Page 3 of Beating Heart
“How about this,” Doc Dolby said. “What if Cutler comes with me, and we go run a few tests down the hall to check his oxygen levels, and I let him pick out a few stickers from the treasure box while you two chat for a bit? Would that be okay?”
“I’ll pick out a sticker for my new doctor, too,” Cutler said as he hopped off the table.
How was he so cool about this? He’d known Doc his whole life. He didn’t know this woman.
I sucked in a long breath, giving Doc a curt nod before he walked out the door with Cutler’s hand in his and shut the door behind him.
Dr. Chadwick stood with her ass pressed against the examination table that Cutler had just been sitting on, her feet crossed at the ankles as she stared at me.
“I understand your concern. What happened this weekend must have been terrifying. I’d like to come up with a plan that we can put into action moving forward. But I’d prefer to meet with both you and Cutler’s mother so we can all be on the same page. Is your wife available to meet, as well, or can we get her on the phone while we chat?”
This was why I didn’t like change. I didn’t feel like explaining my situation, nor was it anyone’s business.
“I raise Cutler on my own,” I said, my words coming out harsher than I’d planned once again.
Her cheeks pinked the slightest bit, and she nodded. “Okay, no problem. We can move forward with just the two of us then.”
“Obviously. Not sure why we’d invite anyone else to the conversation about my son.”
She reached for the folder and read over a few things before looking back up at me.
“Listen, Mr. Heart, I’m not the enemy. I understand that being caught off guard about your doctor leaving is upsetting.”
“You aren’t from here, so I wouldn’t expect you to understand why this is a big deal.”
“Well, he’s retiring. He’s worked far longer than most; you can’t be that surprised.”
Who the fuck is she to tell me how to feel about it?
“And you know this how? You’ve been here for all of five minutes.”
“I’m just saying, doctors retire all the time. It’s part of life. And I am more than qualified to treat your son, so I’m just asking you to hear me out.”
“It doesn’t seem like I have much of a choice, does it?” I said, knowing I was being a dick but unable to stop myself because I was just not up for much at the moment.
“You always have a choice. If you want to take him somewhere else, and you think someone is better suited than I am, that is your choice.”
“Well, we live here, so it’s kind of important for Cutler to have a doctor in town. Especially with all that’s going on.” I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees.
“Fine. So we agree on something.”
“We agree that I need a doctor and you happen to be one.”
“Great. Looks like we’re off to a fabulous start,” she said, oozing sarcasm as she forced a smile.
This was not the way I saw this morning going.
And I was not happy about it.
two
. . .
Emerson
I’d experienced pushback from parents during residency.
Being a woman.
