His Confession (Empire State of Love #4)

Chapter 1

Chapter One

Melissa

The loud ring of the phone pulls me from my thoughts. I place the glass of wine down on my new coffee table and answer it immediately when I see it’s a number I don’t recognize.

“Hello? This is Melissa,” I answer coolly.

“Melissa,” a soft, feminine voice replies. “It’s Stephanie at Eastbridge Medical Center. How are you doing this evening?”

I sit up tall, knowing this is the call I’ve been waiting for. “I’m doing great, Melissa. How are you?”

“If I’m being honest … I’m tired. Ready to go home,” she says in a hushed tone like she’s trading a secret.

I chuckle into the phone. This is why I liked her when she interviewed me the other day. She’s very real. Honesty is refreshing after the last couple of years I’ve had.

“I can imagine. It’s late. I’m sure you’ve had a long day.”

“It’s been intense—I won’t lie. But that’s obviously not why I’m calling.”

She pauses, and the nerves in my body are on high alert as I wait for her to continue. I begin to crack my knuckles, which I do when I need to distract myself from my own emotions. This is what I’ve worked toward relentlessly for two years now.

I thought it would take me four years to get here, but I’ve put in the blood, sweat, and tears to do it quickly.

“Why I actually called is because I’ve given it some thought. The position was down to you and another very experienced oncology nurse who wanted to move from LA to New York City.”

That’s it. There’s no way I got the job. Not against an experienced oncology nurse. I begin to formulate my response in my head, thanking her for taking the time to interview me.

Then she continues, “On paper, the other candidate would get the job with her years of experience. But there’s something you have that she doesn’t.”

I hold my breath.

“You excelled as an ER nurse. You have references that praise how you stay present. You listen. You stay calm.”

My throat tightens, but I don’t interrupt.

“That matters more on this unit than perfect oncology credentials. We can teach protocols. We can’t teach steadiness.”

A moment of silence stretches between us.

“We’d love to have you join our oncology team, if you are still interested.”

Emotions flutter to the surface as the words wash over me. This is it. This is what it was all for. I almost don’t believe I heard the words correctly. Because how can this be possible?

In an effort to remain professional, I take a long, deep breath as tears threaten to spill over my eyelids.

“I am absolutely still interested. It would be an honor to work in this department. Thank you for the opportunity.”

“I am very excited to bring you on board. I know you will fit right in with our team. Trudy can’t stop singing your praises.”

I bite on my nail as a laugh escapes. “Trudy has been such a wonderful friend. She’s supported me through this entire process.”

“Trudy is one of a kind. If she speaks highly of someone, I listen.”

I place my hand over my heart as I think of how grateful I am that our paths crossed in this life. She made those nights in the hospital bearable.

“I am excited to start. Again, thank you for the opportunity.”

“Of course. I look forward to working with you.” She pauses. “We are looking to have you transition from trauma to oncology within the next week. Trauma has your replacement ready and eager. You will need to set up a time to meet with HR to get all the details worked out.”

“Absolutely. I will put in an email to them tonight.”

“Perfect. Once that’s complete, we can talk about your first day and get you into our schedule. I’ll talk to you soon, Melissa.”

“Thanks, Stephanie. I look forward to talking soon.”

I hang up the phone and realize my hands are trembling. I look up and out the window of my small New York City apartment at all of the buildings surrounding me. I still cannot believe this is my life. It’s nothing like what I pictured for myself.

It was only two years ago that I thought my life was over. That I would never find meaning again. The night I lost him, it tore my heart open so wide that I wasn’t sure it was possible to put it back together.

Bryce was my best friend. He was my everything. We had met in college and were inseparable from our first night. The choice to marry him young at twenty-two, right out of college, was the easiest decision I had ever made.

I was ready for my happily ever after. A peaceful life on the outskirts of the city. Small home with a nice backyard for our kids to run around in. We talked about it on our honeymoon. That we might as well start trying immediately.

But that night, something happened. Instead of making love and trying to grow our family, we left the hotel bar while he rubbed his neck in extreme pain. Then he had night sweats that evening. He was wiped out the rest of the trip, barely able to do any of the excursions we had planned.

I noticed it when he started touching his throat that night—the small lump. The diagnosis happened quickly after we got back. Hodgkin lymphoma.

What was supposed to be a magical time as newlyweds building a life together turned into doctor appointments, chemo, nights of me crying myself to sleep, wondering if my worst nightmare was going to become a reality.

I shake my head and stand up, forcing the memory back where it belongs.

This is a good thing. Going back to the oncology department that fought relentlessly for Bryce’s life feels like a step forward.

This time, I’ll be on the other side—helping people through the most difficult battle they’ll ever face.

There’s still a small part of me that wonders if this is stupid. Returning to a place that holds so much history isn’t easy. But I’m not taking this job because I’m broken. I’m taking it because I survived—and because I’m ready.

I pick up the phone and call my best friend, Kayla. We met at the University of Cincinnati in college and have been best friends ever since. I don’t know what I would do without her.

When we knew Bryce only had days left, she flew out to the city to be by my side and stayed for weeks, telling her job to kiss her ass when they said she needed to come back or risk being fired.

She said those words out loud. I remember because it was the first time I laughed since losing Bryce.

I couldn’t believe she’d said it. She hung up and couldn’t understand why I was laughing so hard that I started crying.

I don’t know how long we laughed together like that, but it gave me hope. Now she’s a writer and living with me here in the city. It’s been everything I needed to get through the last couple of years.

Hope that there could be moments in this cruel life that brought happiness.

“I’ve been gone for three days. Do you miss me already?” her loud, familiar voice bellows through the phone.

“I missed you on day one, and you know it.”

She giggles.

“But that’s not why I’m calling.”

“Oh no. What happened? Another hard day at work?” her edgy tone softens.

She’s used to me coming home, crying to her about losing another patient.

It was harder in the beginning. I took each loss like a punch to the gut.

I’m not saying it’s easy, but you do become accustomed to it.

Death is a part of life in my world now.

It doesn’t stop hurting, but it doesn’t stop me either.

“I got a call back from Stephanie, the nursing manager I interviewed with last week.”

She gasps. “Bitch, why didn’t you lead with that? Oh my God! What did she say?”

I purse my lips, trying not to smile so big, but it’s impossible not to. “She offered me the job.”

“Ahhh.” Her scream hits my ear so loudly that I have to pull the phone a couple of inches away. “That’s so amazing. I knew it! I knew you were going to get it. I felt it in my bones.”

I chuckle. “You never once told me you knew I was going to get it.”

“Well, I didn’t want to jinx it, silly, but I knew! Either way, I’m so proud of you. Seriously, Mel, you busted your ass to get here. And you did it in two years. That’s impressive. You should be proud of yourself.”

I blink away the tears. “I am proud of myself. I know I’m on the right path. There’s this feeling I get. Something telling me that this was always my destiny.”

Silence settles between us for a moment, leaving me to wonder if we got disconnected.

“He’d be proud of you, too, you know.”

I swallow hard—not because it hurts, but because I know she’s right. He would be proud.

“I know. I’m sure he’s up there, pumping his fist right now, cheering me on. I can feel it.”

“Hell yeah. Just like he did on his last day. He told you he would be your cheerleader from heaven. He told you he wanted you to live life to the fullest—for him and for you.”

“It’s going to be hard. I know it is. I haven’t been able to get to know trauma patients like I will here.”

“You knew it wasn’t going to be easy. But I’m here. I have a shoulder for you to cry on—and an endless supply of wine.”

“You know me so well,” I say with a smile, shaking my head. “I love you. Now get back to your vacation.”

“Ugh. I’m home, visiting my family. Trust me. It’s not a vacation.”

I feel for her. I know what it’s like to struggle with your relationship with family.

“I know. I’m sorry. But you only have two more days. Then we can bitch about every annoying little detail when you get back.”

“Deal. I’ll talk to you soon. Love you. I’m so damn proud.”

“Thanks, Kay. Bye.”

I hang up the phone and pick up my glass of wine. I close my eyes as I take a sip, letting the flavors settle on my tongue for a brief second before I swallow.

I know this will be difficult. This job will test me in ways that will likely make me question why I chose it. But beneath it all, I know the desire driving me here—to make those dark moments a little easier for patients and the people who love them—will be worth it.

I’m ready for the challenge.

And I’m excited for it.