with Monica
directly across from him.
“I’m sure all of you are anxious to get this meeting under way,”
Slessinger said. “I promise it won’t be long. If I happen to run over at the
mouth, everyone in this room has my permission to tell me to shut up.” His
statement garnered the obligatory chuckles.
The chief of staff allowed the laughter to subside before speaking. “Before
we get down to business, I would like to introduce Dr. Millgram’s replacement
in the ER. Everyone, meet Dr. Monica Gardner.”
Polite applause fluttered around the table as Monica pushed her seat back
and stood.
“Thank you,” she said.
That voice. Eli was tempted to close his eyes in order to hear it better.
She had a voice as smooth as soft-brushed velvet, more suited to a nighttime
radio deejay than an ER doc.
“I want to thank Dr. Slessigner for that warm introduction, and for
hiring me in the first place.” Again, chuckles sounded around the table. “I
also want to express how happy I am to join the staff here at Methodist
Memorial. It is an honor to be part of such an outstanding group of
professionals. I look forward to working with all of you,” she finished, taking
her seat.
“We are all pleased to have you as part of our team, Dr. Gardner,”
Slessinger said. “Although she asked me not to say so, I think it’s important
to note that Dr. Gardner graduated in the top five percent of her class from
Saint Louis University School of Medicine. The year she completed her
internship, she was recruited more heavily than the Heisman Trophy winner.”
Slessinger paused for more, laughs then looked over at Monica.
“I cannot think of a better replacement for Dr. Millgram. Your
exceptional talent will only add to this hospital’s impeccable reputation.”
She accepted his praise with a nod of her lovely head before Slessinger
continued, though Eli thought he saw a flash of uncertainty in her eyes. That
was interesting.
Slessinger guided the board through the agenda. At the last bulleted item
he said, “As I stated before, Dr. Millgram was very active on the board, and we
all know his favorite activity was heading the annual charity banquet. Now that
he’s no longer with us, I’ll need another dedicated board member to step up to
the plate.”
The room became so quiet you could hear a grasshopper break wind. Just
when Eli thought crickets were about to start chirping, a smooth, confident, “I’ll
do it,” came from across the table.
Monica Gardner sat even straighter in her chair, a swirl of determination
encompassing the air around her.
“Wonderful!” Slessinger looked excited enough to do cartwheels. “I trust
those of you who have played an active role in the banquet will provide your
services once again.”
Eli’s heart gave an extra thump. He’d been Millgram’s co-chair for the
past three years. He didn’t know whether to get down on his knees and say a
prayer of thanks, or run out of the room and look for another job. Getting the
chance to work this closely with Monica Gardner could be either a blessing or a
curse.
“Monica, could you stay a few minutes over to flesh out a few of the
preliminary details?” Slessinger turned to address the others at the table. “That
pretty much covers it, folks. I’m sure all of you have duties you should be
getting back to. Thanks for coming, and gang, let’s start thinking of ways to
make this year’s charity efforts a hole in one.”
A racket ensued as the majority of the room’s occupants pushed their
chairs back and nosily rose from the table. On their way out, many of them made
their way to Methodist Memorial’s new emergency room doctor. Eli sat back and
observed as Dr. Gardner greeted them all with a warm smile.
He waited for the line of well wishers to dissipate before he rose from
his seat and made his way to where she stood at the large windows that ran the
span of the left wall. Although he knew she could see his reflection in the
window, she
directly across from him.
“I’m sure all of you are anxious to get this meeting under way,”
Slessinger said. “I promise it won’t be long. If I happen to run over at the
mouth, everyone in this room has my permission to tell me to shut up.” His
statement garnered the obligatory chuckles.
The chief of staff allowed the laughter to subside before speaking. “Before
we get down to business, I would like to introduce Dr. Millgram’s replacement
in the ER. Everyone, meet Dr. Monica Gardner.”
Polite applause fluttered around the table as Monica pushed her seat back
and stood.
“Thank you,” she said.
That voice. Eli was tempted to close his eyes in order to hear it better.
She had a voice as smooth as soft-brushed velvet, more suited to a nighttime
radio deejay than an ER doc.
“I want to thank Dr. Slessigner for that warm introduction, and for
hiring me in the first place.” Again, chuckles sounded around the table. “I
also want to express how happy I am to join the staff here at Methodist
Memorial. It is an honor to be part of such an outstanding group of
professionals. I look forward to working with all of you,” she finished, taking
her seat.
“We are all pleased to have you as part of our team, Dr. Gardner,”
Slessinger said. “Although she asked me not to say so, I think it’s important
to note that Dr. Gardner graduated in the top five percent of her class from
Saint Louis University School of Medicine. The year she completed her
internship, she was recruited more heavily than the Heisman Trophy winner.”
Slessinger paused for more, laughs then looked over at Monica.
“I cannot think of a better replacement for Dr. Millgram. Your
exceptional talent will only add to this hospital’s impeccable reputation.”
She accepted his praise with a nod of her lovely head before Slessinger
continued, though Eli thought he saw a flash of uncertainty in her eyes. That
was interesting.
Slessinger guided the board through the agenda. At the last bulleted item
he said, “As I stated before, Dr. Millgram was very active on the board, and we
all know his favorite activity was heading the annual charity banquet. Now that
he’s no longer with us, I’ll need another dedicated board member to step up to
the plate.”
The room became so quiet you could hear a grasshopper break wind. Just
when Eli thought crickets were about to start chirping, a smooth, confident, “I’ll
do it,” came from across the table.
Monica Gardner sat even straighter in her chair, a swirl of determination
encompassing the air around her.
“Wonderful!” Slessinger looked excited enough to do cartwheels. “I trust
those of you who have played an active role in the banquet will provide your
services once again.”
Eli’s heart gave an extra thump. He’d been Millgram’s co-chair for the
past three years. He didn’t know whether to get down on his knees and say a
prayer of thanks, or run out of the room and look for another job. Getting the
chance to work this closely with Monica Gardner could be either a blessing or a
curse.
“Monica, could you stay a few minutes over to flesh out a few of the
preliminary details?” Slessinger turned to address the others at the table. “That
pretty much covers it, folks. I’m sure all of you have duties you should be
getting back to. Thanks for coming, and gang, let’s start thinking of ways to
make this year’s charity efforts a hole in one.”
A racket ensued as the majority of the room’s occupants pushed their
chairs back and nosily rose from the table. On their way out, many of them made
their way to Methodist Memorial’s new emergency room doctor. Eli sat back and
observed as Dr. Gardner greeted them all with a warm smile.
He waited for the line of well wishers to dissipate before he rose from
his seat and made his way to where she stood at the large windows that ran the
span of the left wall. Although he knew she could see his reflection in the
window, she
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