Page 54 of The One

“Rick, this is Mark Peterson. My old boss. He left almost two years ago. Mark, Rick Masters, my boyfriend.”

He shook hands with the older man who pulled a seat out and sat. “Sorry to intrude. I’ll leave before your food comes. Hopefully my wife notices me or I’ll have to go grab her. I just wanted to say I’m sorry that you didn’t get the job when I left.”

“It’s fine,” she said. “You had no control over that.”

Rick didn’t know what this was about and couldn’t wait to find out when Mark left.

“I put a good word in for you. I pushed for you, but you know how it goes,” Mark said.

“I do. I think it wouldn’t have bothered me so much if it was someone in the department. I get Debra has more experience than me. But they brought her in from another hospital.”

“She knew someone,” Mark said. “That is how it happened. She didn’t like where she was and wanted to leave. I pushed back, but I was leaving and they didn’t care. They weren’t thrilled I was either.”

“That is the way the world is,” she said. “There’ll be other jobs or openings in the future. I’ve just got to wait my turn.”

“It’s a good attitude to have,” Mark said. “Don’t wait too long though and get complacent. You’re great at your job and wonderful with the patients, but you’ve got more to offer by leading a team. I said that and I believe it. If you ever feel like you want to leave altogether, reach out to me. You’ve got my number. I know some people myself.”

Mark stood up when another woman walked over. “Thanks, Mark. I appreciate you and the kind words.”

When Mark was gone, Rick asked, “What was that about?”

“You heard it. Mark left for a promotion. He actually wanted to get closer to home too. Which surprises me to see him here tonight in Albany.”

“Where does he live?”

“Kingston. And though he knows people, I don’t want to travel that far. There are plenty of places around here that need a dietician. I like where I am.”

“But you were passed over for a promotion?” he asked.

“I was. It was almost two years ago. I didn’t know why. I’d heard a rumor that Debra knew people, but I try not to believe everything I hear. She did have more experience than me and she’s a good boss. It’s not bad.”

“That is you looking at the positive again, which is great. I’m surprised he’d remarked about being complacent,” he said. He was wondering if this was a trait that Gillian always had.

“I think he just doesn’t want me to stay there forever waiting and hoping for something that might not happen. Debra is only ten years older than me. I’m not sure she is going anywhere soon.”

He was going to comment on her not waiting around but told himself it wasn’t his place or decision. She had to figure that out on her own.

20

Focusing On The Future

Though Gillian was happy to see her old boss, she wasn’t happy to have Rick witness the exchange.

Not that it was horrible by any means, other than it showed that maybe she took the path of least resistance in life.

Stayed in a relationship too long waiting for something to happen that didn’t. And maybe now would in a job.

She felt like she needed to at least explain herself.

“I’m not sure I want to manage a team,” she said. “I don’t mind being a director and moving up a position at some point, but I enjoy working with the patients.”

“You do a good job with them,” he said.

“I do. We have to do what we are strong at. That is me. I’m good at encouraging people and getting them to see that small steps help bigger goals.”

When those words were out of her mouth she realized how hypocritical they sounded that she was good at encouraging people yet lived a life with a man that discouraged everything she did.

What a fool she’d been for way too long.

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