes.”
I thought of Dr. Foley’s attitude around me. He’d dismissed or insulted me in every interaction. “Yeah, I guess there are some egotistical assholes. Dr. Rose is lovely though.”
Dr. Meadows nodded. “Ah, yes, our celebrity doctor. She’s impressive. Is that what brought you here?”
I hesitated. Did I want to share that I’d come here to rectify mistakes that never should have been made?
“She’s part of the reason,” I said. “My brother lives in town, and I…wanted to strengthen my application for residency in Baltimore or Cleveland.”
“Ah, an overachiever.”
“I wouldn’t say that.” After all, I’d underachieved or else I could have landed one of those residencies already.
“You could have easily matched with dozens of other residencies, I’d wager. You’ve got a confidence that many new doctors lack. But that wasn’t good enough for you, was it? You wanted the best.”
“Does that make me seem entitled or spoiled?”
“No, son. It makes you seem passionate. Ambitious. Good traits in a surgeon. But you’ve got a lot of compassion, too. Surgery isn’t the only path you could take.”
“I considered primary care,” I admitted. “But…”
“It’s not the rockstar of the medical world?”
“Something like that. I want to make a real difference.”
“Well, you did that today. Make no mistake. I hope we’ll see you back here tomorrow.”
“Every weekend,” I promised. “I’ve got to keep up with my research hours, but I’ll try to fit in at least one more evening shift during the week.”
“See?” He grinned. “Total overachiever.”
I laughed as I unlocked my car and got behind the wheel. Dr. Meadows’ praise meant a lot to me. Dr. Rose was always so preoccupied with her surgeries and Dr. Foley was so full of himself that I didn’t get a lot of feedback on my work.
I’d observed two surgeries—both basic procedures Foley was handling on his own. Unlike larger hospitals, Elkhorn didn’t have a dedicated observation room, so the only way to watch was to be in the OR with the surgeon’s blessing. So far, the timing hadn’t been right for me to see Dr. Rose in action.
Foley was good, but I was impatiently waiting for a chance to see Rose handle a complex surgery.
It wasn’t going to happen tonight, though, and I was already running late for dinner with Flynn and Bailey and all those brothers.
I drove across town and pulled off the highway onto a bumpy drive that passed by the auto shop. I’d been out here for Thanksgiving—and again to get my car serviced my first weekend in town—so I knew the way.
I parked next to Bailey’s red Camaro, a sleek GTO, and a couple of motorcycles. I recognized the dented tailpipe on Knight’s bike. Shit. I forgot he was going to be here.
Bailey came around the corner of the house, grinning when he saw me. Two dogs trailed him, a German shepherdand a black-and-white border collie, tongues lolling out as they panted.
“Hey!” he said as I lowered a hand to indulge the doggos’ sniffs and licks. “We weren’t sure you were going to make it. Knight said you’ve been working a lot?”
Guilt niggled at me. I was working a lot by choice. The less time I spent around Knight, the better. I didn’t trust my self-restraint. Not when that night in Omaha continued to live rent-free in my head.
The way Knight had made me lose control was incredibly freeing—and incredibly scary. I really couldn’t let that happen again.
“Yeah, I picked up some hours at the free clinic today. Sorry I’m late.”
