Page 52 of Sinful in Scrubs

“You left early.”

“I left early yesterday after the board blindsided me with that meeting. I can make up my office hours another time. You know that.”

“I understand that the meeting didn’t go well at all.”

“Great,” I grumbled under my breath.

Whatever Kevin had managed to convey to the board had gotten out.

“I’m going to have to put this down on your record,” James said.

“My record? James, it’s an emergency.”

“And you’re an emergency trauma surgeon—for when other people have emergencies.”

“And that’s why my grandmother needs me.”

“Fine. But we’re going to have a longer conversation about this.”

“Right. I understand. Thank you.” I hung up and ran to the prep room, stripping out of my scrubs and throwing my street clothes back on.

I ran out of the hospital and grabbed the first cab I could find. Typically, I would walk or take the subway to Grandmother’s. But not right now, not when my worry was this high.

I threw my payment at the cabbie as I dashed out of the car and ran up the stairs to her apartment.

I didn’t knock. I just burst in.

“Zumu! Zumu, where are you?” I yelled.

“Oh, Emma, you’re here. That was fast,” she said in a perfectly normal voice. She didn’t sound worried at all.

“I thought you were hurt! What’s the matter? You said it was an emergency.”

My voice was louder than necessary as I stormed through her apartment and into the kitchen, where I found her sitting at the table.

I cast my gaze rapidly around the room, expecting to see blood, a broken glass, or a knife she had unexpectedly cut herself with.

“Why did you need me?”

“I can’t reach.”

“Grandmother, you called me, telling me it was an emergency. I had to leave work. I got in trouble at work.”

“I didn’t feel comfortable. I didn’t feel stable enough to climb up on a chair, and I couldn’t reach it.”

And all she needed was something off the top shelf. I spun around and grabbed the long-handled grabber from the corner next to the door. I held it out to her.

“That’s why I bought you this.” I pulled the handle end of the device, making the grabber claw end click together a few times.

She took the grabber handle from me and extended it up so that the claw at the far end could grab the box of tea. She squeezed the trigger, and like a robot, it picked up her box.

“I forgot all about this thing. It really is handy, isn’t it?”

I let out a weary, dejected sigh.

“You seem so stressed, Emma. I should have told you what I needed.”

I sat with a heavy thud and buried my face in my hands.

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