“Excuse me?” Hope said.
“Please don’t interrupt. I’ve changed your schedule and added to your regular ER duties. Starting tomorrow, you are solely responsible for the health and well being of a single patient—Louise Gates. And I expect her and her family to receive the best possible care this hospital and its staff has to offer.”
“You’ve gone too far this time Hugh. I’ve put up with all of your crap since you came here. You put me on the graveyard shift. You’ve extended my hours, now you’re adding to that by assigning me to the fifth floor until further notice?” You have absolutely no basis for doing that.”
“I do, and I have.”
“I didn’t spend eight years of my life in med school, interning and doing my residency to be a glorified babysitter.” She stood and walked toward the door then paused, turned, pointed her finger in a home-girl manner. “If Mrs. Gates needs constant attention, I suggest she hire a private duty nurse. And you can tell her family for me that they have some nerve.”
“Please sit down Hope and let me finish.” She hesitated and glared at him before finally sitting down in the chair. “This is not a request from Mrs. Gates, or any member of her family. This is a request from the hospital administrator and Barclay Medical.”
“I’m sure Barclay could care less about Louise Gates.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. Barclay Medical is very interested in Louise Gates.” He noted her reluctance then decided on a different approach. “A few extra hours of your time to care for a very sweet, very dear, elderly woman, who thinks the world of you, isn’t a burden is it?” Hugh knew at that moment he had her.
“Why?”
“Mrs. Gates is a very important patient and we’d like to keep her happy.”
“Aren’t all of our patients important?”
“Yes, of course they are.” He lied easily, annoyed by Hopes insistence.
“So why the special treatment for Louise Gates?”
Hugh, never one to be dissuaded, launched into a spiel that would snow even the most cynical observer.
“Actually, none of this matters because Scott took me off the case. He’s Louise Gates’ physician now. So you’ll have to talk to him, not me.”
“Consider yourself back on the case.”
Hope was unmoved.
“I’ll relieve you of a few extra hours in exchange.”
“No thanks.”
“It isn’t a request doctor. It’s an order.”
Her face remained expressionless.
“I can, however, make this more difficult for you. I can assign you to the fifth floor permanently.”
Hope was more than a little surprised. Something was up and she wanted to know what.
The implication was obvious. It was a threat and it wasn’t the first time Hugh had used his power to his advantage.
“All right, fine I’ll do it,” she huffed.
Hugh stood and extended his hand to give her Raymond’s business card and address.
She looked away purposefully. “Thank you, doctor. Your commitment and generosity to this hospital will not be forgotten.”
“Whatever,” she muttered too low for Hugh to hear. She snatched the card then turned towards the door. As she reached for the knob she paused when Hugh spoke to her.
“Oh, and Hope, your attendance at the fundraiser this weekend has been requested.”
“What?”
Hugh handed her an invitation. She took it, staring at it as if it were a foreign object. He turned and went back to his desk, closed his briefcase and prepared to leave for the day.
“What?” Hope asked a second time, still staring at the envelope in her hand. “Are you kidding? I can’t go to this. I have a double shift this weekend.”
“You’re off this weekend. It’s been arranged.”
A nervous laughter erupted as Hope walked back to the desk and placed the envelope on Hugh’s closed briefcase. “I still have other plans.”
“It might be in your best interest to change your plans. If you need a few hours, fine. I’ll have someone cover for you.” Hugh picked up the telephone and began to dial.
“No!” Hope shouted.
Hugh stopped dialing.
“No, I just don’t do parties like this. My plans were to spend the time doing another shift in the ER.”
Hugh placed the receiver in the cradle. “Oh, well, then it’s settled. For the time being, you’re no longer working in the ER,” he said cavalierly as he picked up the envelope and gave it back to her. She inched away as if it were the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden.
Hugh picked up his briefcase and came around to the front of the desk. “Hope, no excuses,” He placed the invitation securely in her hand. “I’ll see you at the fundraiser this weekend. Oh, and before I forget. You have a meeting with Dr. Gates at his office later this evening, eight o’clock. Don’t be late.”
She went numb as she looked at the white envelope then slowly sat back down in the chair looking dazed. She looked up when Hugh called her name a second time.
“Hope, have a good evening and I will see you this weekend at the fundraiser, and don’t forget your meeting with Dr. Gates this evening.”
Chapter Ten
Raymond smiled as he took the stairs, two at a time, down to the fifth floor. He was in a good mood. The smell of coffee on his hands brought a quick and easy smile. Thoughts of Hope had made him smile a lot lately.
Seeing her in tight jeans as she walk away from him toward Hugh’s office brought an interesting thought to mind. He could see that hidden under her drab-looking scrubs, Hope had a nice body. Not skinny or anorexic, but full-figured, with just the right amount of curves that could drive a man wild. She had a heart-shaped bottom that swayed like bottled heaven. Her breasts were voluptuous perfection, and her rounded hips begged to be caressed.
A sly smile crept across Raymond’s face at the direction his thoughts had taken. Hope was a refreshing departure from most of the women he met and was usually attracted to. She was a breath of fresh air. There was something about her that made him want to smile a lot.
Her temper and aloofness only added to his budding attraction. She’d put a smile on his face that was becoming impossible to erase. Each time he thought about the way that she lit into him, he laughed out loud.
As he walked down to the nurses’ station on the fifth floor he introduced himself and asked to use the phone. As he dialed, he requested and received Louise’s chart.
He called his office, his answering service and then a good buddy of his at the University of Pennsylvania. After several brief conversations he headed for his grandmother’s room.
As he approached her room he realized that the laughter he heard was coming from his grandmother’s room. He entered the room to see what looked like a party.
Several nurses and an orderly surrounded Louise, while Dennis Hayes and Colonel Wheeler were in the middle of one of their many stories.
Raymond stood by the door while he carefully observed his grandmother. Except for the rash, she didn’t appear to be sick at all. If he didn’t know any better, he’d say she was up to something. But, since being in the hospital, her matchmaking had been temporarily put on hold.
Eventually the impromptu party broke up when Dennis and Colonel Wheeler excused themselves and the nurses and staff went back to their duties.
Raymond smiled down at Louise then looked closer to examine her face and eyes. They sparkled and shined with renewed vigor and energy. Dressed in a lilac robe adorned with dainty flowers and lace trim at the neck and cuff, she looked as if she could have been lying in her chaise lounge at home. “You look great Mamma Lou, how do you feel?”
“I feel much better than I did earlier this morning.”
“You look much better. I see the rash from the hives is beginning to fade.”
She nodded. “Yes it is, thank the Lord. The itching is almost completely gone as well. After Hope gave me that last shot I fell right to sl
eep. Otis tells me that I pretty much slept all day. I woke up just a few hours ago. He and Dennis were discussing restaurants, as usual.” Louise yawned and stretched lazily.
“Looks like you had a few deliveries.”
Louise looked around the room at the generous array of flowers. “Aren’t they lovely?”
Raymond nodded.
“I’ve collected all the cards and letters to make sure I send thank you notes when I return to Crescent Island. Unfortunately, I ran out of floor space so I sent most of the flowers to the maternity ward. I think they’ll brighten up someone’s day don’t you?”
“When was the last time you saw Dr. Adams?”
“She came up from ER shortly after you left this morning to give me another shot, then again just a few minutes ago, just before you came in as a matter of fact. She and Dennis where having a good ole time when Otis and I returned from my walk.”
“Oh really, she and Dennis?” Raymond’s interest was piqued as a grumble of annoyance echoed through his body.
“Hope is such a nice young woman. I thought maybe I’d have Dennis ask her out sometime.”
“Dennis? Dennis Hayes?” Raymond nearly fell off the chair. “No!”
“Why not. Dennis is a fine young man, good family, polite and successful. He and Hope seemed to really get along well earlier. I think they just might make a wonderful couple.”
“No,” he said adamantly. The stern look on Raymond’s face was all the encouragement she needed to continue with her original plan. Apparently she’d been right all along. Raymond and Hope were perfect for each other.
“Well, if you’re so sure, maybe I’d better rethink that idea.”
“Mamma Lou, we talked about this matchmaking thing of yours before. Just because it worked once doesn’t mean it will work every time.”
Louise smiled knowingly. He had absolutely no idea that she’d been matchmaking all of her life, including matching his father with his mother years ago.
“Yes I know dear, I promise to stop.” She continued to smile as Raymond nodded sensing a small victory. The fact that she never mentioned when she would stop never occurred to him.
Shaken by the thought of Dennis and Hope together, Raymond breathed a sigh of relief. Louise continued to smile happily as she changed the subject. “How was the rest of your day?”
“Busy, as usual. I had a few consultations this morning along with several minor procedures. I just had a meeting with the foundation.”
“How’s the new building?”
Raymond nodded. “It’s looking good. It’s right on schedule.”
The foundation Raymond started several years ago began primarily as a mentoring program that evolved into a scholarship fund and teaching organization that helps African-American students further their education in the medical and scientific research fields.
In four years, the foundation had succeeded in providing several promising students scholarships to MIT and Cal Tech.
“What are your plans for this evening?”
Raymond shook his head. “I have a patient consultation at the office an hour.
Louise looked up at the clock. “That’s awfully late isn’t it? It’s already six o’clock. This must be a very special patient.”
Raymond thought about his patient and shook his head in frustration. “If you mean special in an annoying way, yes. She insists on having another cosmetic procedure done. It’s dangerous and risky even under the best of conditions. I refused to do it, but she insists. She’s threatening to go to someone else.”
“Raymond, if this patient decides to go elsewhere, even after you’ve repeatedly warned against it, it’s no longer your responsibility. I know it’s frustrating when patients don’t listen. But in this case, you’ve done your job.”
Raymond walked over to the window and looked out at the buildings surrounding the hospital. The neighborhood seemed to be surrounded by poverty and blight. As a cosmetic surgeon his job was to surgically correct physical abnormalities and enhance beauty. From the vantage point of the view there was no beauty. He turned back to Louise who was channel surfing with the television remote control.
“Mamma Lou, I don’t get it. Why here?” Raymond asked.
Louise reclined in the hospital bed, one arm casually tucked behind her head, still holding the TV remote. She looked at Raymond. “Why where?”
Raymond smiled and moved closer to the bed. “Why this particular hospital? You were surrounded by several hospitals nearby, but instead chose to come here?” He waved his arms around toward the window. “Why?”
“The paramedics felt that I needed to get to a hospital as soon as possible.”
“You were staying on the Upper West Side, near several private hospitals. Why not ask to be taken to Manhattan Medical, it was the closest. There’s also St. Luke’s and Columbia Presbyterian. Any one of them would have been closer. Why did you choose to come here?” Raymond’s suspicious tone was evident.
“It’s very simple Raymond. I asked to come here. So the paramedics brought me.” She placed her hand on her forehead theatrically and closed her eyes. She waited a second then peeked through her fingers to see Raymond’s reaction. With barely a second breath she asked, “Have you consulted with Hope yet?”
Raymond poured water into a small glass and handed it to his grandmother. “Actually, I’ve just come from an appointment with Dr. Wescott. He’s the hospital administrator. I was going to see about having you transferred to Manhattan Medical.”
Louise nearly choked on her cup of water. “What?”
“I want to have you transferred to my hospital.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. This hospital is just fine.” She looked around the sparse room. “I rather like it here. The people are wonderful.”
‘Mamma Lou, you’ll get better care at Manhattan Medical. Besides, I’m there. I can personally take care of you.”
“Nonsense. You have enough on your plate without worrying about me. No, I’m staying right here.”
“Mamma Lou,” he began but stopped when the nurse stopped by to check on her. “This isn’t over,” he warned.
Louise smiled brightly, “Of course it is. Now you go on and get back to work. I’ll talk to you later.”
Louise had a way of dismissing her grandsons that made Raymond feel like he was seven years old again. He dutifully kissed her cheek and promised to return later.
Chapter Eleven
After her horrendous meeting with Hugh, Hope proceeded to the ER. Her dark mood was evident prompting her coworkers to steer clear.
At seven o’clock Scott approached her. “I understand that your shift is up. Isn’t it about time you got going?”
She looked at him in annoyance. “Excuse me?”
“I received a phone call from Hugh. He informed me that you were leaving early. He also wanted me to make sure that you’d left in enough time for your consultation. I believe Dr. Gates is expecting you at eight o’clock.”
“I won’t be attending,” she said defiantly. After all what could Scott possibly do to her if she decided not to go?
“In that case, Hugh asked me to mention to you that the temporary assignment on five could become permanent.”
***
Forty-five minutes later Hope stepped off the elevator and followed the directions posted on the sign in the hallway to the only suite on the floor. She came to the end of the corridor and stood before frosted-glass, double doors. She looked at the business card that Hugh had given her and sighed. The name on the glass double doors read simply, Dr. Raymond Gates and Associates, Cosmetic Surgery. She pushed the door open and walked inside.
The brightly lit reception area was illuminated by recessed ceiling lights and floor lamps, but was otherwise empty. Hope looked around the office. She looked around the room and realized that it was larger than she originally thought and shaped like a large semicircle.
The décor was sleek and modern with leather furniture and muted earth-tones on the w
all. The fixtures and floors were Carrara marble and polished mahogany. Hope shook her head as she looked around the luxurious office, apparently cosmetic surgery paid even better than she imagined. She stood in the center of the room looking from side to side.
The space had elaborate crown moldings and a coffered ceiling. In the center of one wall was a water feature. The waterfall was a steady sheer that flowed down a glass wall. The effect was stunning. Hope moved closer to the glass and peered behind the reception desk to see the water gently pooling into a long narrow trough. The soothing sound of flowing water brought a smile to her face. Beyond the reception area was a hallway that led to offices in the rear of the suite.
She heard a woman’s laughter and called out to get someone’s attention. She heard Raymond’s voice as he approached her.
Wearing metal-frame glasses, his demeanor was all business. His crisp white shirt looked brighter against his dark navy pants. His clean shave face and caramel complexion made her heart stop. The soft hazel tint of his eyes had kept her awake practically all night long.
“Hi, how are you?” he said. Hope nodded. “Thanks for coming. Have a seat. I’m in with a patient at the moment. It’ll only be a few more minutes.”
She nodded again then took a seat as Raymond disappeared down a narrow hallway.
Hope noticed a stack of magazines on a side table. She walked over and looked through the titles—the usual waiting room reading--Family Circle, Women’s Day, National Geographic, Sports Illustrated and Black Enterprise. She chose one and began flipping through it. She tossed it aside and picked up another magazine, a medical publication. It was a special edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association, entitled “Plastic Surgery Today.” She absently flipped through the medical journal then stopped when she saw a byline. An article entitled, “The Risks of Before and After” caught her attention. It was written by Dr. Raymond Gates Jr.
One Sure Thing (Mamma Lou Matchmaker Series) Page 9
