Page 107 of Wistful Whispers

Marcella nods. “Agreed.”

“We’ve got people.” Connor leans forward, elbows on his knees.

Ronni’s eyes meet mine. “Say the word and I’ll make the call.”

I feel like I can breathe for the first time all day.

“You also need to decide if you’re going to fight Caldwell or make amends.” Connor tips his chin toward me. “You can’t do both.”

Marcella shifts beside me. “I don’t think he wants an apology. He wants leverage.”

“This makes him dangerous.” Ronni sighs. “It’s not about one woman, or even five. It’s about perception. A post, a whisper, the right video clip—and suddenly you’re not Seamus McGloughlin, gifted neurosurgery resident. You’re a predator.”

“I’m not—” I start, then catch myself. I know what she means.

Connor’s voice is level. “It doesn’t matter if you don’t get ahead of this. It’ll snowball. You think they’re gossiping now? Wait until Caldwell feeds it to the board. Or worse, the press.”

“You promise me these encounters were all consensual?” Ronni folds her arms and narrows her eyes. “I love you, Seam, I can’t bear…”

I hold my hand up and place it over my heart. “On my life, Ronni. I never initiated any of this.”

“I believe you.” Ronni breathes in. “Okay. this isn’t about guilt. It’s about damage control. You’re young. Gifted. You’re in medicine. The standard is higher, Seamus. The blowback will be, too.”

“So what’s the play?” Marcella reaches for her wine.

Ronni and Connor exchange a look. A whole conversation seems to pass between them in a glance.

“You need to talk to Caldwell.” Connor nods.

“What?” My whole body goes taut.

“Aye,” Connor says without hesitation. “You give him the chance. Face-to-face. Show your spine. Own your part. Be clear you’re not there to grovel—you’re there to find a path forward.”

Ronni nods beside him. “Powerful people respect people who confront the mess head-on. Especially when the house is already on fire.”

“He wants me gone. What if I can’t convince him otherwise?” I rake a hand through my hair.

Connor clicks his tongue. “At least you’ll know by taking the reins instead of waiting to be tossed off the horse.”

“Honestly, Seamus? If you do this right, you might shift the narrative,” Ronni adds. “It’s best you keep in mind this isn’t about guilt or innocence. It’s about optics. Intent. If you let someone tell their version long enough it becomes truth. Regardless of the settlement. You need to get your version out there—and not just defensively. Proactively.”

My heart pounds in my chest. “So, do I apologize?”

“Not for what you didn’t do.” Connor’s brow furrows. “Not for protecting Miranda. It might be good to play into his ego and apologize for not going to him first. For not showing him you respected the chain of command. A gesture would’ve mattered.”

Marcella shifts beside me. “I haven’t encouraged him to go to Caldwell directly because I didn’t trust him. I was thinking like a lawyer, not like a girlfriend trying to preserve the man I love’s career. When I was negotiating the settlement I pushed Seamus into making a record because it was the correct way to approach it legally.” She turns to me, her eyes filled with guilt. “If I hadn’t pushed so hard, you might’ve had a chance to handle it differently. Worked out your differences.”

“Where would Miranda’s family be then?” I reach for her hand without thinking, our fingers lacing together like they always do when one of us needs grounding. “This is a no-win situation.”

Connor watches us, then gives a small nod. “Life deals us all sorts of challenges and we are where we are. I say go in there and own your side of it, Seamus. If he brings up the deposition, don’t blame Marcella—acknowledge you’d never been in the situation before. Emphasize the perspective you now have upon reflection. Demonstrate maturity he won’t expect.”

“Right…because he doesn’t know you’re aware of what he’s doing behind the scenes. He believes you think he’s mad at you because of your testimony.” Marcella squeezes my hand. “Connor and Ronni have an excellent perspective. You have a window of opportunity to get him to back off.”

I sit back and let all of the advice settle like gravel in my stomach. “It’s hard for me to kiss his ass. The man fucked up. I told him about the blood vessel. He ignored me. Miranda’s dead.”

“I know.” Connor claps my shoulder and squeezes. “I’m not saying you were wrong. I’m saying there’s a difference between being right and being strategic. You need to be both.”

Ronni folds her arms across her chest. “Seamus, you’re asking him for grace. The only way to get it is to give him something first. Humility. Clarity. A reminder this isn’t just about reputations or insurance or settlements—it’s about a twelve-year-old girl who isn’t here anymore.”

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