Page 50 of Fever: Love In Scrubs
While I loved my job back in Colorado Springs, I couldn’t give my all to it from here. Working remotely, then in the office one day a week, wasn’t fulfilling. I needed to be hands on, and I preferred face to face interaction with my clients. This position would allow that. Lucky for me, they had an open position working with children and their families. I felt like it was a sign.
When I put in the application, not even a day later, I got a call asking me to do an in-person interview. So far, it had gonegreat. Ms. Levi was thoroughly impressed with my resume and accolades. She told me I would be perfect for the job and wanted to show me around so I could get a feel of the space.
The pediatric wing was bright and vibrant, unlike the rest of the hospital. My eyes flicked over every detail. There was a large playroom door propped open with a beanbag. A big corkboard hung on the wall, crammed with crayon drawings signed in crooked handwriting. A nurse was pushing a mobile vitals cart with stickers on the side. Murals of smiling cartoon characters floated along the walls. The smell of hand sanitizer mingled faintly with the sweet hint of bubblegum air freshener. Each hallway seemed to have a different theme painted along the walls.
We passed the nurses’ station, a semicircle of counters covered in colorful sticky notes written in a child’s handwriting and a jar of rainbow lollipops. Everyone gave a friendly smile and wave as our eyes met. The energy up here felt different. It was light and happy. I could tell these people enjoyed working with these kids and did their best to keep them in good spirits during a scary time like being in the hospital.
“Here’s where the magic happens,” Ms. Levi continued. “Our nurses are trained not only in pediatrics, but also in child life techniques like distracting with stories, and using play therapy before procedures. It lowers anxiety for the kids and the parents. We put heavy emphasis on strong patient engagement here. We want them to know that they aren’t just patients to us. They are family too.”
I smiled. “I love that. My kids at my last job felt like family to me too. I found it was the best way to build a relationship with them and get them to trust me.”
“That’s what we want. Trust is everything. If a patient doesn’t trust you, you’ve already failed before you can begin.”
“I wholeheartedly agree.”
She led me to another part of the wing where there was a family lounge, explaining that the families spent a lot of time in there to decompress. It was filled with books, puzzles, toys, and a coffee and snack station. There were even volunteers that watched the kids to give families a break.
Further down the hall, we ventured into the office spaces so she could show me where mine would be located. As we approached a door, I noticed one with the wordPathologywritten above it. Just as she opened my potential office door, the door to the Pathology lab opened and out stepped Jaxson, looking as fine as ever in his white coat. When he saw me, he smiled, and I smiled back.
“Oh! Dr. Pierre!” Ms. Levi said, waving him down.
I felt my face flush as he approached us. Even though I’d spoken to this man every day since our date a few nights ago, I felt like a teenaged girl in his presence.
“Good morning, Ms. Levi,” Jaxson said, offering her a handshake.
“Good morning. I’d like to introduce you to Wynter Driscoll. She’s interviewing for the Patient and Community Relations Specialist position.”
Jaxson grabbed my hand and kissed it. “We’ve been properly introduced,” he said, winking at me.
Ms. Levi looked between the two of us and smiled. “Well, excuse me, then! I see you two. Just so you are aware, we don’t have a typical no fraternization policy, but we do require that relationships between employees be disclosed to avoid potential conflicts of interests. Since you two would be working in different departments, I’m sure there will be no problem.
“Understood,” I said. “I have no problem pretending I don’t even know this man at work.”
Jaxson chuckled. “Damn, you’re gonna do me like that? What if I wanted to have lunch with you?”
I giggled. “We can make arrangements.”
“So, does this mean you’ll take the job?” Ms. Levi asked. “I’m prepared to make you an offer right now.”
I nodded. “I want the job. Looking at this floor, I think I’ll feel right at home.”
“Awesome!” Somewhere down the hall, someone called her name. “Give me a second and we can head back up to start your paperwork. Feel free to explore your office.”
She left Jaxson and I alone. I turned back to him with a smile on my face.
“How unprofessional of me would it be to kiss you right now?” he asked, stepping closer to me.
“Very, sir. You want the nurses up here whispering about me before I even start work?”
He looked around before pushing open the door to my office and motioning me inside. The moment it closed, he pushed me up against the door and dropped his lips on mine with a kiss that made my knees buckle.
“I’ve missed you,” he said, pressing his forehead to mine.
“I’ve missed you too.”
“I’m a little excited I get to see your face at work soon.”
I grinned. “I bet you are. Thank you for telling me about this. I put in the application and got a call the next day.”
