Page 32 of Single Daddy Doctor Dreamy

As he puts the bags down, I open my laptop and show him the threads I’ve been reading. He scans the screen, his jaw tightening with every line.

"Lucy, this is serious," he says finally, his voice low. "But you shouldn’t have to get involved in this."

"Joel, if these accounts are true, it’s not just about you or the promotion. It’s about protecting the people who work with him. What if he’s done the same thing here and no one’s come forward?"

He runs a hand through his hair, visibly torn. "Even if that’s the case, going after him like this could backfire. It might look like I’m trying to sabotage his chances."

"And what if he’s unfit for the role? What if the board needs to know this before it’s too late?"

Joel exhales sharply, leaning back in his chair. "Okay. If you really want to help, reach out to the nurses who’ve worked with him. See if their stories match what you’ve found. But be careful, Lucy. This could get messy."

The next day, I track down a few of the nurses by asking a nurse I’ve gotten to know at the hospital if she knows them. She is willing to give me their email addresses, so I send them each a brief note. Over the next few days they start to respond. At first, they’re hesitant to talk, but once I share what I’ve read, they begin to open up. The stories they tell are even worse than I imagined; belittling comments, unfair schedules, and in some cases, outright harassment. The fear in their voices is palpable, but so is their relief at finally being heard.

I decide to send Joel a text at work: Joel, I’ve heard back from some of the nurses. You’re not going to believe what they’ve told me. I’ll fill you in tonight.

By the time Joel returns home from work, my heart is heavy, but my resolve is stronger than ever. I’m waiting for Joel in the living room as he drops his keys on the table and quickly comes into the room, his expression tense.

"What did you find out?" he asks as he sits beside me.

I tell him everything, sparing no detail. By the time I’m done, his hands are clenched into fists, and his jaw is set in a hard line.

"We have to tell the board," he says finally, his voice firm. "Even if it costs me the promotion, they need to know."

"Are you sure?" I ask, my hand resting on his arm. "This could change everything."

"And letting him continue unchecked would be worse," he says. "This isn’t just about me anymore. It’s about doing what’s right."

That night, Joel writes a detailed letter to the board, outlining everything we’ve discovered. He includes the accounts from the nurses and the evidence from my research, carefully framing it as a concern for the hospital’s integrity and safety. The next morning, he sends a copy to each board member by special delivery.

As we sit by the fire that evening, the weight of what we’ve done hangs heavy between us. The boys are asleep upstairs, and the house is quiet, save for the crackling of the flames.

"Do you think they’ll take it seriously?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

"I hope so," Joel replies, his gaze fixed on the fire. "But even if they don’t, we’ve done the right thing. That has to count for something."

I lean my head on his shoulder, drawing comfort from his steady presence. The future is uncertain, but in this moment, I know we’ve done everything we can.

16

JOEL

The fallout comes faster than I expect. By noon the next day, whispers ripple through the hospital. “Did you hear?” and “Dr. Rivkin…” are snippets that follow me through the halls. I’m used to being the focus of attention around here, but this? This feels different. Tense.

I get the news from Dr. Patel during a quick break between patients. He steps into my office, shutting the door behind him with a grave expression. “Joel, they’ve called Rivkin into a meeting with the board,” he says, his voice low but firm.

I set down the chart I’ve been reviewing. “Already?”

“Yeah. Just started about twenty minutes ago,” Patel confirms, crossing his arms. “Word is, they’re taking this seriously. They’ve already started reaching out to staff for interviews—mainly nurses. HR’s compiling a list of anyone who’s ever filed a complaint or mentioned something off the record.”

My chest tightens. This is what I wanted, right? Accountability. Transparency. But now that it’s happening, I can’t help but think about the chaos this will cause. The staff’smorale, the potential fallout if the board mishandles this… or if they choose to sweep it under the rug.

“What are people saying?” I ask, leaning back in my chair.

Patel sighs. “Mixed reactions. Some think it’s about time someone said something, but others are worried it’ll backfire. Rivkin’s been here a long time. He’s got his allies.”

“He doesn’t intimidate everyone,” I say firmly. “Many of them are afraid to cross him on their own but as a group, they will be more confident. They’ll speak up.”

Patel gives me a cautious look. “I hope you’re right. Just be prepared. This… isn’t going to be over quickly.”

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