Page 8 of My eX-MAS Emergency

She chuckled. “You got this, Dr. Monroe,” her voice cracked. “Your mom and dad would be so proud.”

“They would say I am finally using my powers for good and not evil.”

“Your parents never thought you were evil. They loved your fire. Don’t lose that—just keep it a controlled burn, okay?”

I nodded, knowing what she meant, and walked out the door. The gleaming tiled floor and fancy artwork on the walls seemed to mock me and remind me I was out of place. It was a far cry from the inner-city hospital in Phoenix, where the walls were drab and dankness permeated the halls. I doubted I would treat gunshot and stab wounds on any sort of regular basis here. Yet, I felt like I belonged more there than here. There, they applauded my cowboy ways.

The ride down the elevator went way too quickly. I had never questioned myself more than at that moment. Not even when, against my better judgment, I had decided to date the nonexistent pretty boy who persistently pursued me so long ago. I should have known better then, just like now. But just like then, I’d already made my choice and I would see it through. I was stubborn like that. If only I could figure out why the Grangers still had it out for me. They’d gotten what they wanted. Their son left me and hated me, just like they wished.

It’s possible they still blamed me for his arrest all those years ago, even though I’d begged him not to take the blame for rescuing those puppies. He hadn’t wanted to help me in the first place. I’d even told him not to come, but he insisted when he realized I was hell-bent on saving them. In good conscience, I couldn’t let those dogs live another moment in the filthy, cruel conditions of that supposed breeder’s property. It all ended up working out. The breeder got shut down, we placed the puppies and older dogs in good clean homes, and he got off without even a blemish on his perfect record. So why did the Grangers still feel the need to keep me down now? Were they worried I still wanted their son? Believe me, they had absolutely no reason to fret. I had made a solemn vow to never look at him again. And unlike the sock promise, and the one time I’d slipped up and looked at his pretty face during the funeral, this was one sacred oath I would be keeping.

When the elevator doors opened into the ER waiting room, I trudged out, gripping my backpack straps like lifelines. A couple of adults were waiting to be seen. I decided it was best not to make eye contact, lest they see the fear in my face. It wasn’t them I was afraid of. It was this town. The town with judging eyes.

I hustled to the entrance and stretched out the badge on the retractable reel attached to my shirt to pass it over the electronic lock. When the door automatically swung open, I jumped like this was my first rodeo. Get it together, I berated myself. I wouldn’t be intimidated by the Grangers. I mean, it’s not like I needed this job to pay off my two hundred grand in student loans or anything. I rarely cried, but I felt some tears emerging until I saw the nurses’ station. They had made an enormous banner and hung it up on the glass surrounding the station in the middle of the unit. Welcome, Dr. Monroe!

Nurses really did save lives.

My tears didn’t have the chance to manifest, thank goodness. I never cried on the job unless … well … when someone died. Even then, I did it privately in my car after my shift was over.

The bitter smell of antiseptic and soap lingered in the air, while the sounds of heart and blood pressure monitors played in the background. In a weird way, it calmed my nerves. It reminded me why I loved this job, and that I got to help make people better every day.

The charge nurse, I believed Deidra told me her name was Evie, noticed me right away. She left the safety of the station and marched over to me like she was on a do-or-die mission. I was used to it. They didn’t have time for new doctors, which I understood. Thankfully, after medical school and residency rotations, I got used to learning the ropes quickly in a new unit. It was kind of like being thrown into a pack of wolves. Everyone had to learn to fend for themselves. If I was lucky, some nurse would at least show me to the employees’ lounge and let me know where I could get a mass infusion of caffeine.

Evie was probably in her late fifties, judging by her short gray permed her. She was all of five foot two, but her in-charge attitude made her seem taller than my five-foot-nine frame. This was good. I appreciated a no-holds-barred charge nurse. They made the unit function better, which made my job easier.

“Are you Dr. Monroe?” Evie barked. Clearly, she was not the one who made the welcome banner. And … more than likely, she knew I came with a reputation. For all I knew, she was Cordelia Granger’s BFF. Except, I’m pretty sure Cordelia’s best friend was the spawn of Satan.

I held out my hand. “Yes, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Evie, right?”

She warily looked at my hand before she took it and crushed it with her iron grip. It was her silent way of warning me she would not tolerate pink elf costumes or cowboy medicine.

I looked squarely into her brown, emotionless eyes. “I’m ready to get to work.”

She dropped my hand.

I refused to give her the pleasure of flexing it. I would show no fear, even if I trembled inside.

She gave me a good once-over. “Follow me.”

I marched behind her.

“Did you download the app so we can page you if needed?”

“Yes.”

She spun around. “Just so you know, I don’t care who you’re related to here. I don’t have time for nepotism.”

I knew she meant Deidra.

“Evie.” I smiled my most charming smile. “I promise you, by the end of this week, we’re going to be best friends and you won’t know what you ever did without me.”

Her eyes widened, transforming her large forehead into several rolls of skin.

I loved to catch people off guard.

She tsked before turning back around, obviously not sure what to make of me.

I, on the other hand, felt a bit of satisfaction, and more like myself. I hated that I had let the Grangers rule my emotions.

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