Chapter 15 #4
Maggie picked up her phone and pulled up her email. Scrolled back six months to a message she’d archived but never deleted.
From: Jennifer Rodriguez, Medical Recruiter, Cedar-Sinai Medical Center Subject: Following Up - Attending Position
Dr. Laurel,
I wanted to reach out one more time regarding the attending physician position we discussed earlier this year. We remain very interested in bringing you back to Cedar-Sinai. Your expertise in internal medicine and your track record speak for themselves.
I understand you had concerns about returning, given past circumstances. I want to assure you that the administration has moved on from that situation entirely. Your previous investigation was closed with full clearance, and we see no reason that should impact a potential return.
If you’re interested, the position remains open. We’d be happy to discuss terms, schedule, and any other considerations that would make this the right fit for you.
Please let me know if you’d like to set up a conversation.
Best regards, Jennifer Rodriguez
Maggie stared at the email for a long time.
Then she hit reply.
Jennifer,
Is the position still available?
Dr. Maggie Laurel
She hit send before she could second-guess herself.
The response came fifteen minutes later.
Dr. Laurel,
Yes! Absolutely. Are you considering a move? I’d love to set up a call. When works for you?
Jennifer
Maggie’s hands shook as she typed.
Tomorrow morning? 8 AM?
Perfect. I’ll send a calendar invite.
Maggie set the phone down and stared at it like it might explode.
She’d just taken the first step toward leaving Oakridge.
Toward leaving everything she’d rebuilt over five years.
Toward choosing Evie over safety.
The bedroom door was still closed. Evie was in there, probably crying herself to sleep, believing they were trapped in this impossible situation for four more months.
Maggie stood, turned off the kitchen light, and walked down the hallway.
She paused outside the bedroom door, hand on the knob.
Inside, she could hear Evie crying—quiet, muffled sobs she was trying to hide even now.
Maggie had two choices.
She could give Evie space. Let her process alone. Manage from a distance the way she’d always done.
Or she could choose presence over control.
She opened the door.
Evie was curled on her side, back to the door, shoulders shaking. She didn’t turn around when Maggie entered.
Maggie climbed into bed behind her, wrapping around her body, pulling her close.
Evie turned in her arms, burying her face against Maggie’s neck. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said all that. I’m just—”
“You were honest,” Maggie interrupted. “And you were right. This is unsustainable.”
“But we agreed—”
“I know what we agreed. But that was before I saw how much this is costing you. Costing us both.” Maggie stroked her hair. “So we’re going to figure something else out.”
“Like what?” Evie asked.
“I don’t know yet,” Maggie admitted. “But I promise you—we’re not doing this for four more months. I won’t let us break because I was too afraid to change the plan.”
Evie pulled back to look at her. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying trust me,” Maggie said. “Can you do that?”
Evie studied her face in the dim light from the hallway. “You have an idea.”
“Maybe,” Maggie said carefully. “But I need to work through some things first. Before I say anything definite.”
“Maggie—”
“Trust me,” Maggie repeated. “Please.”
Evie nodded slowly. “Okay.”
They lay there together, Evie’s breathing gradually evening out, tears slowing. Maggie held her and stared at the ceiling, mind racing with possibilities and fears in equal measure.
She had a phone call tomorrow morning.
And if it went the way she thought it would, she was about to upend her entire life.
For the second time.
For love.
Maggie woke at 5 AM, careful not to disturb Evie.
She made coffee in the dark kitchen, then took her laptop to the living room. The calendar invite from Jennifer Rodriguez sat in her inbox like a small bomb waiting to detonate.
Phone Interview - Cedar-Sinai Attending Position 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM
Maggie opened a new document and started typing.
Reasons to Stay at Oakridge:
Reputation rebuilt over years
Respect of colleagues
Excellent department
Familiar systems
Mentorship relationships established
Proven track record
She stared at the list, then deleted it.
Started over.
Reasons to Leave:
Evie
Evie
Evie
Evie
Evie
She closed the laptop.
The truth was that simple and that complicated.
At 7:45 AM, Evie emerged from the bedroom, already in her scrubs.
“You’re up early,” she said, eyeing the coffee pot.
“Couldn’t sleep,” Maggie admitted.
Evie poured herself coffee, leaning against the counter. “You okay?”
“Ask me tonight,” Maggie said.
“Cryptic.”
“I know. I’m sorry.” Maggie stood, crossing to her. “Just... trust me a little longer?”
Evie studied her face. “You’re planning something.”
“Maybe.”
“Something big.”
“Potentially.”
“Are you going to tell me what it is?”
“When I know if it’s possible,” Maggie said. “I don’t want to promise something I can’t deliver. Just give me some time, okay?”
Evie set down her coffee and took both of Maggie’s hands. “Whatever you’re thinking—don’t do anything reckless. Don’t sacrifice yourself for me.”
“What if it’s not sacrifice?” Maggie asked. “What if it’s choosing?”
“Maggie—”
“Four more months is too long,” Maggie said firmly. “You were right last night. This is breaking us. And I won’t let that happen.”
Evie’s eyes filled. “I love you. And you look so cute in the morning.”
“I love you too,” Maggie said. “Now go to work, Missy. I have a meeting.”
“At eight in the morning?”
“Phone call,” Maggie corrected. “I’ll tell you about it tonight.”
Evie kissed her—long and deep and desperate—then pulled away.
“Tonight,” she said.
“Tonight,” Maggie promised.
After Evie left, Maggie sat on the couch with her phone, watching the minutes tick toward 8 AM.
At exactly eight o’clock, her phone rang.
She answered on the second ring.
“Doctor Laurel, this is Jennifer Rodriguez. Thank you so much for making time this morning.”
“Of course,” Maggie said, surprised by how steady her voice sounded.
“I have to say, I was thrilled to get your email. We’ve been hoping you’d reconsider. Can I ask what changed?”
Maggie looked around her apartment—Evie’s jacket on the chair, her coffee mug in the sink, her presence woven into every corner.
“Life circumstances,” Maggie said. “I’m ready for a change.”
They talked for forty-five minutes.
About the position—attending physician, internal medicine, similar patient load to what she had at Oakridge but with more teaching responsibilities.
About the schedule—flexible, with options for research time if she was interested.
About the past—Jennifer was direct: “The administration is fully aware of your previous situation and the outcome of that investigation. It’s closed. Done. If you return, you return with a clean slate.”
About the future—when could she start? What would her priorities be? What kind of support would she need?
And about the salary.
Maggie nearly choked when Jennifer named the figure.
“That’s... significantly more than Oakridge,” she managed.
“You’re worth it,” Jennifer said simply. “And we want you. So. What do you think?”
Maggie closed her eyes.
Saw Evie’s face last night—defeated, exhausted, crying.
Saw Sarah’s journal—choose living.
Saw the next four months of hiding, of pretending, of slowly breaking under the weight of impossible.
“I think,” Maggie said slowly, “I’m very interested. But I need to know—when would you need me to start?”
“How soon can you be available?”
“I’d need to give notice. Two weeks minimum, probably closer to four to properly transition my patients.”
“So early January?”
“January sixth,” Maggie said. The date appeared in her mind fully formed, certain.
“That works perfectly,” Jennifer said. “Let me draw up an offer letter and send it over today. Take a look, let me know if you have questions, and if it looks good we’ll get the official process started.”
“Thank you,” Maggie said.
“No, thank you. Welcome back to Cedar-Sinai, Doctor Laurel.”
They hung up.
Maggie sat on the couch for a long time, phone in her lap, heart pounding.
She’d just agreed to leave Oakridge.
She’d just agreed to start over.
Again.
For Evie.
For them.
For living instead of surviving.
The offer letter arrived at 2 PM.
Maggie read it three times, checking every detail, looking for catches or red flags or reasons to back out.
There were none.
It was a good offer. Better than good. Fair compensation, excellent benefits, research opportunities, teaching responsibilities that excited rather than drained her.
And most importantly—no restriction. No ethics committee oversight. No mandated distance from the person she loved.
Just medicine.
And freedom.
At 4 PM, she signed the letter and sent it back.
At 4:15, her phone rang. Jennifer Rodriguez, confirming receipt.
“Welcome aboard,” Jennifer said. “Officially. HR will be in touch about onboarding. Your start date is confirmed for January sixth. Congratulations, Doctor Laurel.”
Maggie thanked her and hung up.
Then she called Dr. Kim.
“Maggie,” Kim answered. “This is a surprise. We’re not scheduled until next week.”
“I know. I’m sorry. But I need to talk to someone before I do this.”
“Do what?”
“I’m leaving Oakridge,” Maggie said, and saying it out loud made it real in a way it hadn’t been before. “I accepted a position at Cedar-Sinai. I start January sixth.”
Silence on the other end.
“Say something,” Maggie said.
“I’m processing,” Kim replied. “This is... significant.”
“I know.”
“Why?”
“Because Evie and I can’t make it four more months,” Maggie said. “Because I saw her break last night and I realized—I can rebuild a career anywhere. But I can’t rebuild her if I let this destroy us.”
“So you’re choosing her over Oakridge.”