by Mary Abshire
“Certainly,” the receptionist said.
“Mr. Reynolds, follow me please,” Cathy said before she started heading back the way she’d come in.
Andrew followed behind her, wondering if he should contact Emily to have her meet the realtor without him. He didn’t want to lose his opportunity to get a job, but he also didn’t want to risk not getting the house.
Cathy led him down a hall with a large window expanding half the length of the wall. The view overlooked the front of the surface parking lot. She turned into a room and switched on the light. A long oblong dark wood table with chairs around it took up most of the space.
“Have a seat,” she said, pausing near the door.
“Is this an interview?” he asked as he stepped inside the room.
“Yes, I’m going to ask you a few questions, then I hope to get one of the other doctors in here. You came at a good time. I’m between meetings right now.”
“Would you mind if I notify my wife real quick? She’s waiting for me outside.”
“Not a problem. I’ll go get a few things from my office and be right back.”
“Thank you,” Andrew said as he withdrew the cell from his pocket.
After Cathy strode out of the room, Andrew dialed Emily’s number. She answered on the second ring.
“I’m getting an interview,” he said.
“What? You’re kidding.” She sounded surprised.
“Do you need me to meet the realtor with you?”
“Uh … no, I can handle things. I’m sure she’ll be fine once I hand over the money anyway.”
“Then go ahead without me. Come back when you’re done.”
“Wow, a house and job in one day. Not bad.”
“There’s no guarantees, but wish me luck.”
“Please, you’ll get that job. The puppet master wants you to have it.”
“Who?” He withdrew a chair from the table and then sat.
“Good luck. I’ll text you when I’m back.”
“Thanks.”
Andrew leaned back as he pushed the phone back into his pocket. She hadn’t mentioned the kiss, but he would make every effort to claim it before the night ended.
He sat upright and scooted closer to the table. Eight chairs surrounded it. A black and white framed picture of the hospital under construction hung on the wall. The conference room reminded him of a similar one the first time he’d been interviewed for a position at Cook County hospital. He’d dressed up in a suit and had been nervous as hell. This time around, he was wearing jeans and felt relaxed. Although he technically didn’t need the job since they were going to get the house by the demon, he still wanted the position to get closer to her. Plus he could get access to drugs so he could use one to poison her. For once, he could run the show to destroy the demon instead of Emily, and that gave him a sense of pride.
“Were you able to get hold of your wife?” Cathy said as she entered the room. She set his papers, a notepad, and a pen down before she took a seat at the head of the table.
“Yes, and I apologize for not dressing better. Had I known I would be interviewed, I would have worn nicer clothes.”
She picked up the pen and it clicked when she pressed the end. “Usually we schedule interviews. I’m in a lot of meetings during the day and I have to screen all nursing applicants. As for doctors … well, there are more of them and only one of me. I can find one and pull them away from their posts for a little bit. You came in at a time where I happen to be available, so I won’t knock any points off for your attire.” She gave him a smile.
“I noticed you had several positions available on your job board.”
“Yes, and that’s another reason why I decided to speak with you now. We need nurses in just about every department.” She separated his print outs from the application and began studying them. “So you worked at Cook County Hospital.”
“I worked there as a nurse in the neonatal care unit while I was working toward a medical degree.”
She jotted down a note on the pad. “So you wanted to be a doctor?”
“Ultimately, yes.”
“Why?”
“I have the ability to handle the tasks that a doctor has to perform. I find the work a nurse does meaningful and it comes easy to me, but I want to go step a further. It’s almost as if I were called to be a doctor, or it was part of my genetic makeup to become one.” In a way, it was since his father had been a doctor.
“I’ve heard a couple doctors say that. The ones that don’t are usually the ones who are in it for the money or they have big plans of doing research in a certain field.”
“I’m more of a hands-on type of doctor, not the research kind.”
“That’s good to know,” she said as she wrote on the pad. “Why did you choose neonatal care?”
“Babies are delicate creatures. They need a lot of attention, which I am good with. But I really like that they are easier to transport since they’re so small and they don’t talk back.”
She grinned widely. “But they scream loudly.”
“They cry because they’re not happy and they can’t tell us what’s bothering them. Once their problem is resolved, they are peaceful.”
“Have you worked with children?”
“Yes. There were also several times the neonatal unit had enough employees, so I helped out in other departments.”
She made another note. “We try to tell our doctors not to pull nurses, but it can happen if we’re short staffed.”
“I will go where I’m needed.”
“Why did you leave Cook County Hospital?”
“The hospital had over hired and had to make cuts due to a budget crisis. I got laid off with a few others since we had the least amount of experience. I could’ve gone to another hospital, but my wife wanted to move back here where her parents are. Plus she didn’t care much for living in Chicago.”
“That happened here at Mercy a little over a decade ago. I remember having to let several good nurses go do to budgetary concerns. I think every hospital goes through that at some point.”
“The lay-off came as I was finishing semester classes, so it was easy for us to pick up and move. I still plan to work toward my medical degree after I get settled and find a job.”
She jotted something on the paper and then looked at his documents. “I see you have the diploma and certifications. Your résumé is clean. If I called your references, what would they say?”
“I worked the most with Dr. Stacy Keaton. I think she’d say I was professional, pleasant to work with, I followed instructions, took initiative, stayed organized, and I was a go-getter. She could always count on me to get things done and to keep her informed of everything.” He made a mental note to tell Emily in case she would get a call to confirm his information.
Cathy wrote on the notepad again. “That’s very important today. Many nurses don’t take initiative and fail to keep the doctors up to speed.”
“I find it’s important to work as a team. I’ve always believed that.”
She nodded as she continued writing. After she finished, she lifted her brown eyes. “Is your schedule flexible?”
“Yes.”
“And do you prefer the neonatal care unit?”
“Yes. I have more experience there, but as I said, I’ve worked in other areas.” He wanted to work with the demon, but he wouldn’t turn down a job in another area either. Nurses were always on the go, so he could find a way to get close to her even if he worked in the next department over from hers.
She finished jotting on the paper. “Our salaries start at fifty-five thousand a year. We have a sign on bonus right now of three thousand. There is a six-month probationary period. You may get a salary increase at that time. After that, we do annual reviews and grant raises based on performance. If you’re hired, one of the HR staff members will go over all the benefits we have to offer.”
“Since I recently moved here, I can start at any time. The sooner, the bette
r.”
A man dressed in dark pants and wearing a white lab coat rapped his knuckles on the door. He had dark hair with a patch of gray near one ear, a short beard, and glasses. He had a colored aura and that troubled Andrew. His gaze jumped from Andrew to Cathy.
She twisted to face him. “Doctor Whitmore, thank you for coming. This is Spencer Reynolds.”
Andrew stood and offered his hand. The doctor shook it.
“Nice to meet you,” Andrew said.
“Spencer was a nurse in the neonatal care unit at Cook County Hospital. He’s recently moved here due to cutbacks. He was working toward his medical degree and plans to continue after he settles in and finds work.”
“I presume you reviewed his certifications?” the doctor asked.
“Yes, and I have references,” she said.
The doctor met Andrew’s gaze. “Why neonatal care?”
“Babies are easier to care for in my opinion.”
“They can also be very messy,” the doctor said.
“Well, they wear diapers, so they’re easier to clean. Baby vomit is either milk from the mother or formula. Sure, it stinks, but I’d rather clean bile from a baby then from a child or adult.”
Cathy chuckled. “He’s got a point there.”
“Why do you want to be a doctor?” he asked.
“I like working as a nurse, but I want to go to the next level and I know I can handle it.”
He pressed his lips together and nodded. “Good answer. Did you miss much work when you were employed?”
“No, I rarely get sick. I’m very punctual too.”
“You look very healthy.”
“I work out a lot.”
“Do you plan on staying here for a while if you’re hired?”
“As long as it takes to finish my plans.” He hadn’t lied. He’d merely failed to mention which plans he intended to complete before leaving.
“If you have a mountain of files to go through and another department needs help, what do you do?” the doctor asked.
“I help the other department until coverage can be found. And if not, then I stay helping them and work over to go through the files. But I will communicate I have other work to do. I will also make the effort to go through the files while in the other department.”
“Communication is very important, as is working as a team,” the doctor said.
“I agree completely,” Andrew said with a single nod.
The doctor stuck out his hand. “Spencer, it was good to meet you. I have to get back on the floor.”
Andrew shook his hand. “Thank you for the interview.”
“Cathy, talk to me later?” the doctor asked.
“I sure will,” she said.
As the doctor walked away, a touch of anxiety sparked within Andrew. He understood the doctor was busy and needed to get back to work. But the doc had only asked a few questions and left abruptly. Andrew couldn’t determine if the doctor liked him or not. Did he want to chat with Cathy to tell her not to hire Andrew?
Cathy rose from her seat. “Is the number on your résumé correct?”
“Of course. It’s my cell number.”
“If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you to the exit.” She walked out of the room and then paused for Andrew to catch up with her. “I’ll be in touch with you one way or the other. I apologize for catching you off guard.”
“It’s no trouble. You have all my certifications and references. If you have any additional questions, you’re welcome to call me. I haven’t applied to other hospitals yet, but if I don’t hear from you, then I’ll have to look elsewhere.” Andrew hesitated at first to mention the last part, but he wanted an answer soon.
They reached the main entrance. The receptionist was on the telephone.
Cathy stopped near the desk. “I understand completely. I’ll contact you as soon as I can.” She sounded hopeful, but the statement could work in his favor or not.
Andrew offered his hand. “Thank you for the interview.”
She accepted his gratitude and smiled. “I’ll be in touch.”
Her voice sounded hopeful and her pleasant expression led him to believe he had a chance at getting hired. Then again, she probably acted the same toward every applicant, good or bad. He really had no way of knowing if he’d impressed them enough for a position.
He gave her one last smile before he left the office. Unease and curiosity chiseled away at him. Life was easier in heaven since he never had to look for a job or worry about getting one. He tried to stay positive by reminding himself he could watch the demon from the house they were about to lease if he didn’t get hired. Plan B would work, but he preferred to go with Plan A and work in the hospital.
Maybe he was worrying too much. Cathy would need time to contact references and get the approval from the doctor. The latter would be quicker to get than the former. Andrew needed to put Emily on notice and Troy too. While he believed she would provide good feedback for him to get the job, Andrew couldn’t be certain what Troy might say. But if Troy believed Emily would be out of harm’s way if Andrew could get the job, then odds were high Troy would say only good things about Andrew. And on the bright side, if Cathy called his references, then Andrew would know the doc had given his approval to hire Andrew and he would be on the right path to getting closer to the demon.
Chapter Eight
Emily heard the lock click before she twisted the knob. She pushed against the door and it opened. Plastic grocery bags weighed down her arms while she carried her purse and gallon of milk in one hand. She hurried down the hall of the house she’d signed the lease for, heading to the kitchen. Andrew trailed behind her a few steps carrying more groceries. After rounding the corner, she lifted her arms and set everything on the center island. Her arms felt instant relief from the loss of the weight.
Andrew stopped on the side of the island and set his bags on the countertop too. “I can bring everything in if you want to start putting things away.”
“Yeah, good idea.” She slid her arms free from the plastic bag handles while he left to retrieve the rest of the groceries.
Not wasting time, she started to put away the milk and some of the cold items in the refrigerator. She’d spent close to two hundred dollars at the store buying food and other items after she’d picked up Andrew from the hospital. The signing of the lease had gone smoothly. Kimberly was more than willing to hand over the key once she got the funds and at least one signature.
After emptying her bag of groceries, she searched for more cold goods. The large amount of food she’d bought reminded her of times when her parents had brought her shopping with them. They had four mouths to feed. Although only she and Andrew were living together, he had a big appetite. And if he got the job at the hospital, then he’d need food to take to eat. Not to mention, home cooking was much cheaper and healthier than eating out. Since she didn’t plan on working, she could prepare meals for him. It was the normal wife thing to do anyway.
Andrew strode into the kitchen with more bags and his hands full of bottles of laundry detergent. He set everything on top of the center island.
“The water and beer are the only items left from the store. Do you want me to bring the other stuff in too?” he asked as he began unbuttoning his long-sleeved button down.
Emily found more items for the refrigerator. “Yeah, that’s a good idea. There’s no point in keeping everything in the car when we have this large house.”
He removed his shirt and his large biceps were in plain sight, bulging from his t-shirt. Although her hands were busy removing items from the bags, her gaze roamed over his body.
“I’ll get everything out of the car,” he said before he walked away. He set his shirt on the back of the sofa as he passed by it.
Emily continued filling the fridge and freezer with items. What belonged in the pantry, she left on the countertop. As she strode back and forth, collecting items and putting them away, she glanced out the kitchen window above the sink
. The blinds had been left up from when they’d visited earlier. She saw glimpses of the kids in the demon’s house. They were doing something near their dining table.
The sound of the plastic bottles rubbing against each other stole Emily’s attention. Andrew walked in carrying both large cases of bottled water. Although the bottles hid his chest, his large, curvy biceps were quite visible. She stared at them as he walked around the center island. He set the two cases on the countertop.
Emily forced her gaze back to the groceries even though she would’ve preferred admiring his muscles. She’d noticed she’d been eyeing them more and more lately. How could she not when they’d been sharing a hotel room? The man was athletic and wanted to keep in shape, so he jogged a lot and used the gyms wherever they’d stayed. Many times he’d returned to the room with his shirt removed or he’d walk out of the bathroom with only his boxers. Since he spent so much time to stay in shape, why not appreciate his efforts? The problem was, she enjoyed looking at him too much and wanted to do more than view his well-sculpted body.
He walked out of the kitchen and she finished putting goods away. Boxes of cereal in her arms, she rounded the corner for the pantry. She set them on the shelf and then flipped on the light. The pantry and laundry room had plenty of space. A vacuum and mop stood between the shelves and the washer and dryer set on the same side of the wall. Two more racks hung above the appliances.
“Em?” Andrew called out.
She left the pantry and returned to the kitchen. “Yeah?”
He removed the strap of her laptop bag over his head. “Where do you want me to put this?”
She quickly recalled the only tables in the house were in the dining room and the small one near the sofa. Not many choices to select from. “Dining table for now.”
“I only a few more items left to get out of the Jeep.” He set her case on the table as she’d instructed.
Emily looked at the goods on the countertops. Something was missing. It took seconds before she realized the aroma of fried chicken didn’t exist.
