Chapter Thirty-seven
On Mum’s and Ebony’s and Abel’s insistence, a week before Mum had even left the hospital, I sat my exam.
It had been relatively straightforward to get special consideration and do it in Sydney, and while I had no illusions of actually passing, there was no harm done.
And ultimately, I knew it didn’t matter if I passed or if I failed.
My brain was mine; my work was mine; it wasn’t something I was going to lose.
My worst critic was myself, and even I was getting gentler.
But Abel loved me. Ebony loved me. Mum loved me. And I loved them.
When I walked out after the three hours engrossed in brain-heavy medical content, Abel was waiting on the grass, cross-legged, patient and perfect. He stood and walked towards me, lifting me off my feet.
‘I’m so proud of you.’
The following day I got a call from Michael Osworth, apologising for the unpleasant situation around the renal patient.
The records had been retrieved and the claims were unsubstantiated – there was no evidence of my having charted anything inappropriately.
He validated also, that the person who had raised the concerns had been reprimanded appropriately, and that collateral information had suggested unprofessional behaviour on their part in a number of other situations that had led to that person being asked to leave the department.
It was all very cryptic in its delivery but I got the message loud and clear.
Felix had been out of line and he had been called out.
‘Did you have anything to do with this?’ I asked Abel after I got off the phone.
He shrugged. ‘Michael asked me about the course, because others had noticed that there was something odd going on with Felix’s very last-minute and disorganised involvement in it.
I validated that Felix had been a dick and had treated you in an inappropriate and unprofessional way.
Which he had. His behaviour came as no surprise to anyone.
You’re solid and respectable. Felix is sloppy and unscrupulous. ’
I smiled. ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’
‘Because I didn’t fix it for you, Mary. It wasn’t my credit to take.
You fixed it yourself. Your own reputation was more responsible for this than anything I might have said.
You’re an amazing doctor. And even if, or when, you do one day make a mistake, your intentions and honour will be unquestionable. That will always see you through.’
‘Why are you so lovely to me?’
‘Because you’re a wonderful person,’ he said simply. ‘The best kind. I knew that the moment I met you. It was impossible not to fall in love with you.’
‘Was it when I took the last cheese? Was that the moment?’ I teased.
‘It was you in your green scrubs. And your slightly wild eyes, ready to face the world, ready to do your best in that world. And it was that tiny hint of your vulnerability on your sleeve that you didn’t even know was there.
It was absolutely, inconceivably irresistible. I was powerless against it.’