Page 57 of The Doctor's Simple Life

I’m just coming out of the surgical theater one day when I find Mikey waiting for me. Silverbell was almost two months ago, and it’s starting to feel like a distant fantasy of something far, far away. I’ve just done a routine breast implant surgery — nothing that rigorous or hard, but it’s nice to know that I helped at least one person become closer to the person she’s always been in her head.

It’s about the only satisfaction I get these days.

It’s been a long day and I’m tired, so the last thing I want is for Mikey to say, “Hey, can we chat?”

“Sure,” I say. It’s not like I can say no. “What’s up?”

He leads me off into a back room, and my heart jumps into my mouth. There’s no way he’s firing me. Is there?

I can’t have come back to my job only to be so bad at it that I’m going to be let go immediately. Right?

He smiles as we sit. “I’m so glad to have you back.”

“Thank you,” I say. “I was worried I was getting fired for a second there.”

Mikey laughs long and hard. “Oh no, I’m not going to fire one of my best people. I’m not stupid.”

“Never thought you were.”

He chuckles again, then claps his hands on his knees to signal that he means business. “No, I’ve actually come to talk about a promotion.”

“A promotion?” I stammer.

“Yeah. Obviously, think it through. I’ll give you some time. It would be a whole lot of extra responsibility, and I don’t want you to take on more than you feel like you can handle. But it would make you a very senior member of staff. It wouldn’t have that much effect on your pay grade, but your status would improve, and you’d be able to pick whatever you wanted for your workload. Have a look over this, think about it, and get back to me. Okay?”

“Okay,” I say, my head too empty to think of anything but agreeing.

He hands me a packet of information and then smiles. “You’re a great doctor, Reece. We want you here. Consider this an honor. Accept this, and you’ve got a job until you die.”

With that, he leaves the room, leaving the packet in my hands.

I glance through it, a numbness growing inside me. It’s many, many pages long, full of legal speak and tiresome nonsense. And as I look at it, I begin to wonder why I would bother. I like not having to do enough work. Getting by easy is one of the only things that makes this place tolerable.

I’m realizing that I love what I do, but I have no passion for it.

I’ve seen what passion looks like. I miss it.

And this promotion would rock, if I wanted it. But the idea of being here until I die, with men like Mikey…

Does this really mean anything to me anymore? Did I have everything I ever wanted when I was in Silverbell?

Was I too stupid to hold on while I had the chance?

CHAPTER 28

SIENNA

Iam having a normal day. As normal as it can be anyway.

Since Reece left, I’m not sure what normal is anymore.

I should forget him. I know I should. Gramma seems insistent that I should reach out to him, but I wouldn’t know what to say. I’ve already forgiven him for being exactly who he always was. I still don’t think that means he would want to speak to me.

But I don’t need him. I’ve never needed him, and I am never going to need him.

Doesn’t stop me from missing him.

“Good morning, Sienna,” a familiar voice says as I step into the waiting room. It’s Louisa, the waitress from the diner.

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