“Sir?”
“I assume you’ve been generously compensated?”
“I have no complaints.”
Rose says, “Melba and I are receiving top pay times two based on our qualifications. We work no holidays and no more than four 12-hour shifts per week. We’re not exclusive to you, but your surgeries trump all others. Unless we’re assisting you, our shifts are daytime only, and we receive three day weekends.”
After picking my jaw up from the floor, I ask, “Who the hell negotiated your contracts? Lucifer?”
“Me,” Rose says.
“And you’ve worked together before?”
“No. But Melba’s top notch.”
“How do you know that?”
“I personally recruited her.”
“What if one of you gets sick?”
“Do you get sick?” Rose says.
“No.”
“Neither do we.”
“Is it just the two of you?”
“You won’t need any additional nurses.”
“With all due respect, you’ve never assisted these types of patients.”
“With all due respect, you’ve never worked with us.”
“There’s no room for error.”
“We’ll hold you to the same standard,” she says, coolly.
God, she’s pretty!
28
I’m home by two, and for some reason I’m incredibly drowsy. I’d take a nap, but don’t want to be up all night. Nevertheless, within fifteen minutes I find myself unable to fight it any longer. I set my clock for four p.m., and lie down.
When the alarm goes off, it’s five-fifteen a.m.
I’m positive I set it for four in the afternoon. But if my alarm clock is to be trusted, I’ve slept fifteen hours straight! I check my computer for the day and date.
I slept fifteen hours.
But there’s more. When I went to bed my eyes were swollen half shut. Now I can see clearly. And my ribs, while sore, feel ten times better than they did yesterday.
I check myself in the mirror and can’t believe the face staring back at me. Other than some slight bruising, I look perfectly normal.
My first thought is Rose’s birch bark tea. Could it have possibly worked?
No. I only drank one cup.
If I drank any at all.
Rose claimed I needed a cup every four hours, and clearly that didn’t happen.
A quick breakfast, shave, shower, and then I’m at the hospital telling Bruce Luce I refuse to meet Dublin and Austin Devereaux before or after the surgery.
“What sort of name is Dublin, anyway?” I say.
“God, I hate dealing with you,” Bruce says. “Why must we go through this every time? Their child’s life is in your hands. They need reassurance. They want to believe in the surgeon performing the operation. If you had a child you’d understand. Believe me, I wish they didn’t have to meet you. I’d love to help the hospital get an advanced radiation oncology wing.”
“You would?”
“Does it surprise you to hear some of us want this hospital to flourish?”
I stroll into the conference room with Security Joe, nod at Nurse Sally, and introduce myself to Austin and Dublin Devereaux.
Austin gets right to the point. “Dr. Box, I want you to know we treasure our daughter’s life more than anything in the world. I want her to have the best. Whatever she needs, okay?”
“Money’s no object, right?” I say, taking note of Nurse Sally’s clenched fists.
“That’s correct, doctor.”
Dublin Devereaux is different. Her attitude takes me by surprise.
“How long will this take?” she asks.
“Excuse me?”
“Mr. Luce said it could take six to eight hours. I’d like to be here when she comes out of surgery.”
“You’re going somewhere?”
She looks at her husband.
“Well, there’s not much we can do here, is there?”
“There’s not much I can do here either. Where are you going? Bridge club? Lawn party? Wine tasting? Maybe I’ll come with you.”
“ Excuse me?” Austin says.
“What Dr. Box means,” a voice behind me says, “your presence here isn’t necessary.”
I turn to see Rose Stout standing behind me. She looks radiant, full of life, and just as beautiful in scrubs as she was in street clothes yesterday.
Rose says, “It doesn’t matter where you folks are. What’s important is what’s happening in the OR. Dublin, you’re a new mother. You should take this opportunity to get some rest. Take your mind off the surgery. Leave the worrying to us. In four hours your baby will be the picture of health.”
“Glory hallelujah!” Nurse Sally says.
I look at Rose in disbelief. Did she just promise we’d save their child?
“You’re that certain she’ll pull through?” Austin says.
“You have my word,” Rose says. “Take it to the bank.”
Sally waves her hand above her like a celestial benchpress.
“Lord Jesus, come take me now!” she wails.
“Am I missing something?” Austin says. “We’ve been told Lilly’s chances of surviving the operation were less than five percent.”
“Try zero,” I say.
“Oh, pooh!” Rose says.
“Pooh?”
“Dr. Box is the finest surgeon on earth. He’ll save your daughter, and when he does, you’ll donate funding for the new oncology wing, correct?”
“Well…”
Rose puts her hand on his wrist and says, “You’ll donate twenty million dollars to the hospital today.”
“Yes,” he says.
“Austin?” Dublin says.
“I need to call Ben Cooper,” Austin says.
“Who’s that?”
“Our banker, hon.”
29
That’s my patient, Lilly Collier Devereaux, all four pounds of her. Named after two industry giants whose children, Dublin and Austin, merged their food and wine inheritances through marriage fifteen months ago. You read about it last June, right? Hampton’s wedding of the year? Lilly isn’t going to make it, anyone can see that. And yet my hospital wants a new oncology wing, so instead of being honest with these young parents, they played their trump card.
Me.
“If there’s one surgeon in the world who can save little Lilly, it’s Gideon Box,” they told Dublin and Austin.
Well, I’m fifteen minutes into the operation, and what I’ve found isn’t pretty. But before I have a chance to start my rant, Rose says, “This is one fucked up little bitch!”
30
What can I tell you?
Not only did Lilly Devereaux pull through, the entire operation only took three hours.
Three hours? How the hell did that happen?
It’s as if the clock slowed down.
After the others leave, it’s just me and Rose in the OR.
“I’ve never had such an easy surgery!” I say. “We need to celebrate.”
“You and I?”
“It seems fitting.”
“There were six of us in the OR,” she says.
“But you’re the one that cussed the kid.”
“Well…”
“That’s never happened before! You shocked me, Rose. I never thought I’d say this, but I actually enjoyed myself.”
“You’re an odd duck,” she says. “but I’m glad you had a good time.”
“I can’t explain the feeling I had with you in the room. You had a calming effect on me, but it was more than that. I felt confident. Capable! I was practically euphoric. Hiring you is the greatest thing that’s ever happened to me! You’re smart, capable, and-”
“What about Melba?”
“Melba was a terrific hire! We all make a great team!”
“It’s temporary.”
“What?”
“I’m only doing this for nine months. Then I’m done.”
I look her over. “You’re pregnant?”
“No.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I realize that.”
She sighs. “Look. This isn’t the time or place. You go out and celebrate. Maybe we can meet tomorrow and talk about it.”
“You can’t leave!” I say. “We’re going to do great things together.”
“You’ve got a huge crush on me.”
I feel my face turning red.
“Don’t be embarrassed,” she says. “I’m flattered. I’m just not the one for you.”