“Amen to that.” Mikaela smiled. “So catch me up on things. How’s work?”
“Work is good. My practice is as busy as I want it to be, and the painting is surprisingly busy for this time of year,” Margo admitted. “You know how they’re redoing the Lakeview Suites? And I was really bummed because Chloe and I put in a bid for the contract and we didn’t get it?”
Mikaela nodded. “Yes, I’ve boycotted them since.”
Margo laughed. “Well, you can stay there again. It turns out, the company that won the bid underestimated the job. No surprise there, for me, anyway.” She grinned. “They have a completion clause, and they’ve realized they’re not going to finish on time. So they subcontracted the work to us, and there’s enough work to take us into January, I figure.
“Plus, one the busiest times for the hotel is over Christmas, and they’ve asked us to take a break from December twenty-second until the twenty-seventh. Which is great. So Chloe and I will have steady work into the New Year, and we’ll get a break over Christmas. We’re not the primary contact, so we don’t have to waste time sorting out paint colors, coordinating with designers, or dealing with the paperwork. In short, the administrative shit. We just show up, paint, and go home. It couldn’t have worked out any better,” she beamed.
“That’s perfect.”
“I know. I’m very happy. Last year it was difficult getting jobs through the winter. This year definitely looks better. And,” she said, waving her fork, “Bennett Homes should be ready for painting starting in February. They started to build a new subdivision in the fall, and they should be finished at the end of January or beginning of February. And we did win the contract for that one,” she said, winking, “so we’ll be set into the spring when homeowners start thinking about renovations. It’ll work perfectly.”
“Your connection with Trace Bennett have anything to do with winning that contract?” she asked, raising her eyebrows and smiling.
“Most definitely did,” Margo said with a huge grin.
“They’re lucky to have you do the job,” Mikaela said.
“Well, I don’t know about that …”
“No really. You show up on time, start when you say you will. Your work is exceptional, you finish when you promise, and you clean up the site afterward. Not all painters are as reliable or as talented,” Mikaela said in earnest.
“Well, thank you,” Margo said with a laugh. “If I ever need a reference, I’ll get them to call you.”
“My pleasure.”
“And how are things with your job?” Margo asked. She was disappointed to see the smile disappear and the tension show in Mikaela’s face the minute the words were out.
“It’s fine. There’s a bit of a tug of war going on for operating room time, which is creating some friction.”
“Ah, administrative shit.”
“Exactly. The medicine is great. The administrative shit, as you so succinctly put it, is a headache.”
Margo paused. “Why is it making you sad?”
Mikaela looked surprised.
“Dark circles, tears. Something’s bothering you.”
“You know, you could just be polite and not mention my haggard appearance.”
“Well I could, but then I wouldn’t be the best friend I obviously am.”
Mikaela just harrumphed.
“You know, since you started this job, I’ve seen you handle tons of administrative shit. At first I worried about the workload for you. But whenever you talked about it, you had this energy about you. Your eyes were shining, you talked about it excitedly, like you were enjoying the challenge. But this is the first time I’ve seen you … sad. It’s like the balloon popped and you’re the deflated version of it.”
Mikaela grimaced. She toyed with the napkin ring. “I guess because this time it involves Sam.”
“Sam? How?”
“Sam wants more OR time. And he’s probably going to get it, too. But he’s taking it from my department and he’s doing it through the chief of surgery.”
“Sam is? Why would he do that?”
“Because he really wants it. And because he figures he can. After all, it comes down to his job or mine. And of course, his is more important.” She shook her head in disgust.
“Jeez. Shades of Elliott all over again,” Margo murmured.
“Exactly,” Mikaela exclaimed, leaning back in her chair.
“What did he say when you talked to him about it?”
“He said ‘have a good weekend.’”
“What?”
“Yeah. I told him that I was coming here and would have to spend the weekend writing a proposal to justify keeping my OR time, and he said to have a good weekend.”
Margo was silent. That sounded like the beginning of the end. “That’s it? Was it like ‘have a good weekend’ with a smile and wave, or was it ‘have a good weekend’ I’m so guilty I can’t look you in the eye?”
Mikaela frowned. “More like ‘have a good weekend’ I don’t care, I’m walking away.”
Margo grimaced. Ouch. “And no explanation about why he went behind your back to organize this?”
“Nope.”
“Did he talk to you about it before? I mean, did you know he was going to do this?”
“Nope. The chief of surgery asked to meet with me and informed me that because I haven’t used all my time, they were taking it and giving it to ophthalmology, who have been requesting more.”
“I find this hard to believe. Sam really seems into you. I can’t believe he would do something so underhanded.”
“Yeah, it’s not like he ever lies or anything.”
“Mmmm. You do have a point there. But really, maybe he just requested extra time and didn’t have control over the rest. You know how these things can spiral out of control.”
“Yeah. That I do know. But he’s so aggressive with it.”
“What happens if he doesn’t get more OR time?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t really discussed it with him. His skills get rusty maybe? His waiting list gets too long? One of the reasons he left the General was because they were going to cut his OR time.”
“So it’s important enough for him to be aggressive. He wants it so he puts a bug in his department’s head, haha excuse the pun, who runs with it and gets the chief of surgery on his side. Sam may have been left out of the loop beyond talking to his head. I don’t know. I’m speculating. But it might be worth sitting down and talking it out further. If it matters to you.”
Mikaela sighed. “Yeah, unfortunately it does.”
“I guess you just have to decide what matters more.”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t know. Maybe I don’t know enough about the whole thing. But it sounds like you could be pulling an Elliott on Sam.”
“What? How?”
“Well. Sam versus OR time. Sam needs more OR time and you have a chance to help him out. You feel your department is more important so you don’t, but by putting your job ahead of him, you jeopardize his job and your relationship with him. You Elliott him.” She shrugged.
Mikaela just stared. “What?” Tears filled her eyes.
Margo panicked. “Sorry. No. Not really. It’s completely different. Just pretend I didn’t say that. How about some dessert? That pear cheesecake looks delicious.” She stood up and collected their plates.
Mikaela didn’t move. “Am I? Elliotting him?”
With a sigh, Margo set the dishes on the counter and sat down and covered Mikaela’s hand with her own. “Talk to him, Mikaela. Find out what Sam thinks. Maybe there’s a solution you both can live with. If you care enough, let him know.”
“You make it sound so easy,” Mikaela complained.
Margo wiped a tear from Mikaela’s cheek. “I know. Giving advice is always easier than following it. Especially when I have no idea what I’m talking about.” She smiled. “Feel free to tell me to mind my own business and stick with painting. I’m good at painting.”
“You are good at painting. And for being there when I need you. And for saying things I need to hear. Even when I don’t want to hear them. I love you, you know.”
“I love you, too.” Margo gave Mikaela’s hand a quick squeeze. “And just remember that. Tomorrow when your feet are complaining, and your nose is cold, you love me.”
“Maybe not that much.”
“Too late. One o’clock start. How about some cheesecake?”
“Sounds good. I feel the need to carbo load.”
Margo laughed. “I’ll give you a big piece.”
Chapter 30
Written in the Stars by Esmeralda Garnet
ARIES (March 21-April 19) Take care of work-related matters. Being practical and looking out for yourself should be your first priority. Don’t allow a partnership to come between you and your common sense. Don’t hesitate when change is required.
Mikaela sat sipping her coffee the next morning while she scanned the newspaper and read her horoscope. Put herself first. She rubbed her tired eyes. If she’d read that yesterday, she might not have been awake half the night worrying about what to do.
She needed to talk to Sam. Margo was right about that. Maybe she had been too hasty in questioning his motives and assuming the worst. She needed to talk to him, find out how it all happened and what it all meant to him.
But what troubled her more was Margo’s suggestion that she might be Elliotting Sam. Mikaela cringed. She hadn’t meant to. She was trying to find a balance between asserting her role as department head and fitting in with the rest of the hospital, keeping her options open for the future while trying to please the Department of Surgery, and dealing with how she felt about Sam while living a lie in a fake engagement. She didn’t want to lie anymore, or be lied to anymore. And she definitely didn’t want to use her job to hurt Sam.
Expanding the department and hiring another obstetrician were important goals. There was too much work for one doctor, and she didn’t want to be on call for high-risk deliveries twenty-four seven. She needed to share call or she would burn out. And then nobody would be happy, least of all her.
She could give the time to Sam. It could take six months or more to complete the hiring process, and in the meantime, Sam could operate. It was frustrating, though. She might never get the time back, or it would be an argument when she needed it. Sam wouldn’t be in the midst of it, but she would.
She got up and carried her coffee cup to the sink to rinse it.
She had two hours to look over all the information from Crispin, before she had to meet Margo and the gang for snowshoeing. Maybe a brilliant idea would come to her.
She took the file out of her briefcase, grabbed the mail piled on the counter, and sat down at her desk. She threw the flyers into the recycling bin and placed the bills in a pile. An envelope from Winmarket Regional Hospital made her pause.
A while back, she had sent a letter to Winmarket Regional. It was a smaller hospital with a decent-sized obstetrics department in a growing community. At the time, that’s what she wanted. She hadn’t heard back and had assumed the position had been filled.
Mikaela ripped open the letter.
Dear Dr. Finn,
We have reviewed your application for full-time associate staff in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Winmarket Regional Hospital. We would like to invite you for an interview. The position is effective July 1.
Winmarket Regional Hospital is situated in the middle of a vibrant community offering a diversity of cultural, recreational, and educational opportunities. We are proud of the excellence in healthcare provided to the growing community and catchment area of 200,000+.
Please contact us by January 7 to arrange an interview. We look forward to meeting with you.
Sincerely,
P. Reginald BA MSc MD FRCPS
She blew her hair out of her eyes. That was exactly what she needed. Six months ago. It would have been so easy. Compared to what she was dealing with now, the position at Winmarket was perfect.
Maybe this was the answer. Maybe this was the change she should make. Maybe this was the change that was meant to be. It wasn’t too late. She could start fresh and start honestly.
What about Sam?
They could ‘break up’ by July. They could tell people it didn’t work out. Sam could stay at Emerson and live in his house, and she could be far away where it wouldn’t hurt to see him every day. And she wouldn’t be caught in the middle of a problem that had the potential to hurt them both. Her heart would heal. Probably. Hopefully.
Her chest ached just thinking about it. Butterflies in her stomach churned and she felt lightheaded. It was a big scary change that wouldn’t include Sam. It would be exciting and healthy, Mikaela told herself sternly.
Why did it make her want to cry?
Mikaela glanced at the clock and realized she needed to get ready if she was going to meet Margo on time. The file sat unopened. She fleetingly thought of texting Margo to bow out, but Margo would just come and drag her along. Maybe the fresh air would clear her head and give her a fresh perspective. Either way, it couldn’t hurt.
Chapter 31
happenstance horoscope
ARIES (March 21-April 19) A change of direction may be beneficial. New challenges are part of emotional and physical growth. Don’t dwell on the past.
Oh, she was wrong about that. Muscles in her calves and thighs complained bitterly. Mikaela hoped she could walk tomorrow.
The temperature was perfect for a walk. Clean, fresh snow covered the ground, and the treetops glistened an iridescent white in the sunshine. They were walking up a steady incline on a path among evergreen trees.
She expected the snowshoes to look like wooden tennis rackets and was surprised to be handed sleek lightweight aluminum frames. She felt light as a feather walking over the deep snowbanks.
But oh, someone might have mentioned what a workout it was. She sweat through the first two layers she wore and hoped there was a little Palent technology magic working in the fabric. She was definitely going to feel it tomorrow. But the good news – she was distracted enough not to worry about the problems at work. For that alone, she was glad she came.
For all her effort, the group kept a leisurely pace and stopped after an hour and a half for a snack of nuts and dried fruit. They sipped bottles of water. Some stood, some sat on rocks cleared of snow, enjoying the quiet and the warm stream of sunshine through the canopy. No crickets, no frogs, no snapping twigs this time of year. Even the birds were quiet. A chickadee fluttered silently down and landed briefly on an outstretched hand holding seeds, and just as quietly darted off again to the trees, leaving a smile of pleasure on the bird feeder.
Margo sauntered over to Mikaela and smiled. “How are you doing?”
“I’m great. It’s a bit more than the ‘walk in the park’ you promised,” she said with a laugh. “But I’m loving it. This is a little oasis in the forest.”
“I know. It’s great company for the mind, exercise for the body, and this serene spot for the spirit.”
Laughter spilled over from a group as they put their snowshoes back on. “They seem like a really great bunch,” Mikaela said as she watched them.
“They are. Some of them have hiked all over the world and have stories that would curl your hair. And that’s just the teenagers.”
“I can’t keep up with the lead. And he looks like he’s my dad’s age.”
“Seventy-two. His wife is just as fit. She didn’t come today because their granddaughter had a baby, and she’s gone to visit. But the two of them are still active in the triathlon circuit. They do it for fun, they say. For fun.” Margo shook her head.
Mikaela laughed as she stood up, slipped her boot into the snowshoe and tightened it. “That’s what I keep telling myself. This is fun. This is fun.” She grinned over at Margo. “But I wouldn’t want to overdo it with the fun. You know, too much of a good thing and all that, so we are, ah, heading back
soon, right?”
Margo laughed. “Yes. The path is a big loop, and this is about the halfway point.”
“Good. At the end of the day, when I’m home and feeling good about spending the day outside in the fresh air, proud of myself for pushing myself that extra mile … there’s caramel cheesecake waiting for me in my fridge.”
“More fun. Enough to share?”
“Of course. Is there any other way to eat cheesecake?”
“You’re a bad influence,” Margo pointed out as she tightened her second snowshoe. She gestured for Mikaela to go ahead and moved to join the group.
“You bought the cheesecake,” Mikaela said as she fell in line.
“I was just doing my part to prevent world hunger.”
“One small slice at a time. That’s beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
“And I shall reward you with cheesecake. There’s leftover Indian, too.”
“Thank you. I will humbly accept.”
Later that night as Mikaela savored the last of the cheesecake from her plate, she blurted, “I got a letter from Winmarket Regional Hospital about a job offer.”
“What?” Margo stopped with her fork halfway to her mouth.
“Winmarket is looking for an ob-gyn. I applied a while ago and had forgotten about it, but I got a letter in the mail inviting me for an interview.”
“Really?”
Mikaela nodded. “I opened it this morning. The job would start the first of July.”
Margo sat back in her chair. “What about Emerson?” What about Sam? she thought, but didn’t say it out loud.
“I would give them notice, and since I’ve already started the process to hire someone, they’ll have an obstetrician.”
Mikaela leaned forward. “I just think it would be best. I can’t go on with this fake engagement forever. We said a year and July first will almost be a year. Sam’s established and can carry on. After we end the engagement, I can’t stay and risk seeing him every day. I just couldn’t do it. And I don’t think I’m cut out to be the department head. Look what’s happening. If I do what’s best for the department, I hurt Sam. If I do what’s best for Sam, I hurt the department. I can’t do this. At least, not at the same hospital as Sam. I could start fresh without the lies.”
Perfectly Honest Page 16
