Chapter 4
four
. . .
Emerson
“It’s so fun having your pup here,” Lana, the office manager, said. I’d liked her the minute I’d met her, but the nurse, Petra, was a different story.
“Yeah? Doc said it was fine to bring her. He thought the kids would love seeing her here. And with the yard out back, it’s really nice that she can come to work with me.
” I rubbed the top of Winnie’s head as she sat next to Lana’s chair in the front office.
Doc Dolby had apparently brought his chocolate lab, Sadie May, with him to work for years until she passed away a few months ago.
He said the kids loved to go out back and play with her after their appointments.
“See? Small-town life isn’t too bad, am I right? I bet you can’t bring this big girl to work in the city.”
“You’re definitely right about that. She lived in an apartment with me in San Francisco.”
“So, no backyard for her? How did you manage that?”
“Mabel, in apartment 3B in my building, was a dog walker, and she took her out a couple times a day for me.” I laughed.
“Oh, wow. City life is so different. Do you miss it?” Lana asked. She was a few years older than me, married with a two-year-old little boy from what I’d learned over the last two weeks.
“I hate to break up this riveting conversation, but with Doc not coming in today, I’m going to need Dr. Chadwick to be on her game this morning.” Petra crossed her arms over her chest as she scowled at us.
Lana gazed around the waiting area and then raised a brow. “Well, seeing as we have no patients here at the moment, I think she’s doing just fine.”
The office had been open for all of five minutes, and I’d actually arrived over an hour ago, long before Petra and Lana had gotten here.
I was up to date on the charts for the patients I’d be seeing today, and I’d had a phone call with Doc Dolby last night when he’d called to say he wouldn’t be coming in this week, and we’d gone over things then.
It was clear that Petra didn’t care for me, and I didn’t like how uncomfortable she made things every time she entered the room.
“Petra, how about you and I go grab a cup of coffee and chat for a minute,” I said, before motioning for Winnie to follow me. “You’re going outside for a bit, girl.”
Petra sneered as I opened the back door and watched my pup run out and lay under the big tree. She loved it here. Loved being outside instead of being couped up in that apartment all day.
We both stopped in the break room at the end of the hallway.
This office had originally been an old house that had been built over a hundred years ago, and it had been restored and made into a very charming pediatric office.
The kitchen area had black-and-white-checked flooring and a little vintage refrigerator.
The table had six chairs around it, and I waited for her to pour herself a cup of coffee, and then I did the same.
We both took a seat at the farmhouse table across from one another.
“I feel like there’s some tension between us, and I’d like to resolve it as quickly as possible.” I took a sip of my coffee and looked back up at her. “It appears you have a problem with me.”
“I don’t have a problem with you, per se.” She paused, and I waited for it, because there was clearly more coming. “I’ve just worked for Doc Dolby for a long time. Probably longer than you’ve been alive.”
“So, you have a problem with him retiring?”
“I knew it was coming, but I didn’t expect him to hire someone who was so…” She pursed her lips and stared at me.
“So… what?” I kept my tone even.
“Young. You’re practically a child.”
I chuckled. She was a woman who continued to work full-time, and she had to be pushing eighty years old, and she was discriminating against me based on my age?
“I’m twenty-nine years old, Petra. I’ve never asked your age or questioned if you were deserving of your position here.
I graduated top of my class from medical school.
I just completed a three-year residency program at one of the best children’s hospitals in the country.
So, this will be the one and only time I will have this conversation with you.
” I took another sip of my coffee while she gaped at me.
Had she thought I’d roll into a ball and agree that I was too young to be a doctor?
I’d been through a hell of a lot worse than being judged by a snarky woman, and I’d definitely developed a thicker skin over these last two months.
“I am more than qualified for this position. And I’m here, so if my age is a problem for you, then I suggest you consider working somewhere else. ”
“Well, you’re only here for six months,” she snipped.
What is everyone’s deal in this town with the timeline?
I either stayed forever or I shouldn’t be here? It was ridiculous.
“Correct. I signed a six-month contract. So, you should be pleased that I won’t be staying long term. Maybe we can just agree to drop the sarcastic comments and show a little respect during the time we’ll be working together.”
“Fine. I just thought maybe you’d want to prepare for the patients coming in today.” She shrugged.
“That’s very thoughtful of you, but I arrived over an hour ago. I’ve gone over each file already, and I spoke to Doc last night about the kids I’d be seeing today.” I raised a brow.
She nodded. “I apologize for questioning you. I guess, well, I don’t know, change is hard. I’m not happy that Doc is retiring. Maybe it makes me realize my days are numbered, as well.”
“I get that. I just uprooted my entire life and moved here. It’s scary.
But if it’s any consolation, I’ve noticed the way you are with the kids since I’ve been here, and I’m impressed.
So I don’t think your days are numbered just yet.
” I smiled, and her gaze met mine as I continued.
“Charlotte Stratford had been so nervous about getting her shots yesterday, and you handled that so well. Talking her through the process and relaxing her the way you did. It was really sweet.”
“Well, you might be the first person to ever call me sweet. My husband would probably argue with that.” She chuckled. “But I do have a soft spot for kids.”
“It shows. So, how about we do our best to provide great care and go easy on one another, huh?”
She nodded. “I can do that. And Doc thinks we’re really lucky to have gotten you, so you can’t be all bad.”
Was there a compliment in there?
“Well, I hope he’s right.”
Lana appeared in the doorway and made a face before whispering. “Carrie Peters is here, and she’s in a mood.”
Petra pushed to her feet and then leaned down close to my ear. “Carrie is a bit of a pill. She pulled my hair a few months back when I tried to take her temperature, and she’s also bitten Doc several times. She even broke skin once.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “He did give me a heads-up. I’m ready for her.”
He’d basically called her an eleven-year-old hellion with a mother who modeled similar behavior and defended her daughter at all times.
Petra left to go get her vitals and take her to room one while I made my way to my office and gathered my files, leaving my coffee there before heading to meet my new patient.
Petra was coming out of the room as she pulled the door closed and hurried me a few feet away, her face flush.
“I think she’s probably got strep throat from the looks of it, but she’s refusing to get swabbed.
She already dug her nails into my arm, so I told her I’d come speak to you and see if there was another option.
” I glanced down to see the notable claw marks on Petra’s wrist.
“She has to let us look at her throat and swab her in order to know if it’s strep. Why don’t we go in there together, and I’ll talk to her and her mother.”
“Her mother goes along with whatever she wants,” Petra said, as if that made it okay.
“We’ve got this.” I winked and walked back toward room one.
This was not my first rodeo with a difficult patient.
She followed me inside. The rooms were larger than I was used to in the city, and I appreciated it.
There was cute wallpaper on the walls, each one a tribute to different animated animals, like a monkey, a pig, and a dog.
There were two chairs in each room for the kids and the parents to sit on, and there was an examination table that had colorful paper with stripes and polka dots on it.
“Hey there. I’m Dr. Chadwick. It’s nice to meet you both.
” I smiled, taking in Carrie and her mom.
It was obvious Carrie wasn’t feeling well, as her cheeks were bright red, and her lips were cracked from being dehydrated.
I asked Petra to go grab us a Gatorade from the refrigerator, and she left quickly.
“I don’t drink Gatorade,” Carrie hissed, and I placed her file on the counter before bending down to get eye level with her.
Her mother glared at me. “Yes. It’s pure sugar. I can’t believe you keep that here.”
“I’m certainly not suggesting you drink it daily, but your lips are cracked and you’re clearly not feeling well.
If you don’t get hydrated, you’ll end up in the hospital,” I said, keeping my tone even and controlled as Petra came back into the room and handed me the blue drink.
“So, how about you get a couple of sips in you while we discuss your options?”
Carrie narrowed her gaze, as if she were trying to figure me out, and then she nodded. She unscrewed the cap and tipped her head back, chugging the blue drink, and I pushed back up to standing. “I’d like to have you come sit up on this table so I can examine you.”
“Doc usually examines her in this chair. She doesn’t want to sit on the table. She’s not a child,” Mommy Dearest said.
“This is where I examine my patients.” I met her mother’s stare without wavering.
“Well, she’s not getting that ridiculous Q-tip shoved down her throat,” her mother grumbled. “She doesn’t like it.”