Page 33 of Healing Her

“I love you, too.” She kissed Jen back and began to walk towards the stage.

The Chief was beaming as she mounted the dais. He strode forward to take both her hands in his and guide her towards the podium. They stood there as the applause died down and then, with an encouraging grin, he nudged her forward.

Hundreds of pairs of eyes, most of which she didn’t know, stared at her like a curious sea. She wanted to flee.

But in that crowd was one pair of important, shining blue eyes. Jen had pushed through the crowd to stand in the front, nodding reassurance. Ashley smiled down at her and cleared her throat.

“Thank you, everyone, for your generosity and this wonderful warm welcome.” She wished she’d written something down but hadn’t wanted to come across as too rehearsed. Still, she had planned some things. What had she wanted to say? Oh, yes. “I want to thank Chief Sundstrom and Oakridge Hospital for the support they have given me throughout my career. I feel so immensely privileged to have been here from the beginning, to have this prestigious institution behind me every step of the way.”

Elaine had moved to stand next to Jen, and she, too was smiling up at Ashley. Ashley took renewed strength from her presence. “I could not have done any of the amazing things I have been allowed to do in my career, I would not be standing before you right now, had it not been for my wonderful mentor and friend, Doctor Elaine Martin. Elaine has taught me so much, and her presence in my life in all capacities has been a true gift.”

The words seemed to flow more easily now. “I have had friends in and out of the medical field who supported me, at both my worst and my best, and for them, too, I am so grateful.” Near the back of the room, City lifted her champagne flute and beamed.

And down in front, Jen was still there, so beautiful and amazing, with pride and love gleaming in her eyes. Ashley took a moment to smile down at her beloved, the greatest gift of all. “But five years ago, someone new came into my life. And they’re the last piece of the puzzle, the final key in the lock that got me here today. And would you believe, I hated her at first?”The room rippled with laughter and Jen blew a raspberry up at her. “She represented everything I was terrified of. Growth, flexibility, a generous interest in other people. Before I met her, I was a surgical robot—Chief Sundstrom has praised me to the skies and was kind enough to leave out the part where I may have been a technically excellent surgeon, but as a doctor, I did lack personhood. Humanity, even.”

Ashley swallowed. “Doctor Jennifer Colton came to Oakridge to overhaul our Organ Transplant and Procurement Department, and she did an incredible job. Even with me trying to roadblock her at every turn.” She chuckled as Jen shook a chiding finger at her. “Every innovation and advancement she brought to the team, I opposed, thinking I knew best with my trust in proven methods. And despite that, she succeeded. We have the most cutting-edge transplant team and equipment in the state of California, and if Jen has her way, we’ll be number one in the country within the next five years.”

More applause, but at this point, Ashley only had eyes for Jen. “Doctor Colton, would you join me here?”

Now a murmur was going around the room, but Ashley just watched Jen as she made her way to the dais, where Chief Sundstrom helped her up the steps. Beaming like a star, Jen crossed the dais over to Ashley and they stood together, arms wrapped around each other and looking out over the crowd. Ashley cleared her throat one last time. “I have been so lucky to work with and learn from Jen Colton these last years. And I am so incredibly happy to say tonight that she is not only my esteemed colleague, but as of three days ago, she is also Doctor Jennifer Colton-Proctor, my wife.” As the room erupted in applause and cheers, Ashley looked at her wife, then out at Chief Sundstrom, at Elaine, at City and Maria. They’d all been present when Jen and Ashley had eloped in San Francisco, themost core critical people in the development and rescue of their relationship.

Everything really felt full circle and complete tonight, in this room. Ashley took a deep breath and smiled at the audience. “I, Doctor Ashley Colton-Proctor, am once again so grateful for your support, and I am looking forward to the next years of my life hand in hand with my wife and with California’s best hospital.”

With Jen in her arms, her friends in the audience, and a beautiful life around and ahead of her, Ashley had never felt more complete and content. And now, her speech done, she could think of only one thing that would really round the night out. Ashley backed away from the microphone and leaned down to whisper in her wife’s ear.

“Want to go visit the rooftop garden before we head home?”

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