Page 74 of Paging Doctor Grump

Jessie looks at me with a nod and goes to one of the people, looking down at them with a cheery smile.

“I’m Dr. Karlsson and this is Dr. McAllister. We’re going to get you feeling better soon.”

I grab a pair of scissors and pass them to her. “Pants first.”

She takes the scissors and starts cutting while I take the man’s vitals. His eyes roll back in his head as I check his airway.

“Smoke inhalation.”

Jessie grabs a breathing tube, and we work together to put it in. Her movements are steady and confident while I hold the patient in place.

As soon as he’s connected to the ventilator, we begin to assess the rest of his damage, working in sync with each other.

There’s nobody else in the world I would rather do this with.

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EPILOGUE - JESSIE

A Few Months Later

Dr. Jessie Karlsson,

After careful review of your academic merit, Sawatch Mountain University Hospital would like to offer you a position in the Sawatch Mountain University Hospital Emergency Medicine Fellowship.

A detailed analyzation of the application materials you provided to the fellowship committee has determined that you are the top applicant for our program.

We believe that you will only bring success and an exceptional understanding of medicine and level of patient care to Sawatch Mountain University Hospital.

My hands tremble as I read the letter over and over again. My chest constricts as my heart races. I glance away from the letter, setting it on the coffee table.

As I run a hand through my hair, I try to wrap my mind around what I just read. The fellowship at SMUH may not be the fellowship I originally intended to get, but it’s still one of the top programs in the country.

And I’m going to be the newest doctor in the program.

There’s no way this is happening. It has to be a dream. They would never want me.

I get up and pace over to the windows. People wander around City Park as rain drizzles down. I take deep breaths, counting the people down below.

This still feels like a dream.

If it is, I don’t ever want to be woken up.

Brookes will be home soon, and I have no clue how to tell him that I got the position. He’s likely to run out and tell the entire neighborhood.

The thought of him racing around City Park West and telling everyone he sees that I got into the fellowship program brings a smile to my face. He would do it too.

There’s something to be said about a man who openly shows his pride over you.

I should call my mom later tonight and tell her too.

This is the first time in years that I’ve thought about calling and sharing big news with her. Normally, it comes up in a rare conversation later, but now, I finally feel excited to tell her something.

It’s strange what time can do.

For the next few minutes, I ignore the letter on the table, needing something to do with my hands until Brookes gets home. I dust off some of the pictures, taking time to hang new ones of me and Brookes along with the old ones.

When I glance at the clock, it’s a few minutes past the end of his shift.

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