The Beat of her Heart (Phoenix Ridge Medical #4)

1. Giselle

GISELLE

D r. Giselle Carlisle stood outside Phoenix Ridge General Hospital, staring up at the name etched into the glass door. It was nowhere near as large as Oscar Hoppins back in Boston.

There weren’t any oversized double doors or frosted film text etched on the walls. Everything was quieter here.

Giselle sighed.

This was exactly what she needed.

The doors slid open and she walked in. She paused to glance around. For a hospital that appeared pretty quaint on the outside, it boasted a rather expansive hallway with bright lights gleaming off of every surface .

A handful of white-coated doctors hurried past her, all talking to each other. No high-end politicians were strutting around the waiting areas, and no one with a little blog was clamoring to interview a world-renowned doctor.

Her father would’ve hated it.

Good thing he’s not here.

Giselle didn’t care enough to chuckle. She moved quickly through the corridors, keeping her eyes fixed in front of her. She had no interest in acknowledging passing smiles.

She slowed down.

There hadn’t been a single “Good morning, Dr. Nova” as she made her way down the hallway. No one was smiling at her simply because they wanted to be in her father’s good graces.

No one even seemed to recognize her at all.

As strange as it sounded, it felt just perfect. For the first time since she’d set foot in Phoenix Ridge, Giselle flashed a real smile.

After years of living as Dr. Nova’s daughter, she could finally be just Dr. Giselle Carlisle. Everything she’d worked for would be seen as her own success instead of something that had been handed to her because she was a famous surgeon’s daughter.

“Good morning,” some smiley-faced nurse said as she walked past her.

Giselle ignored the voice, her shoes tapping steadily on the tile as she continued walking. There was nothing anyone could say that she wanted to hear. She hadn’t come here to make friends, and she wasn’t going to get sucked into meaningless conversations.

Not again. Not after what had happened last time.

“Your office will be all the way down the hall. The last door to your right,” Dr. Josephine Mars had told her on the phone when they spoke earlier.

She paused for a second, her hand resting on the doorknob. The plaque on the door read “ DR. GISELLE NOVA .”

She frowned.She had wanted the anonymity of Carlisle, not the renowned surgical name of Nova.

Her mind wandered back to Oscar Hoppins, to everything she’d left behind in Boston. That chapter was closed.

Giselle twisted the handle and stepped inside.

Everything was plain, just like she’d requested. The office had beige walls and a single, narrow window. A sleek, dark wood desk sat against the wall opposite the door.

Giselle’s eyes drifted to the documents stacked neatly on the desk next to the computer.

She’d wanted simplicity, and now she had it. But it wasn’t right. The space felt too impersonal, almost suffocating in its emptiness. She’d thought she’d prefer a more neutral tone—something that would detach her from the memories of her old office at Oscar Hoppins.

Her last office had been filled with warm, rose-colored tones, with bookshelves and framed degrees covering the walls. She’d hated it by the end. It wasn’t hers, only a reflection of her parents’ expectations.

Now, staring at the dull beige, she wondered if she’d gone too far. These walls offered no comfort.

Giselle pictured herself looking out at the bustling city, the steel and glass shimmering under the sun. She brushed her fingers over the desk’s surface, not thinking, just moving.

Her eyes drifted to the small window. It overlooked the hospital’s courtyard, where a few trees lined the path that led to the patient garden. She’d asked for change, and that’s exactly what this was.

The door clicked open behind her.

“You settling in, Dr. Nova?” a voice asked from the doorway.

Giselle frowned. Nova .

She turned and saw a young woman, probably in her mid-thirties, standing there with a tablet. She had scrubs on, her ID badge clipped casually to the front pocket identifying her as Dr. M. Summers.

“It’s Dr. Carlisle,” Giselle said.

The doctor glanced at the door, then stepped inside.

“My apologies.”

Giselle nodded. The doctor cleared her throat uncomfortably as she stood in front of Giselle.

“Well, great. If you need anything, I’m down the hall. I’m Madeline Summers, by the way.”

She extended a hand, but Giselle didn’t take it immediately. When she did reach out, it was a brief handshake.

“I’ll let you get back to it, then,” she said, then turned and left.

The door closed and the silence returned. Giselle didn’t miss the awkwardness. She’d expected it, almost welcomed it.

Small talk never interested her, and she wasn’t planning on changing that now. She moved toward the desk again, dragging her finger along the edges, her thoughts spinning.

Giselle sat down, the chair creaking slightly under her weight. She leaned back and stared at the blank wall in front of her.

She’d even changed her name to clarify the start of her new life, but nothing about this place, this room, made her feel any different.

Her phone buzzed. She glanced at it and saw a text from her mom, but didn’t open it. Instead, she tapped on it and hit delete.

Nothing she’d say would be enough to bring back Nicole. Giselle’s chest tightened. She shut her eyes and focused on the silence.

The hallway outside remained quiet, with only the occasional muffled conversation echoing faintly through the walls. There were no reminders of her past here, just an empty room and a new job.

Giselle closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them again.

This was her fresh start.

There was another knock on the door.

“Come in,” she said.

Dr. Josephine Mars walked inside, clutching a file in her hand.

She was petite and immaculately dressed in a pencil skirt, blouse and heels.

She was Head of the Hospital and her aura was a lot more imposing than her size would suggest. She flashed a wide smile at Giselle and walked over, her arms outstretched.

“Giselle.” Josephine wrapped her arms around her.

Giselle hugged her, smiling right back. Dr. Josephine Mars had been a friend of her father’s for a long time. Even after being transferred to Phoenix Ridge, she’d stayed in contact with their family.

Giselle never found it difficult to talk to her. Perhaps it was the fact that for someone who looked so much like her mom, with her blue eyes and light colored hair, she was a romantic at heart, unlike Giselle’s mom, who was a doctor on every count.

“It’s been a while,” she said.

Dr. Mars dropped the file on the desk and leaned against it. Giselle didn’t offer any more than that.

“A while?” Josephine chuckled. “I haven’t seen you in…what, five years?”

“It’s been three years,” she said. “How’s Ember?”

Josephine’s smile widened. She’d been married to Ember for years now, and they had a beautiful daughter named Natalie.

“Ember is great, so is Natalie- they grow up so fast- Natalie that is, not Ember,” Josephine laughed.

She motioned to the seat behind her, and they both sat down.

“So.” Giselle pointed to the file on the desk. “Work.”

“I’ve been looking over a case,” Josephine said, handing it to her. “I would value your opinion on it.”

Giselle opened the file and glanced over the details. “I’ll review it in a minute,” she said, snapping it shut.

She hadn’t even unpacked at her new home yet. Work was an escape from her harsh reality, and she wanted to take a moment to acclimatize to the office before getting on cases.

“I just need some time to settle in,” Giselle said. “I should be ready for work in an hour or two.”

“That soon?” Josephine asked. “You should get some rest before you jump into the chaos here. Take a day. Then I’ll introduce you to some of the staff you’ll work with.” Her eyes were sharp, assessing. “You’ll fit in well here.”

“I didn’t come here to fit in,” Giselle said.

Josephine’s lips curved into the faintest hint of a smile. “I didn’t think you did.”

Giselle shifted her weight and crossed her arms.

“Well, I hope you came with some party clothes,” Josephine said. “Ember’s birthday party is coming up, and we’re having a small gathering. You should come.”

She didn’t do gatherings, either.

Josephine raised an eyebrow before Giselle could say a word. “Trying to say no? I believe we both know that’s not an option. ”

“I’ve missed Natalie,” Giselle said. “I can’t wait to see her again. Of course I’ll be here.”

There was a pause, the kind that stretched too long, but neither of them bothered to fill it. Giselle was fine with silence. Silence meant no expectations and no questions she didn’t want to answer.

“How’s your father?” Josephine asked.

“You mean Dr. Nova?” Giselle replied.

“I mean both of your parents, Giselle.”

“They’re alive.”

Her voice was sharper than she’d intended. Josephine cocked her head to the side, taken aback by Giselle’s response.

Giselle didn’t flinch. She didn’t want to discuss them—not with Josephine, not with anyone.

“Want to talk about what’s going on?”

Giselle frowned. Josephine was staring directly into her eyes. Maybe she felt she’d get answers in there. She stared right back.

“Nothing is going on,” Giselle said.

“Come on.” She placed her arms on the table. “Giselle Carlisle ? Really?”

“I’m dropping my parents’ last name. I want to be my own woman,” Giselle stated firmly .

Dr. Mars chuckled. “Fair enough. I know the pressures of a famous surname better than any.” She folded her arms across her chest. “Phoenix Ridge is a bit of a family, you know.”

“I’m not here for family.”

“No friends either?” she asked.

“No attachments,” Giselle said flatly.

Josephine tilted her head, as if she was trying to figure Giselle out. Giselle wouldn’t budge. Josephine had no idea what she’d been through, and Giselle wanted to keep it that way.

“You’ll find it hard to avoid people here,” Josephine said. “The staff is close-knit.”

“I’m here to work. That’s it.”

Josephine’s eyes narrowed.

“You know, I spoke to your parents recently,” she said casually, but Giselle caught the shift in her tone. “They mentioned you hadn’t visited in a while.”

Giselle’s chest tightened, but she forced her face to stay neutral. She shrugged.

Josephine nodded slowly, watching Giselle for a reaction.

Giselle could still hear the last argument she’d had with her parents, the way they’d looked at her ex like she was beneath them.

Giselle frowned.

She hadn’t stood up for Nicole then, and it had cost her everything.

Josephine didn’t push it. She just let the silence settle for a moment, then smiled again. “Phoenix Ridge is different from other hospitals.”

Why wouldn’t she take a hint? No matter how much she told Giselle about this hospital, she had no interest in treating her coworkers like family. The last thing Giselle wanted was to get caught in a web of relationships doomed to end badly.

Giselle shrugged. Her fingers brushed against the edge of the desk.

“That’s good to know.”

“Giselle—”

“I’m here to work,” Giselle said, cutting her off.

Josephine chuckled as she rose to her feet.Her eyes softened. “You know, everyone who comes here says that at first. You’ll find it hard to avoid us.”

“I’ll manage.”

Josephine’s gaze flicked to the file on the desk. “You’ll be working closely with Dr. Adrienne Wolfe—Addie, as everyone calls her. She’s one of the best pediatric surgeons we’ve got.”

Giselle straightened. “I don’t need a partner.”

“You might feel differently after meeting her,” Josephine said. “Addie’s...special.”

“I’m sure she is,” Giselle said flatly. “But I can assure you, I don’t need a babysitter.”

Josephine smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. She nodded, her gaze still fixed on Giselle.

“You know, Giselle, it’s okay to let people in. You don’t have to do everything by yourself.”

“I’m not interested in using this place as therapy.” Giselle pressed her lips together, trying to calm her rising irritation.

“I wasn’t suggesting that,” she replied. “But it doesn’t hurt to have someone in your corner.”

“I’m fine,” Giselle said.

Josephine smiled again, but her gaze stayed on Giselle’s face, watching her too closely. Giselle hated this feeling—the sense that someone could see right through her .

After a beat of silence, Giselle stood up, heading for the coffee machine.

“Well, you’ll figure it out. You’re a brilliant surgeon, Giselle. But brilliance doesn’t have to be lonely,” Josephine pointed out.

Giselle didn’t respond. She didn’t need to explain—not to her, not to anyone. She wasn’t here for a pep talk.

“I’ll let you settle in,” Josephine walked to the door. “We’ll catch up later.” She paused by the doorway, looking at Giselle once more. “I’m glad you’re here. We all are.”

Giselle forced a tight smile. “Thanks.”

Josephine was halfway out the door when Giselle called, “Dr. Mars?”

Josephine turned. “Yes?”

“The plaque at the door,” Giselle said. “It needs to change. I’m Giselle Carlisle now.”

“I’ll see what I can do.” Josephine smiled. “How much time do you need to get acclimated before I introduce you to the staff?”

“Time?” Giselle scoffed. “I’m good to go.”