Chapter 31
Cameron
Ihave had exactly two days in my career that I’ve been told to wear a suit to work. The first was the day I was promoted to chief surgeon in the pediatric department, shortly after my father passed away. The second is today, the day I am meeting with the board about the allegations against me.
“I think it’s important to remember how many eyes are on us right now,” James says, speaking in my favor against the line of men sitting across the table from us. “We need to be subtle with any of our movements against Mr. Reinhart or we risk the reputation of the entire hospital.”
“Didn’t he already destroy the reputation of both the hospital and our family?” Josh asks and I am really starting to wonder whose side he’s truly on. Not the side of loyalty, that’s for sure.
“If the hospital is failing, it isn’t by my hand, I’ll tell you that much,” I say, despite James advising me to keep my anger to myself because it will only further hurt my case.
“Are you trying to bury yourself with the hatchet, brother? Because you’re doing a bang up job,” Josh jabs and with that, my filter is gone.
“You know some of us here care about people, not just numbers. In fact, my intentions were never fueled by money, other than the money needed to keep the clinic running for the care of the underprivileged people that walk through our doors. They rely on it.”
A man on the other side of the table who looks more like a pufferfish than a person takes in a heavy breath and speaks up. “I think you should know then, Mr. Reinhart, that with the charges you have against you and the lack of funds, the clinic will most likely be closing indefinitely."
“Do you have any idea how many people that’s going to hurt?” I snap while ignoring every cue James is throwing my way. I don’t really give a shit right now. These guys came in here siding with Josh and their minds were already made up. I’m riding on rage and Hail Marys at this point.
“You should have thought about that before you paid off one of your patient’s mother’s to be your temporary wife,” Josh says and I shove to my seat.
“Listen!” I snap.
“Sit down Mr. Reinhart,” the Puffer Fish’s voice booms. “You need to watch what you say. I don’t think you’ve fully processed just how much hot water you are in.”
“And I don’t think you’ve processed how detrimental the clinic and our other services are to the public. Without us, they have nowhere to go.”
“They’ll figure it out. And right now, you need to figure out how to save your own butt because you are two feet away from being removed from the staff entirely.”
“You can’t do that,” I argue. “This is my father’s hospital. It belongs to our family. It can’t be run without the name Reinhart.”
“Well, lucky for us you’re not the only Reinhart on staff…” he says and I don’t even look at Josh or the smirk I know he has plastered on his face.
“There’s going to be a Christmas play!” Noah’s voice fills the hallway as I approach the door and if I am being honest, the sound of it is music to my ears. It’s a nice distraction from the conversation I just had upstairs.
“We will see,” Riley’s soft voice comes from the room as well and my heart does a somersault in my chest. “We need to focus on getting you better right now.”
“But I am better! I have new lungs.”
“Knock knock,” I wrap my knuckles on the frame of the door before walking inside.
“Cameron!” Noah lights up.
“Hey buddy. You sure are bright eyed and bushy tailed for someone who just had a major operation.”
“I got new lungs!” he says. “I got my wish. Half of it so far.”
“So I heard,” I smile, taking a look at his chart.
“So do I get to be in the play?” he asks.
I look at him then over at Riley. “What play are we talking about?”
“Just Breathe does a Christmas play every year,” Riley explains and for the first time since I walked in the room I look at her. She looks tired and beautiful.
“And I’m going to be in it,” Noah says matter of factually.
“And I said we will see. Like Cameron says, you just had a pretty big operation.”
“He’s my doctor though. I just need a doctor’s note saying I’m better enough. Cameron, I’m better enough, right?”
I chuckle at his enthusiasm, thankful for his energy.
“I think we better listen to your mom,” I tell him.
“But moms don’t overrule doctors,” Noah whines as I check his vitals, listening to his lungs.
“Actually, kiddo, I think moms just might overrule everything.”
“Awe man,” he says with an over dramatic sigh. A sigh that doesn’t make him cough or wheeze. A sigh that sounds beautiful under my stethoscope compared to what it once does. But that’s not to say he doesn’t have a long road ahead of him.
“We just want you to get better,” Riley says.
“But I am better! I’m getting better every day.”
“I’ll tell you what,” I say, reaching in my pocket and pulling out a chocolate pudding I stashed on the way to his room. “Let’s see how you’re doing in a few weeks and maybe we can talk about it again.”
“Okay!” Noah chirps, his attention shifting to the pudding instead of the play.
“Merry Christmas!” Another knock comes to the door and one of the nurses walks in with a small, tabletop Christmas tree.
“Oh goodness,” Riley says and it’s the first time I’ve seen her smile in a very long time. “What’s this?”
“Special delivery,” the nurse says. “We’re putting one in every room where people are staying for more than a couple nights.”
Riley’s smile carries over to me and I explain. “A tradition my dad always insisted on. And they don’t break the bank because they’re donated from one of the tree farms upstate.”
“Well, I love it,” she says. “But you know what it needs?”
“Ornaments!” Noah exclaims and Riley laughs.
“Yes. And maybe a little string of twinkly lights.”
“Yes!” he says, setting his empty pudding cup aside. “Oh! Mommy you could bring the ornaments from the festival. The ones we made!”
Riley and I both look at each other. Her cheeks flush and her eyes dart away. “That would be good. But we can also bring some from the tree at home. Your favorite ones.”
“I want those ones,” Noah answers decidedly. “They’re our family ornaments, remember?”
“Yeah…” Riley trails off and I shift on my feet, checking the chart again even though nothing has changed.
“Because that’s how I feel about us,” he goes on. “Even if you aren’t my real dad, Cameron. You kind of are, you know?”
A small gasp escapes Riley’s throat. I’m fighting back something, though I don’t know what. All I know is my chest is tight, there’s a lump burning a hole in my throat and making it hard to breathe and my eyes are hot.
I can also feel Riley looking at me. Looking for a response. Waiting for me to say something. But I can’t. I have no idea what to say because I have no idea what to feel. My name is paged over the intercom, both saving me and making me look like a coward. Either way, I don't know what to do.
So I walk out.