Page 25 of Just One Chance
“I’ll send the nurse in with something that will help. The good news is I don’t think it’s broken. We’re going to send you up for an x-ray just to make sure.”
“That’s good news,” Tucker said. “I thought I’d be leaving here in a cast.”
“I could be wrong,” David said. “Let’s wait for the x-ray before we make any plans.”
Before David could make it out of the exam room, a woman with long brown hair pushed into the room, heading straight for Tucker. “How are you, baby? Still in pain?” She looked over her shoulder at David. “Have you given him anything for the pain?”
“We’re working on it,” David said, his tone flat.
“Sorry,” she said. “Where are my manners?” Her Southern accent was almost as thick as the scent of her perfume. “I’m Jessica, Tucker’s fiancée.”
“Dr. Daniels.” David shook Jessica’s hand, then looked at Tucker, his eyebrows raised.
Tucker’s eyes were strained, and he shook his head just slightly. David folded his arms across his chest, not breaking eye contact. He wasn’t about to give the guy a free pass.
“Hey, Jessica, sweetie?” Tucker said. “Can you give me a minute alone with the doctor?”
Jessica’s brow furrowed in concern. “Are you okay?”
“Sure. I just need to ask him a few questions. Will you go call my mom for me? Tell her they’re going to do an x-ray and then we’ll know more.”
She nodded, hesitant, but clearly willing to do as he asked. “Okay. I’ll be back in a few.”
Tucker watched her leave, then looked back at David. “I know how this must look.”
David didn’t answer.
Tucker shifted and ran his good hand across his closely cropped hair. “Look, man to man, all right? Avery and I, we were good together. Really good. But she isn’t quite marriage material. I’ve got to think about my future and Jessica is the kind of wife that—” His words cut off, like he suddenly thought better about finishing his sentence. “Avery and I are just having some fun. Messing around while I still can. It doesn’t mean anything.”
David scoffed. “Doessheknow it doesn’t mean anything?”
Tucker’s jaw tensed. He studied David for several long seconds before narrowing his gaze. “Dr. Daniels, I need you to not make this a problem for me,” he said, his tone firm.
David wasn’t the slightest bit intimidated. If anything gave him fortitude, it was his sense of truth and justice and Tucker’s actions dropped him firmly on thewrongside of truth. David wouldn’t stand for it. “I’m pretty sure this is a problem you made all on your own.”
Tucker shifted and leaned forward. “I know you’re new around here. You haven’t lived in Charleston long enough to know just how important my family is, so you’ll have to take my word for it. You don’t want to mess with me. You tell Avery about Jessica, it won’t take me five minutes to get you fired from the hospital and stripped of your license to practice in South Carolina.”
David’s jaw twitched. Tucker couldn’t really do that. Could he?
“When was the last time you took a look at the list of donors for the hospital?” Tucker asked. “You know the new wing they just added to the children’s hospital? Look it up and see how much money Francis King donated. I’m pretty sure there’s a plaque in the main lobby honoring him for the millions he contributed to the cause. Francis King is my grandfather. You know Gerald Stevenson?” Tucker moved his leg and winced but didn’t take his eyes off of David.
David hated to give Tucker an inch in the argument, but hedidknow Gerald Stevenson. He was one of the hospital board members who had interviewed and hired David.
“He plays golf with my father and me every Sunday afternoon. He’s known me since I was a kid. You think he’d take your word over mine?”
As if on cue, a voice spoke on the other side of the curtain. “Knock, knock,” the deep voice said. The curtain slid to the side and Dr. Stevenson himself entered the small exam area.
“I was just leaving a board meeting when your father called and told me I might find you here.” He reached out to shake Tucker’s hand. “What did you do to yourself, son?”
“I was on the golf course. Stepped into a hole.”
“That’s too bad.” Dr. Stevenson finally looked at David. “I trust we’re taking good care of you?”
“Oh, of course,” Tucker said, offering David a smug smile. “Dr. Daniels has been outstanding.”
“Good. I’m glad to hear it,” Dr. Stevenson said. He reached out and shook David’s hand. “Dr. Daniels. You’ll make sure he gets the VIP treatment, won’t you?”
David offered a tight smile. “Of course.”
