Page 21 of Dr. Weston

“Thank you, Dr. Weston. You’ve always been so good to us. I appreciate your help.”

Reaching over, I pat the old guy on the shoulder before leaving the room. Lauren’s words taunt me as I make my way back to the office.

Do you want to end up alone? You’re going to die all alone.

* * *

“Don’t forget we’ve got a date with the Rams tonight,” Jarod shouts from down the hall. He’s headed to the operating room for the rest of the day while I finish up office patients and head to the wound care clinic.

“I’ll meet you at the bar at six,” I answer. The VCU Rams aren’t my home team, but I enjoy attending their basketball games. Jarod graduated from VCU’s medical college while I’m a Harvard alumnus. We haven’t been to a game in a while, and after the last few days, I’m looking forward to it. The only thing better to manage my stress would be spending an evening at the club with my friends.And a good hard fuck.

“Broadie,” Pearl says from the doorway. She’s wearing a pensive expression.

“What’s up?”

“I’m playing interference for Beatrice.”

“Why? What’s the matter? Do I have another patient in the ER?”

She grimaces at my tone. I need to rein it in a little. I can tell I’m reaching my breaking point lately. “It might be worse. I have Brantly Martin here to see you.”

For fuck’s sake.She’s right. It is worse. “That guy just can’t take no for an answer.”

“You can hardly blame him,” Pearl says. “No one else in this hospital could turn things around like you can.”

Standing from my chair, I meet her in the doorway. “I appreciate the vote of confidence. But I need to find a way to work less, not more. I’ve got my hands full here. I don’t want to take on anything else. I’m the only guy on the payroll with no wife and kids to get home to. It was bad enough before, but the stress of this job is taking a real toll. I’m tired of neglecting my girls. I need to make it clear once and for all, I’m not interested.”

Marching down the hall, I attempt to get my ire under control. It’s not like him to go so far as to accost me at my office. I’m happy to try and help him in some other capacity. But the medical director position requires more time than I have left to give.

“Brantly, I—”

“Broadie, thank you for your time. I know you’re a busy man. I didn’t feel comfortable speaking with anyone else about this. Can we talk privately?”

“Sure,” I grumble. I extend my arm toward my office and follow him down the hallway. Once there, I shut the door behind me and take a seat. “What’s going on, Brantly?”

“It’s my wife. She’s in the ER. It’s her third visit. She gets terrible pain across her upper abdomen, yet each visit when she’s evaluated, they can’t determine the problem. She’s had ultrasounds and CT scans, and everything checks out fine. It’s starting to make her feel like she’s losing it. On top of that, I’m worried she’s in pain and doesn’t want to let on for fear she’ll go through this all over again. Is there a chance it could still be her gallbladder?”

Scooting forward in my chair, I rub the back of my neck. “I guess there’s a possibility. Has she cut out the fat in her diet?”

“Yes. She tried that. She doesn’t eat much of anything for days after an attack, then her symptoms ease off gradually. But they always come back.”

“She’s never had gallstones?”

“No. No abdominal issues, either. She’s been taking medication for heartburn and has cut out coffee and tea. She practically lives on dry toast and water.”

“I’m not sure what to tell you. I’m happy to look over her tests and see her in the office.”

“Could you take a look at her in the emergency room before she’s discharged? It would mean a lot to me.”

I look down at my watch. This will throw my whole day off. “Sure. Give me a moment to speak with Beatrice, and I’ll be down.”

“Thank you, Broadie. I’ll feel much better knowing you’ve looked at her.”

Brantly exits, appearing relieved before I’ve even laid hands on his wife. I hope she’ll look improved enough to go home. There’s no way I’d ask the surgical team to stay late if she’s stable.

“Beatrice, there’s been a change in plans. Could you offer the afternoon patients to either reschedule or wait for me? I’m heading to the ER, and then I have to make a quick stop at the wound care clinic before coming back.”

“Of course. Everything all right?”

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