Chapter 22
Blair
Amonth has passed since the wedding.
That’s not to say it hasn’t been busy. We’ve had Sutton’s parents staying with us at the ranch–and taking over Sutton’s room–so that they could help out while Will and Birdie, then Case and Isla, each had a two-week honeymoon one after the other.
It’s also been four weeks since Sutton and I completed the Call and my life became forever tied to his. He spends every night in the cabin now–and not just because of his parents staying in the ranch house.
I’ve fallen even more in love with him but it’s more than that. I just like hanging out with the guy. He’s funny, kind, thoughtful and surprisingly domestic. We even had our first fight over hanging out the laundry. Thankfully, we also had our first ‘make-up’ which was spectacular.
I even thanked his mom for raising such a gentleman. She just shot her son a soft smile and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “He likes to make those he loves happy. He’s always thinking about everyone else and puttin’ them before himself. I’m glad he has you to give the same back to him.”
Unfortunately, something I can’t stop thinking about is the ticking clock counting down my time on the ranch and the big questions that deadline raises about my future.
Do I go back to Minnesota? Do I stay here and give up everything for love? More importantly, would I resent Sutton if I did that?
Then there’s the other options–would Sutton leave his family–his mountain–to stay with me? Could I commute? Would I want to?
Or do I give up my practice, my patients, and the small sliver of a life I’ve carved out for myself to start over somewhere closer like Anchorage or Palmer just so I can visit here more often than if I was in the lower states?
So many options, so little idea of what to do…
Sutton can tell I’m distracted and he’s made it clear that he’s always willing to lend a listening ear. While I haven’t talked to him about all the different options I’ve come up with, we have talked about our hopes and dreams and what we want for the future.
On that, we agree; a destination wedding in the middle of nowhere–maybe even at Hidden Lake since that was our first official date, three children if we’re blessed enough to have them, and keeping a connection with the land like we both had growing up.
What I love more than anything is that I know I have a steady rock, confidante and supportive partner in Sutton.
He continues to prove that he has–and always will be–the man he’s always shown himself to be.
Nothing has changed since we cemented our relationship and completed the Call, if anything, I feel more tied to the man. Not that I’m complaining.
When we’re not physically together, it’s like there’s a part of me missing.
It’s only once he’s back by my side that I feel OK again.
It was such a weird feeling that I had to ask Birdie about it.
She directed me to Aster’s series based around Eagle Mountain.
That’s when I learned you can have physical symptoms when you’re away from your One.
This afternoon though is my meeting with Tabitha set for halfway through my contract. However, instead of meeting in her office like I expected, she made us a reservation at the Falls Pan & Grill restaurant, the only Michelin starred restaurant in the state.
Birdie and Isla both work there on an as needed basis–not as much as they used to though since they met Will and Case.
As they told me, the chef is a born and bred Timber Fallian who left town to study and expand her knowledge.
When she got the chance to open her own restaurant, there was only one place she wanted it to be.
Lucky for the town, it’s a huge tourist attraction now too and somewhere I’ve been dying to go to.
I’m making my way down what the locals call ‘Restaurant Row’ when my phone vibrates. Pulling it out, I smile when I see Sutton’s name on screen.
Sutton: I’d wish you luck but I know you don’t need it. You’ve put a lot of work into this already and I know Tabitha’s going to be impressed. I love you. Go get ‘em, gorgeous.
Blair: You, doctor, are very good for a girl’s confidence. I love you too. Thanks for your support and for your inspirational foot rubs that helped get this report finished *wink wink*
Sutton: I’ll inspire you any time and any way you want, gorgeous. Jude’s helping me out with something this afternoon on the ranch. But I’ll come find you when I’m done. We can celebrate!
Blair: What will we be celebrating?
Sutton: You, of course. Always you.
There’s no wiping the goofy grin I’m wearing as I walk into the restaurant and move to the table where Tabitha is waiting for me with her phone to her ear.
“I know…Yes, dear. I’m more than aware…” A smile as soft and sweet as my own appears on her lips.
“I’ve got to go now, Blair just arrived for our lunch meetin’.
... I know, call it one of the perks of bein’ the boss.
You get to have work at fancy restaurants…
” She laughs and holds her finger up to me, indicating she’ll just be a moment.
“I miss you, too. I’ll call you tonight. ”
She places her handset on the table and looks over at me.
“Sorry about that. That was my… partner.” Just like the first time we met, there’s a curious expression on her face.
“Anyway, enough about me. I hope you like white wine because I ordered a glass each as well as the five-course degustation for lunch. Is that OK?”
I arch a brow, my lips twitching. “I thought this was an important business meeting?”
Tabitha grins and mirrors my expression. “You forget that I know you’ve been workin’ in private practice for a while now, which means you’ve likely had more than your fair share of business lunches–no matter how important.”
“Touché.”
Tabitha shrugs and we both start laughing as the server arrives with the first course.
“This is an amuse-bouche consisting of a smoked salmon tartlet with dill cream cheese and a sprinkle of capers. Enjoy,” he says, placing the plates in front of us and walking away.
I wait until we’ve finished eating before starting. “I’ve got a copy of my report here for you and I’ve also sent an electronic copy via email.”
“You’re nothin’ if not efficient, Blair,” she says. “I appreciate that, by the way. So how about you give me the highlights of your report so that I know how much work you’ve got planned for me when I implement your suggestions.”
I cock my head as I take a sip of my chardonnay. “Sounds like you expect to like what I’ve got to say.”
Tabitha’s eyes crinkle at the sides. “That would be because I’m ninety-nine-point nine percent sure I will.
You’re a smart woman, a fantastic doctor, and you have a combination of urban and now small town hospital experiences that have already proven to be invaluable.
You’ve seen what the city has and what Timber Falls doesn’t.
I can’t think of anyone else better positioned to identify our shortfalls and what our community needs us to provide so that we can serve them better. ”
“I appreciate the confidence. I really do.”
“Well, good. You should. You’ve earned it. Now, how ‘bout you start talkin’ before our next dish comes out. If we time it right, we should be past the business part of our meetin’ by the time the last plate is served. What do you say, Doctor Littlefoot?”
“I’d tell you to brace yourself, because we’ve got a lot to cover.”
And that’s exactly what I do, laying out what the hospital does well, and the demographic breakdown of our patients for the past three years compared to those found in similar sized hospitals in other parts of Alaska, then in other rural/mountainous states in the Lower 48.
By then, it’s time for our second dish of the day, a seared scallop with a fried oyster.
Once we’ve cleared our delicious plates, I resume my summary, covering the specialized services that the hospital currently offers and the ones that are in high demand but can only be accessed in Anchorage or Palmer.
We take another break for the next dish, a salad with mixed greens, haskap berries, roasted walnuts, and a lemon-poppy seed vinaigrette, which serves as a great palate cleanser.
In between that and the fourth dish of pan-seared caribou loin with root vegetables and a saskatoon berry jus, we discuss the hospital structure and staffing shortages. Tabitha also shares her thoughts on where she thinks there are gaps in services offered to the residents of the town.
Over the final dessert plate consisting of a small rhubarb crumble with a scoop of homemade vanilla bean and lemon ice cream, we get to the most important part of my report–the recommendations.
I only finalized those last night but it’s the section I’m most proud of because this is where I know I can give back to the town that has opened my eyes in so many ways and reinvigorated my love of the medical profession.
The most important suggestion was inspired by two people - Sully Wilson and Sutton.
Last night I remembered that way back at our first date at Hidden Lake when Sutton said people’s problems are the same in Timber Falls compared to the city, but the perspective is different.
“The therapist learnin’ from his patients and all that,” he said.
“I think I’m hoping to find something like that while I’m here too.” I replied at the time.
What I didn’t know when I said that was just how much I’d learn in the short time I’ve been here so far, or how much it would change my outlook. Not just work either, but what I want out of my life as a whole.
Yes, I can’t wait to tell Starchild that her reading was right.
I stayed up and researched my butt off, spending most of the night changing the entire focus of my report.
That’s because it hit me that what I thought the town needed when I first arrived was no longer the case.
I know better now, and that’s only through working in the ER, meeting the townsfolk, and coming across patients like Sully Wilson.
It was almost four a.m. when I crawled into bed with Sutton, but I did it with a big heart and a clear mind, knowing that I’d finally landed on a project I would be proud to put my name to.
I want more than that though. I want to be here to see through the whole implementation process, the community consultation, sourcing the funds, building the service from the ground up. Most of all, I want to watch it thrive and serve the townsfolk.
And while I can’t see a way for that to happen right now, I’m willing to do as much as I can for as long as I have left in town to make it happen.
“Tell me, Blair. If you could do anythin’ at all to improve things for our patients in Timber Falls, what would that be? If money wasn’t an issue, if staffin’ was taken care of, and there was no red tape or obstacles in your way?” Tabitha asks.
I close my eyes, take a deep breath and slowly open them again.
“We need a mobile clinic that can visit people in their homes. A rural medical service that can reach patients before they wait too long and need specialist care–whether that be oncology, pain services, diabetes, cardiology, or all of the above. We need to reach our patients earlier and give them access to primary healthcare.”
Tabitha’s eyes light up but she stays silent when I finish, doing it for so long that I start to wonder if I’ve somehow misunderstood my mission here.
Then I see it, unshed tears gathering in her eyes as a slow-growing smile takes over her face. “I knew it.”
I frown, tilting my head and looking her over as I try to work out what she’s talking about. “Knew what?”
‘That you were the right person for the job.”
“Thank you,” I say, pride swelling within me. “I know I won’t be here to see the implementation, but I’d love the opportunity to work on it until Uncle George comes back.”
Tabitha shakes her head and for a moment my heart sinks. “No, Blair. I don’t want you to implement the project.”
“Oh. OK.”
She leans forward in her chair, leaning her elbows on the table just as I lift my shaky hand and take a much-needed gulp of wine. “I want you to oversee the entire hospital. I want you to replace me.”
That’s when I proceed to spit said wine all over her.
I don’t go back to the hospital once Tabitha and I finally part ways. To be honest, I’m still in a bit of a daze as I get into my car.
I sit there for a good long while, running through what just happened in my head.
“You’re joking,” I say.
“Nope,” she replies, picking up her own glass and grinning.
“I’m deadly serious, actually. This whole long service leave coverage for George was also my way of conducting a six-month-long interview.
Well, more like three months now.” A knowing smile plays on her lips.
“As you can see from my job offer, you aced it. Congratulations.”
I stare at her, my brain still struggling to catch up. “I don’t understand. You want me to take over your job?”
“Sure do. Not sure if you can tell, Blair, but I’m a little–OK, a lot–older than you.
I’ve seen and done almost all there is to see in small town hospitals and big city ones too.
I’ve dealt with more than my fair share of local, state, and federal politicians.
I’ve pleaded, listened to, and appeased enough unhappy residents and advisory groups to last a lifetime.
I want to retire, and I want to do it knowing that I’m leavin’ Timber Falls District Hospital in safe hands–ones I know will look after the work that I’ve done and build on it. ”
“And you think that’s me?”
“No, dear. I know it is. That’s why George recommended you in the first place. Besides, you’re goin’ to be family soon enough anyway.”
That’s when I discovered that not only are Uncle George and Tabitha in love, but they plan is for the two of them to run off to retire in Florida.
What I do know is that I now have options. And a mighty big decision to make.
Tabitha told me to take as long as I needed but then laid out all of the moves she’d already made, proving that she knew she wanted me all along.
Case in point, she has already secured the required board approvals and the start-up funding required.
The woman has even drafted her resignation letter. All she needs now is my answer.
That’s something I hope I’ll get some clarity on when I visit Starchild.