Chapter 59
Chapter Fifty-Nine
D r. Sam Cook lived in a Craftsman bungalow on Poplar Street. The exterior was well-maintained, freshly painted. The landscape was the same. Trimmed shrubs, cut grass, and potted evergreens on either side of the front door. Finn pressed the doorbell.
Sam ushered him through the house onto a screened porch. Doctors Simon Mason and Thorne Finch were seated, drinking from coffee mugs. Finn shook their hands and took a seat.
Sam did the same. “Let’s get this meeting started. Simon, do you want to start with the interview?”
Interview?
Simon sat taller, cleared his throat.
Finn couldn’t help himself. “Who’s being interviewed?”
Thorne smirked with a chin tip. “You’re the only one who needs a job.”
This made no sense. He was still in residency.
Simon said, “I’m planning ahead. I’d rather talk to you here instead of in the office. No interruptions from my staff.”
His words made sense, but interview? He could have prepared, studied, worn something besides shorts and a t-shirt. At least his paint stained jeans were in the wash.
The other three exchanged looks, reminding him of a hive mind.
Thorne asked, “Do you remember the night we found Camille after the soccer game?”
“Of course.” How could he forget coming across a classmate in labor after her car had bounced off a guardrail and ended up in a ditch?
Simon rested his elbows on his knees. “I’ve heard the story, but not from you. Did you change your clothes?”
“Excuse me?”
“Before you helped Miss Crane. Did you change your clothes?”
Finn shook his head. “No. She needed help. She was injured. Her baby was coming. Best we could do was pour water on our hands and use hand sanitizer.”
“Who delivered the baby?”
“We—” He paused. He’d been sixteen, Thorne seventeen. He’d considered it a team effort, as if both of them had caught the kid when she pushed him out. Except Thorne stayed by Cam’s head, letting her hold on to him while she screamed and pushed.
“It was me. I delivered the baby.” Thorne stood in for the person who should have been talking Cam through her contractions.
Simon nodded. “I did a wellness check on Connor Crane last month. Eleven years old. Camille told me the two of you handled the situation in a calm, straightforward manner. Especially considering your ages.”
Finn shook his head. “We were lucky that night. Neither of us knew what we were doing. If there’d been complications…”
Thorne straightened. “There weren’t. Connor’s doing great.”
Finn knew. Camille was friends with his old neighbor, Chelsea. She kept him up to date on Connor.
Simon said, “Tell me more about your residency. What’s your life goals? Your perfect job when you feel you’ve earned the title of doctor?”
What was this? “I don’t understand. I have a year and a half left.”
Simon folded his arms. “I have an increasing number of patients. It’s only going to rise with the new subdivision going in. I’m behind already. I have a waitlist. Sam helps two days a week, but he’s also determined to help the refugees in the campground. He’s supposed to be retired.”
Sam grunted. “As long as I can make Thursday breakfast and play golf once a week, I’m happy.”
Simon appeared to ignore him. “I need another doctor in my practice.”
Finn looked at Thorne. He was a fully fledged doctor, an ideal choice.
Thorne said, “I’ve got a job and a second, bigger task at hand.”
Finn said, “I can’t accelerate time, Simon, but I’m honored by the ask.”
“I know.” Simon heaved a sigh. “I’ll need references, of course. We’ll have to do a formal interview, but unless things change, you have a job offer if you want it.”
He didn’t know what to say. His dream was to be a doctor here in Evers Hollow.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Yes would be a great answer.”
What would Rose think of this? Things were wonderful between them, a dream he didn’t want to question. They hadn’t talked about forever yet.
“Can I think about it?”
“Of course. This is a casual conversation.”
Thorne stood. “It’s not the only reason you’re here.”
“Oh?” What else could there be?
“My grandmother tasked me to do my damnedest to reopen Hollows Hospital.”
That got Finn’s attention. “I thought they declared bankruptcy. How does a hospital come back from that?”
“It’s a process. I’m in conversations with the Department of Public Health, the hospital’s most recent board of directors, potential investors, and hospital systems that might be interested in a partnership.”
“Why you?”
Sam cut in. “The Everson family was one of the original investors. Nola held a seat on the board, along with Lancet Hughes and Gerard Roche. She wanted Thorne to take her place.”
“I see.” Not really.
Thorne said, “There’s one more thing, Finn, that concerns you, your family,” Thorne said.
“What’s that?”
He pulled an envelope from his pack. “Broome wanted to be the one to hand this to you, but his schedule didn’t line up. If you have questions, call him. He’ll meet with you.”
Finn accepted the parcel. His fingers traced over the sealed flap.
“What’s in there—not a done deal. Talk with your dad. I promise to make it possible. It’s what Grandmother wanted.”
Finn stood, even more confused. He wouldn’t open the envelope here. The curiosity tormented him as he drove back to Rose’s.
In her cottage kitchen, he scanned the first page, then read it again, more slowly. Then again. Understanding crept in.
Clara did something for me once. I always hoped I would get a chance to return the gesture.
The contents of this envelope. It would make Pa cry. It made him cry. He reached for the box of Kleenex.
The next morning, backpack over his shoulder, Finn dropped by Wylder to see his pa. He showed him the contents of the envelope. He was right. Tears trickled over Pa’s cheeks as he wiped a handkerchief over his eyes.
“They want to name a wing after my Clara.”
“Yes, the women's and children’s wing,” said Finn.
He sniffled, wiped again. “She would’ve tried to talk them out of it, but secretly, she’d love it. She loved her work. Delivering babies and taking care of children.”
Finn would let Thorne know they loved the idea.
“I need to tell you something else.”
Pa folded his arms where he sat. “Then you might as well say it.”
“I got a job offer.”
“But you haven’t finished your residency yet.”
“It’s for after graduation, contingent on my completion of the program.”
Pa shifted in his seat, unfolded his arms. His face turned stoic. He was trying not to react. “Guess that means you’ll be moving, then.”
“Yes, I think so.”
“How far away will you be?”
It was written all over his father’s face. Pa missed him, would miss him more if he was far away.
“The job’s here, Pa, in Evers Hollow, with Doc Mason. He took over for Sam Cook.”
“I know who Sam Cook is. Why would you want to come back here?”
Finn sat down across from him, looked Pa in the eye. “You already know the answer.”
“For Rose Finch. You’re serious about her?”
“I’m in love with her.” It’d always been her.
“I can’t stop you. Your mom wouldn’t either. She always said the two of you belonged together. I disagreed.”
Finn stood, moved to his backpack, and pulled out a wrapped brown parcel. He handed Pa his gift. “Maybe this will help.”
Pa held the package by one corner as if it had wriggly legs. “I don’t need anything.”
Finn smiled. “This is something different.”
He unwrapped it. Studied the item in his hand. “This is a children’s book.”
His smile became a grin. “I know. It’s one of Rose’s books.”
“You think one of her books is going to make me feel better when she breaks your heart?”
“I think it’ll help you realize she loves me too, that she has no intention of breaking my heart. It won’t hurt you to read it and find out.” Pa opened the book, with a perplexed look on his face.
“Enjoy.” Finn hugged him before he left the room.
It had always been Rose he’d imagined his life with. He’d let that dream go after she told him she was engaged. Forgot about marriage, a life with her, a daughter with green eyes, maybe a son. A whole dog. And let go of all the adventures he’d dreamed they could have as husband and wife.
Today, everything felt possible.
Finn had one more thing to do in town before he met up with Rose.
He got back in his SUV, drove into town, and parked.
Brick Wall Books displayed a poster in the window, advertising Rose’s upcoming release and the reading she’d do for it.
He left the store with a grin on his face as snow flurries danced across his windshield.