Page 59 of Doctor Mile High
A loud murmur echoes through the auditorium as the young medical students exchange their excitement.
“I see you have figured it out. This will be a highly competitive scholarship. Only the best of the best will get those spots. What does the scholarship entail? All of your student loans will be paid off, and on top of that, you and the other selected winner of the scholarship will have an apartment. Paid for. Along with a food stipend. It’s important to take care of our future doctors as they will be the reason we get to live longer.”
Another round of soft claps occurs, paired with whispered conversations.
“You’re probably wondering what sparked this idea. My son was an entire month early and his mother—” I point to Dove and she waves to the crowd. “She almost died on the plane when she gave birth. We weren’t near a hospital yet, so I had to do my best to slow the bleeding. Any guesses as to what I did to prevent her from bleeding out?”
“Uterine massage!” a few dozen people call out.
“Correct. It wasn’t working, though. Dove needed surgery. As I paced her hospital room, waiting for an update on her or my newborn son, the wheels in my mind began to turn, wondering how as a doctor I can make the medicine, the treatment, better for my fiancée’s future pregnancies? Then I started to think, but what about all the other women out there too? The newborns in the NICU. My goal is to have Warrick General Hospital be the center for women and newborns to get the life-saving treatment they need. I’d love to expand to all Warrick hospitals as well. First, we have to do the research and sadly, there isn’t that much on it. We need more. I want the best. You’ll be notified by your schools once the application for the scholarship is ready.”
The crowd erupts in applause, officially waking my son who begins to cry. Since he’s so loud, the microphone sends his cries through the speakers and into the crowd.
“Sorry, guys. I’m going to have to cut my time short. I think baby Winston is hungry. I talked on the important points. That’s what matters most. I hope you all enjoy your weekend here at the conference. Have a wonderful evening.” I lift my arm in a wave, saying farewell to the crowd, and place the microphone back in the holder.
Walking back to Dove, I smile at her, giving my back to what feels like the past.
She’s my future now.
16
DOVE
Winston walkingtoward me while carrying our son in the sling has my heart skipping a beat. I think I’m in love with this man.
A man I barely know, yet it’s as if I’ve known him forever. I do have a few concerns and I’m horrible at hiding them, but I’m going to have to for now.
How does he want me? We are clearly at different levels in our lives. He’s a successful doctor, and I’m his enemy’s personal assistant. I don’t even know what I’d like to do with the rest of my life.
When I graduated and got the job with Landon, it was a job with a good salary. That’s all I cared about. And here I am, four years later, and all I know is that I don’t want to be anyone’s personal assistant. All I know is I want to be with Winston and grow this little family we accidentally created. That brings me more happiness then working for Landon ever could.
When Winston gets close enough, I reach out a hand and he takes it without hesitation. Squatting, he brings my hand to his mouth, kissing my knuckles.
“You did so amazing out there,” I compliment. “I don’t think I could speak in front of a thousand people. You do it so well.”
He lifts baby Winston from the sling, carefully placing him in my arms. He’s fussy and needs to be fed. Never taking his eyes off our son, he says, “I’m so used to it. I was trained for this since I was little. I’d watch my father do this exact conference and when I was old enough, he’d bring me on stage with him and he’d incorporate me slowly into the conversation. Nothing too serious, of course. Then, eventually, he handed it all over to me.”
“Well, I think he picked the right man to take over the empire,” I reply, covering myself with a baby blanket while baby Winston feeds.
“You’re biased,” he teases.
“Maybe a little, but can you blame me? I have one of the best men I’ve ever met by my side. Forgive me if I think he’s the best.”
If I’m not mistaken, my well-accomplished doctor blushes, even going as far as glancing away and nibbling on his bottom lip. I love that I have that effect on him. No other man has ever reacted to me the way Winston has. I know we’re moving at warp speed when it comes to our relationship, but my mom always said, ‘Dove, once you meet someone that awakens that spark in your soul, that’s the flame you’ve been waiting for so your life can be full of fireworks.’ I never understood what she meant until Winston.
“I’m going to get you the biggest damn ring anyone has ever seen so any man who glances at you sees the size of your diamond first, knowing not to even dare coming close to you.”
The threat in his eyes, the promise of violence and destruction, has my entire body heat. My face grows hot and a sudden emptiness begins to tingle my ring finger, wishing I had the ring he was speaking of.
“You don’t even know what I like,” I say playfully.
“I have a feeling I know everything you’d like, but since you’re so doubtful of me, what’s your dream ring? I’ll make it happen.”
I stare at him, stunned, my brain short-circuiting. “I—I don’t know. I’ve never thought about it before.”
“Start thinking about it now, Dove. Because I’m serious. When you’re healed, I’m going to marry you as soon as possible, while giving you the wedding of your dreams.”
“We can’t plan a wedding like that in such a short amount of time,” I scoff, knowing a dress alone could take months to find, especially on a budget.
