Page 73 of Anatomy of a Meet Cute
“Sam. I didn’t mean—” Grant started, but Sam held her hand up to stop him as she unlocked the phone and read the rest of Kaiya’s message.
I know you’re not working today. But I have Sheila here and something seems off. Are you available to come into the birthing center?
Taking a deep breath, Sam furrowed her brow. She could feel Grant trying to be discreet as he read her message upside down.
I’ll be there as soon as I can.
For a tortured minute, Sam waited as the little dots that implied Kaiya was still texting blinked in front of her.
Alright. I’m gonna take her up and see if I can get a nurse or someone to look at her. Who’s most likely to listen to a doula? Is Duke here?
“Shit,” Sam muttered. Duke was likely napping after twenty-four hours on call. She could wake him up, but he wouldn’t be able to get to the hospital any faster than she could. Maybe Dr.Choi, or ...
“Isn’t Dr.Franklin in today? He can help,” Grant said, watching Sam closely.
“I mean, probably, but ...” Sam bit down, considering her options. She hoped Dr.Franklin would take Kaiya’s concerns seriously, but he wouldn’t have been her first choice, naturally.
As if reading her thoughts, Grant said, “He’s never ignored a red flag from even the most junior surgery tech as long as I have known him.”
The recommendation was as good as she was going to get. Looking down at her phone, she typed the answer she was reticent to give.
Ask for Dr.Franklin. Don’t let her leave the hospital until you see him.
“I think I’ve got to go,” Sam said, looking around at the crew. Frankly, they’d be better off with just Grant in the video anyway.
“Dr.Franklin and Kaiya can handle this,” Grant said, his tone firm but gentle. “Different doctors handle emergencies and deliveries all the time. You can finish without Sheila thinking you’re a monster or something.”
“I know, but it’s Sheila. She is basically the reason this program even exists.” Sam watched Grant closely, willing him to connect the dots. All the sacrifices, all the stupid fights with her mom, the lost sleep, the mix-up with Jehan’s party? Disappointing Sheila wasn’t just letting a patient down; it was letting herself down too. “Her baby and my time at the hospital are inextricably linked with one another. I can’t just not be there for her.”
“I’m not saying it’s easy to walk away from a patient you care about. But think about all the other people we let down if we walk away from this. Our funding is tied to this video and our reports.” Grant’s voice sounded as if he was speaking through a clenched jaw, trying very hard not to lose his temper. “If the funding dries up, all those people won’t have access to the program. We’ll be done. Simple as that.”
Sam had to admit he had a point. If she hadn’t made such a mess of filming this morning, she might be able to claim a medical emergency and dash off. As it was, the crew didn’t look like they were dying to cut her some slack. Glancing down at the phone, Sam read Kaiya’s next message.
Get here when you can. I’ll raise hell if I need to.
And I was helping people before you were born. I was never gonna let Sheila go anywhere :-)
Sam’s shoulders started to relax. Holding her breath, she let herself smile faintly as she typed back a reply.
I knew you wouldn’t. That’s why you are the kind of professional I want to be. :-) Keep me posted.
Looking up from her phone, Sam glanced at the crew. They had mostly reassembled and were likely waiting for another hour of torture. An hour that Sam didn’t have. She needed to finish this, and quickly. Looking back at Grant, she sighed, “You’re right. I’ll wrap this up and then head over.”
“Makes sense.” Grant nodded, his voice less strained than before. “Sam, about what I said earlier—”
The irritation she felt had been pushed out of her mind when Kaiya had texted, but now it washed over her in waves. This was not the time for Grant to try to convince her that a simple chat with her mom would yield magical boundaries without any cognitive bloodshed. Better for him to realize that her life didn’t work that way now than for him to waste his time trying to pretend she was also perfect only for him to realize she was a wreck three months later. Sam dropped her phone in her purse before narrowing her eyes and glaring at him. “I don’t have time to debate handling my mother with you right now. I need to wrap this up and get to the hospital.”
“I meant about the other doctors pitching in if you want to rest. No one will be mad if you don’t help.”
“Look, I get that there are other people who are capable. But this is the program’s first real test. I need to be there for that. I need to be there for Sheila and Kaiya. I am not failing this one.”
Grant’s face shifted to surprise. “Failing? How is relying on the hospital’s coverage system failing? It’s literally designed for this.”
Sam raised an eyebrow and tilted her head in an unmistakable warning gesture that made Grant change course.
“Never mind. I don’t feel like arguing right now either. I’m ready to start again if you are.” Dropping his shoulders in resignation, he sethis coffee cup down and said, “Do you want me to drive you to the hospital after we’re done? I could pick you up too.”
“I’m perfectly capable of calling a car. But thanks,” Sam said, emphasizingcapable. Whatever help Grant thought he was offering, she was certain that she could do just fine without the awkward weight of judgment that came with riding in a car with his disappointment.
