Chapter 5
NATHAN
Nathan stepped into the waiting room, and his heart dropped.
The small room was completely packed. One of his regular patients, a young woman bouncing a toddler on her knee while soothing her crying newborn, was squished into her seat next to a man with a camera snapping shots of the lobby.
Olivia, the woman in the tight dress who’d tried to flirt with him the day before, was back, and she kept trying to make eyes at him across the waiting room.
One man was filming himself on his phone as he talked about seeing the “Hottest Doctor Alive.”
Today’s nurse, Thomas, was going from patient to patient, asking for names and concerns. Maya was on the phone, and she made a worried face at Nathan. As he approached, he heard part of the conversation.
“I understand, Mr. Jennings, and I’d love to squeeze you in today, but we’re completely overrun. I can get you an appointment on Tuesday, or I can refer you to another practice nearby.”
Pause.
“I know that you’re concerned, Mr. Jennings, but—”
Pause.
Nathan came over and held out his hand. Looking grateful, Maya handed the phone over. She looked more frazzled than ever. She was clearly biting her nails, which were painted lime green today.
“Hi, Mr. Jennings,” Nathan said. “This is Nathan Hale.”
“Thank goodness.” Arnold Jennings sounded near panicking. “You told me to come in if little Lily spiked a fever, and she’s very warm this morning.”
Lily was a four-month-old baby who Arnold and his wife had recently adopted.
“Of course. Come right in, and I’ll make time to see you.”
“Thank you.”
Nathan handed the phone back to Maya, who made a face at him.
“Doc, I know you want to see everyone, but it just isn’t possible.” She gestured to the packed waiting room. “You don’t have time. We’re, like, totally booked out.”
“I’ll make time for my regular patients. I have to. And if people come in who aren’t my patients, just send them away.”
“I’m trying.” Maya shrugged helplessly. “It’s not easy. They just won’t leave.”
Nathan sighed and turned to survey the waiting room. Olivia waved at him, and the man with the camera stood and hurried over.
“Can I take a picture with you?” he asked.
“No.” Nathan folded his arms. “In fact, Mister…”
“I’m Jeremy, Jeremy Banks, from the Vermont Sun.” The man held out a hand, but Nathan ignored it. “I’d love to get a quote.”
“No,” Nathan repeated. “Mr. Banks, I’d appreciate it if you left. Now.”
“Mr. Hale, this will only take a moment of your time—”
“It’s Dr. Hale, actually,” Nathan said. “I say that because it looks like a few people here need reminding about what I do.” He turned to look at the other people waiting.
“Take a look around. I have actual patients that I need to see, and I absolutely don’t have time to take photos or give interviews.
So, if you don’t urgently need medical attention, please leave. Now.”
There was a pause, then Jeremy Banks from the Vermont Sun turned on his heel and went to sit back down. Nathan looked pointedly at a few other people, but no one else left either. Stifling a sigh, he turned back to Maya.
“Make sure none of them have actual appointments with me. I can’t afford to waste more time on this.”
“Got it.”
Just then, Nathan felt a tap on his shoulder.
He turned to see a woman of around his age.
She had blond hair that was pulled back in a neat bun, not a strand out of place.
Her eyes were a soft brown, and she was dressed in a pencil skirt and steel-gray blouse that looked out of place in Islingburn.
She carried a small bag and a cell phone.
“Are you one of my patients?” The question was completely unnecessary. He would have remembered this woman if he’d seen her before.
“No, but I’m here to help.”
Nathan tilted his head to one side. “What do you mean? Are you a doctor?”
“I’m not.” She held out a hand. “I’m Zoe Devine, and I work in PR.”
Immediately, Nathan shook his head. “I just told anyone who doesn’t need medical attention to leave, and I’m pretty sure that means you.”
“I understand,” Zoe said. “But, respectfully, you need me.” She gestured at the packed waiting room.
“I know something about your situation. You became famous overnight, right? And now, people are breaking down your door trying to find out who you are and what you do? Well, I can help you manage all this.”
“Respectfully,” Nathan echoed. “I don’t need your help.” The last thing he wanted was some kind of flashy PR campaign that would only bring more people to the already overrun clinic.
“Come on, Doc,” Maya said. She was still sitting at her desk, her elbows leaning on the surface. “We do need help. Just hear her out.”
“Please go,” Nathan said firmly. Zoe hesitated, rocking forward then back on her heels, then turned to the packed waiting room.
“Hi, everyone.” She flashed a white-toothed smile that looked both practiced and charming.
“I know some of you are here because you want to meet the ‘Hottest Doctor Alive.’” She winked.
“I totally get that. But unfortunately, if you actually take Doctor Hale’s appointment slots, you might stop him from doing his work.
I have an offer for you, though. If you don’t have a medical issue, you can ask Doctor Hale one question, any question you want — and then, for now, you’ll have to leave.
But don’t worry, because this won’t be the last you see of him.
” She smiled. “Now, who has a question?”
There was a pause, and Nathan was sure no one was going to take Zoe up on her offer. After all, no one had left when he’d asked them to just a few minutes ago. But then, an older woman near the back of the room stood up.
“Where did you get the puppets you used in the video?” she asked. “I want to get some for my grandson.”
Zoe nodded at Nathan, who cleared his throat. “I got them at Zips and Things in Downtown Islingburn. Ask for Laurie; she can help.”
“Thanks.” The woman left. Then the man who’d been filming himself stood up.
“I have an Instagram account in which I interview people in viral videos,” he said. “Can I do an interview with you?”
“I don’t have—” Nathan began, but Zoe held up a hand.
“Thank you for your question,” she said with the same bright smile. “At the moment, Doctor Hale isn’t taking interviews as he works on building his brand. But please leave your name and handle with our receptionist, and when we start taking on partnerships, we’ll reach out to you first.”
Seeming appeased, the man handed a card to Maya and left.
A few more people stood to ask questions, including the Vermont Sun reporter, then Olivia got to her feet.
“Hi, Doctor Hale,” she said, clasping her hands behind her back. “My question is, will you go out with me?”
“Olivia, I can’t,” Nathan said. “You’re one of my patients, so it wouldn’t be appropriate.”
“Oh.” Looking deflated, Olivia left, too.
Within five more minutes, the waiting room was cleared of all but Nathan’s usual patients. Smiling, Zoe turned back to him.
“See, Doctor Hale? You need me.”
“I hated that,” Nathan said. “I shouldn’t have to answer personal questions just so that I can do my job.”
“But it worked,” Maya pointed out. “Come on, Doc.”
Nathan took off his glasses and polished the lenses against the hem of his shirt. It gave him a moment to think. He really didn’t want this — any of this — but maybe Maya was right. Maybe someone who really knew how to handle people could help him get things back to normal.
“Fine.” He slipped his glasses back on and met Zoe Devine’s wide brown eyes. “I’ll hear you out, but not now. I have patients to see. Come back at the end of the day, after I’ve finished my work, and we can talk.”
“Excellent.” Zoe held out a hand. “I’ll look forward to it.”
Nathan took her hand and shook it. Unexpected warmth raced up his arm at her touch, but he ignored it. She’d worked magic to clear his waiting room, even though he hadn’t liked answering questions, but he wasn’t going to be distracted by her.
“Maya, who’s my next patient?”
“Juanita, Diego, and Marsela Rodriguez,” Maya said, gesturing to the young mother with her two kids.
“Great. Rodriguez family, please follow me. And Maya, if the young father you were speaking to on the phone comes in, let him know I’ll see him as soon as possible and see if you can find a time to squeeze him in.”
“I will,” Maya said.
“What time should I come back?” Zoe asked. Nathan hesitated.
“Around seven.”
“See you then.”
With that, Zoe left the clinic, and Nathan turned down the hallway towards the exam room.
Even though the clinic was down to regular patients, at least mostly, it was going to be a busy day, and he couldn’t let himself be distracted by any of this.
He was annoyed that he’d needed Zoe Devine’s help to clear the waiting room.
People who weren’t his patients should have just left when he’d asked them.
But he was grateful to Zoe for taking charge of the situation and getting them to leave, enough so that he was willing to hear her out this evening.
He just needed to make it clear that, while he would appreciate her help getting things back to normal, the last thing he wanted was to extend his fame in any way.
He didn’t want to answer personal questions.
He didn’t want to go on social media. He didn’t want to stand in the spotlight any longer than he had to.
And he didn’t want to spend a bunch of money on a PR campaign when he could be directing those funds into the clinic itself.
That was why he still did all the repairs on his modest house himself, instead of hiring anyone, why he still drove an old pickup he’d bought years ago, and why he rarely went on vacation except to visit family.
He didn’t want to spend any money on himself when he could be spending it on his patients.
Taking a deep breath, Nathan turned his full attention back to the young family in front of him. No matter what was going on in his personal life, he couldn’t let his care for his patients slip.
“So, Mrs. Rodriguez,” Nathan said. “How can I help?”