Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Grace
I took a break and went up to the rooftop, where a coffee station was set up, and several small tables and chairs took up the space.
Grabbing a coffee that I desperately needed, I stood against the railing and looked out into the city of Los Angeles.
I couldn’t believe I was back here, not only in this city but in this hospital.
The one place that held the most traumatic memories for me and the one place that decided my fate.
How fucked up was it that I was now dealing with the man I had sex with back in New York as I left my old life behind?
A complete stranger I was never supposed to see again.
Was this the universe playing a dirty trick on me?
Was I being punished for something? He was so damn sexy, and every time I saw him, I couldn’t stop thinking about that night.
“I see you found the rooftop,” I heard Jamieson’s voice from behind.
I slowly turned around and watched as he poured his coffee.
“Jackie told me about it.”
“Best place of the entire hospital. Especially at night when the city is lit up,” he spoke as he walked over and stood next to me by the railing. “I think we should talk, Grace.”
“About what?” I glanced at him.
“That night in New York City.”
“What about it?”
“The fact that we had sex and now we’re working together. I don’t want you to get the wrong idea.”
“Ah, you don’t want me to think that because we had sex, there could be something between us.”
“Something like that.” He took a sip of his coffee.
“Is that usually what happens when you sleep with a woman?”
“Unfortunately.” A smirk crossed his face.
“I’m not like the other women you’ve slept with.
So, no worries, Dr. Finn. Trust me when I say there is absolutely nothing between us.
I didn’t think about it then, I don’t think about it now, and I never will.
It was one night of two consenting adults, and it meant absolutely nothing.
A relationship or even the thought of one is not a part of my new life. ”
“Good. Mine either. I’m happy we cleared that up,” he spoke.
Both our pagers went off, and after I glanced at mine, I looked at Jamieson.
“Charlie’s MRI is done,” I spoke.
“Let’s go take a look.” He sighed as he threw his coffee cup into the garbage can.
We walked down to the MRI control room, where the technician had Charlie’s scans on the computer screen.
“Shit,” Jamieson spoke. “There’s a tumor in the posterior fossa region.
” He pointed. “You were right.” He glanced over at me as he sighed heavily and rubbed the back of his neck.
“It’s times like these I hate my job,” he spoke.
“By the way, how did you get stuck with this patient? I thought you were trauma?”
“The ER is short-staffed, and I’m needed all over the place,” I spoke.
“Welcome to Cedars-Sinai, Dr. Harper. Shall we go tell Charlie’s parents together?”
“Sure.” I sighed.
We walked back down to the ER, where Charlie’s parents were in the room at his bedside. I took in a deep breath as I prepared myself. Other than losing a patient, this was the hardest part of my job, and it never got easier.
“Mr. and Mrs. Canfield, we have the results of Charlie’s MRI, and I’m afraid it’s not good news,” I spoke. “Charlie has a brain tumor known as AT/RT in the posterior fossa region of his brain,” I spoke.
“Near his stem cell,” Jamieson chimed in.
“Oh my God.” Mrs. Canfield began to shake as her eyes filled with tears.
“Are you saying that our son has brain cancer?” Mr. Canfield asked with nervousness.
“Yes. I’m afraid so,” Jamieson spoke. “We must operate immediately to remove as much of the tumor as possible. After the surgery, we’ll send in a pediatric oncologist to discuss chemotherapy and or radiation for Charlie.”
I swallowed hard as Mrs. Canfield broke down, and Mr. Canfield tried his best to hold it together.
“I’m so sorry,” I spoke to them as my eyes filled with tears.
“Are you a pediatric neurosurgeon?” Mr. Canfield asked Jamieson.
“No, I’m not. But I’m the best neurosurgeon in the country. I’ve operated on many children, and I can assure you that Charlie is in good hands with me. I’ll need your permission to perform the surgery.”
“Of course.” Mr. Canfield slowly nodded his head as he wiped the tears from his eyes.
“Get him prepped, and I’ll send the anesthesiologist down,” Jamieson spoke as he lightly patted my arm.
I was talking with Jackie in the doctor’s lounge when Jamieson walked in.
“How did it go?” I asked.
“He’s stable. I was able to remove eighty-five percent of the tumor. The rest is in the pediatric oncologist’s hands now. Jackie, can I have a moment with Dr. Harper, please?”
“Sure.” She raised her brow at him as she walked out of the lounge.
“What are doing after your shift?” he asked.
“Going home. Why?”
“I was thinking maybe we could grab some dinner together. I am the only person you know in Los Angeles, so I thought a proper welcome was in order.”
“Is that so?” I narrowed my eye at him. “To be honest, I don’t know you at all.”
“We had sex, Grace. I think we know each other, at least a little bit.” He smirked. “I’m not a total stranger.”
“I get off at eight.” I smiled.
“Great. I’ll pick you up down here.”
“Okay.” I nodded as I gave him a light smile.
He walked out of the lounge, and I let out a breath.
He was right. He was the only person I knew in Los Angeles besides Renata.
As much as I hated to admit it, dinner with him sounded nice.
We could be friends. No big deal. Ironic, wasn’t it?
He was my last fling in New York before I said goodbye to my old life and my new friend in Los Angeles, where I started my new one.
I walked out to the nurses’ station, where Jackie sat behind her computer, giving me the evil eye.
“What?” I smiled.
“What’s up with you and Dr. Finn?”
“Nothing. We’re just grabbing a bite to eat after work.”
“I like you, Grace. I’ve only known you a few short hours, but I can tell we’re going to be good friends, and as a friend, I feel it’s my duty to warn you about him.”
“Trust me, Jackie. You don’t have to.”
“Oh, but I do. He is the finest-looking specimen ever to walk the face of this earth, and he knows it. He uses it to his advantage with women. He’s nothing but a heartbreaker, a commitment-phobe, and a manwhore. I don’t want to see you get caught up in his games.”
I liked Jackie, and I liked how blunt she was. She was a woman in her late thirties who stood about five-foot-five with long brown wavy hair, brown eyes, and olive skin. She was a tough cookie. That much, I could tell.
“Trust me. I won’t get caught up in anything. I know guys like Dr. Finn, and I’m well aware of their massive insecurities.” I smiled. “Besides, relationships of any kind are off the table for me. I came to Los Angeles to start a new life, and Dr. Jamieson Finn does not fit that plan.”
“You go, girl.” She grinned as she high-fived me. “You may be the only woman to say no to him.”
God, if she only knew.