tucking each in her textbook at the appropriate page, handy for last-minute exam cramming. On clinical rounds, she'd pull out one of the cards and make notes about each patient, often flipping through them later in the day to be sure she hadn't missed something. The cards proved invaluable when she presented cases to an attending physician. Notes on three-by-five cards became so ingrained in her life that her pocket or purse generally held cards with grocery lists or reminders to pick up cleaning or have her car serviced.
Today she had to stop herself several times from reaching into her purse for a blank card. Somehow, it seemed almost disrespectful to make notes during her meeting with Cathy. If Elena's observations jibed with Cathy's assessment that the facilities at the hospital were excellent, she accepted that fact and moved on, knowing she could always ask specific questions later. If Cathy told her that night call in her practice wasn't as bad as being on call at Parkland, Elena heaved a sigh of relief, realizing that only time would prove or disprove that assessment. And when Cathy mentioned a salary arrangement that included a generous base salary and benefits, Elena gratefully filed the number away in her head, not on a card.
As they spent time together, Elena warmed to her host. Some of the glow Cathy exuded might be attributable to her pregnancy, but she also had about her a sense of security that Elena envied. Maybe this would be a good match. If only Cathy felt the same.
They wound up their tour in the front foyer of Summers County General Hospital. Cathy extended a hand and turned a half-circle like Vanna White showing a prize. "Well, that's our hospital. What do you think?"
"Frankly, it's more than I expected," Elena said. "You have a very nice facility."
"Here's someone you need to meet." Cathy pointed to a man walking down the hall toward them. A blue dress shirt with a blue and gold tie peeked out from under a spotless white lab coat with creases so sharp they could cut cheese. He was about four inches shorter than Elena's five feet ten inches, but carried himself with the bearing of someone used to being in charge.
The man halted two steps from them, and Elena half-expected him to click his heels as he drew himself up to his full height and nodded once. "Dr. Sewell, good to see you."
"Nathan, this is Dr. Elena Gardner. Elena, Nathan Godwin, our administrator."
Godwin favored Elena with a curt nod. "Doctor, pleasure to meet you. Are you interested in our hospital?"
Before Elena could speak, Cathy said, "That's what we're about to discuss, Nathan. I'm sure you have things to do, so we won't keep you from your rounds."
"Nice meeting you," Elena mumbled.
When Godwin was around the corner, Cathy said, "Self-important little man, but he keeps the place running well."
"He scares me a little."
"Never mind. You won't have a lot to do with him. Now how about some lunch? Since I'm eating for two, it's all I can do to keep my hands off every bit of food I see."
"Cathy, to be in your third trimester, you don't look like you've been overeating."
"That's all right. I don't want the town gossips saying, 'Isn't it too bad she never lost all that pregnancy weight?' Our city is big enough to offer everything you might want, but at heart it's still a small town, and news travels fast around here."
Elena suppressed a shudder. She'd hoped to leave her past behind with the move, to start fresh. But if anyone in Dainger started asking questions about Mark's death . . . No, she wouldn't let that happen.
When they arrived, Will was already inside the restaurant, seated at a table in the back corner. Cathy dropped her purse into the chair opposite him and said, "I'm going to freshen up."
Elena took an empty chair between Cathy's spot and Will. He smiled and said, "So did Cathy convince you that our fair city isn't exactly a medical backwater?"
"Frankly, when she first mentioned Summers County General Hospital, I
Today she had to stop herself several times from reaching into her purse for a blank card. Somehow, it seemed almost disrespectful to make notes during her meeting with Cathy. If Elena's observations jibed with Cathy's assessment that the facilities at the hospital were excellent, she accepted that fact and moved on, knowing she could always ask specific questions later. If Cathy told her that night call in her practice wasn't as bad as being on call at Parkland, Elena heaved a sigh of relief, realizing that only time would prove or disprove that assessment. And when Cathy mentioned a salary arrangement that included a generous base salary and benefits, Elena gratefully filed the number away in her head, not on a card.
As they spent time together, Elena warmed to her host. Some of the glow Cathy exuded might be attributable to her pregnancy, but she also had about her a sense of security that Elena envied. Maybe this would be a good match. If only Cathy felt the same.
They wound up their tour in the front foyer of Summers County General Hospital. Cathy extended a hand and turned a half-circle like Vanna White showing a prize. "Well, that's our hospital. What do you think?"
"Frankly, it's more than I expected," Elena said. "You have a very nice facility."
"Here's someone you need to meet." Cathy pointed to a man walking down the hall toward them. A blue dress shirt with a blue and gold tie peeked out from under a spotless white lab coat with creases so sharp they could cut cheese. He was about four inches shorter than Elena's five feet ten inches, but carried himself with the bearing of someone used to being in charge.
The man halted two steps from them, and Elena half-expected him to click his heels as he drew himself up to his full height and nodded once. "Dr. Sewell, good to see you."
"Nathan, this is Dr. Elena Gardner. Elena, Nathan Godwin, our administrator."
Godwin favored Elena with a curt nod. "Doctor, pleasure to meet you. Are you interested in our hospital?"
Before Elena could speak, Cathy said, "That's what we're about to discuss, Nathan. I'm sure you have things to do, so we won't keep you from your rounds."
"Nice meeting you," Elena mumbled.
When Godwin was around the corner, Cathy said, "Self-important little man, but he keeps the place running well."
"He scares me a little."
"Never mind. You won't have a lot to do with him. Now how about some lunch? Since I'm eating for two, it's all I can do to keep my hands off every bit of food I see."
"Cathy, to be in your third trimester, you don't look like you've been overeating."
"That's all right. I don't want the town gossips saying, 'Isn't it too bad she never lost all that pregnancy weight?' Our city is big enough to offer everything you might want, but at heart it's still a small town, and news travels fast around here."
Elena suppressed a shudder. She'd hoped to leave her past behind with the move, to start fresh. But if anyone in Dainger started asking questions about Mark's death . . . No, she wouldn't let that happen.
When they arrived, Will was already inside the restaurant, seated at a table in the back corner. Cathy dropped her purse into the chair opposite him and said, "I'm going to freshen up."
Elena took an empty chair between Cathy's spot and Will. He smiled and said, "So did Cathy convince you that our fair city isn't exactly a medical backwater?"
"Frankly, when she first mentioned Summers County General Hospital, I
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