“I’m sure he did,” Sandy agreed.
The patient approached the desk. “Hi, I’m here for a one o’clock?” she said sweetly.
handed the woman some forms to fill out, and then swiveled in her chair back to Sandy, who was now standing up.
“I don’t care that I made a scene,” she said, her conscience prickling at the back of her mind. “I mean, he deserved it, right?”
“How much of a scene do you not care about making?” Sandy asked.
raised her fingers and held them apart an inch. “A little scene,” she said.
Sandy shook her head. “You need to be careful with your temper, . You work and live in this neighborhood.”
“Not for long,” said, the logistics of her problem flooding back into her mind. “How am I going to afford a place in Fox Highlands? That apartment’s been rent controlled for years. Everything else is twice as much, at least. I’m going to have to move to Jersey! It’s gonna take me two hours to get to work.”
“You can afford a place,” Sandy said. “You work full time. You don’t have kids to support.”
“I send half of my paycheck to Halvorson’s for Mom’s assisted living. You know that.”
“Oh, Right,” Sandy said. “Well, girl, you can always stay with me. What do we have for one o’clock?”
“Thanks,” said, jiggling the mouse so that the computer screen woke up. She glanced at the calendar. “Bess Livingston,” she said.
She continued ticking off the afternoon’s scheduled appointments. “And at two we have the new intake. One of Dr. Glaston’s patients from the hospital. Another recommendation through the research program. I don’t have a name yet, but the nurse at Dr. Glaston’s office is supposed to be faxing over paperwork soon.”
“That’s fine,” Sandy said. “I know Dr. Norden knows about him too. He knows all of the patients that were in that study.”
“Cool,” said, glad that the lack of information didn’t upset Sandy. “Want me to have Olivia get him set up in Exam room one?”
“That works,” Sandy said. She laid a hand on ’s shoulder. “And don’t stress about your apartment. Things will work out.”
Easy for you to say, thought as she handed Sandy Bess Livingston’s file.
“Livingston?” Sandy called out into the waiting room, where the woman was the only patient. The morning rush had died down, and as usual the afternoon promised to be much slower.
settled into the quiet moment that arrived after Sandy took the patient down the hall towards an exam room. She began checking through emails absentmindedly, clearing the office inbox as she mentally processed the interaction at the coffee shop.
Her cheeks burned at the thought of the scolding she’d given the man. The usual conflict built up inside of her. Her street-smart upbringing flared up in the form of a temper now and then, but for the most part she’d learned to outgrow the habits that she had learned as a child.
Maybe I shouldn’t have yelled at him in public like that, she thought briefly.
But then, as she thought through her situation again, she started to realize how dire it was. She’d not been exaggerating with Sandy—it was going to be very hard to stay in the city. Affordable apartments were hard to come by. At least ones that were safe for single women. And she didn’t know how to drive. The thought of commuting from Jersey to the city by train made her shudder.
I won’t do it, she thought. I’ll have to quit working here. This guy—Martin Cable—is ruining everything.
He deserved it, she thought, picturing the astounded man. He deserved every word that I said. And I’d say it all again, if I had to do it over.
Just then, the office door opened. had her eyes trained on the computer screen. Must be the two o’clock, she thought absentmindedly, glancing at the computer screen. It was quarter to two. He’s early. That’s good. I’ll give him paperwork to fill out.
She bent down and reached into the bottom drawer by her seat. Shuffling through papers until she found a new intake form, she readied herself to greet the patient.
As she stood and walked around the desk, she didn’t take her eyes from the papers. When she’d finally rounded the desk, she held the papers, and looked up.
Her eyes met familiar, ice blue eyes.
Classic features on a handsome face.
A tall man in a designer suit.
Martin Cable.
He stared at her with shock and recognition. Then he lifted a finger. “You,” he said. “Didn’t I just…? You work here? With Dr. Norden?”
felt her cheeks flush. Sandy was always telling her to watch her temper in public, but had never had it out with someone only to have that person walk into the waiting room at her place of employment.
“You… you’re doctor Glaston’s patient?”
“Dr. Glaston recommended Dr. Norden, yes,” Martin said. “I’ve been on the waiting list for a year now. I’m very anxious to see him, actually.”
“Well,” said. She pursed her lips together, stewing in the awkwardness of the moment.
She’d just called this man all kinds of names, and now here he stood, and she was supposed to somehow transition into the role of a graceful office administrator, welcoming him to his appointment.