Page 10 of Possessive Pitcher

“Concerns have been brought to my attention, but given your stellar work performance, I’ve dismissed them.”

“That doesn’t seem prudent. If I might be a danger, surely you would have disciplined me or at the very least, investigated the accusations to protect the hospital from liability.”

“Let’s circle back to the issue at hand, shall we? Are you having an inappropriate relationship with my daughter?”

It doesn’t get any straighter and to the point than that, and I squirm in my seat as I await Scott’s answer.

“Inappropriate? I’m not sure what you’re inferring here. Your daughter and I are both adults. If we choose to see each other outside of work, that should be a non-issue.”

“You seem to forget that you’re in a position of authority here. Speaking as a hospital director, that’s the textbook definition of inappropriate. Speaking as a father, well that’s a different matter entirely.”

“Daddy, can I speak, please?’ I interject.

“No,” he snaps back.

“Now hold on!” Scott shouts. “You called us both in here. If you’re not going to let her speak up for herself, then why is she here?”

“She’s here so that I can inform her that she’ll be assigned to a new post tomorrow.”

Scott’s face reddens, and he slams his fists down on his leg.

“You know that I’m the best doctor here. You know my signature on her academic record will guarantee her a residency anywhere. Are you willing to risk your daughter’s future over this? Because I defended her?”

“No, I’m not. She’s going to be assigned to the NICU for the next week while you are on sabbatical. I need you to spend some time at home cooling off. If you take this time without any issues, I will reassign her to you when you return. Understand me when I tell you that this is necessary. If you refuse to take the time voluntarily, I will have no choice but to suspend you. I don’t think you want a blemish like that on your stellar record.”

“Take it,” I whisper and Scott looks at me for the first time since we entered the office. He shakes his head as if warning me not to show my hand but I smile at him and say, “He knows, Scott. There’s no reason to hide it anymore.”

My father shakes his head and says, “I know it but if I even catch a whiff of innuendo inside these walls again, I’ll revoke Skylar’s internship and subject you to a formal inquest. Clear?”

“Yes, Daddy. It’s clear,” I answer.

“I wasn’t talking to you. Dr. Statton? Scott? Are we clear?”

I can see that Scott is an overfilled kettle, and his lid is about to blow. I hold my breath, my eyes pleading with him to say that it’s clear.

“Yes,” he mumbles. “Do I need to reassign my patients?”

“That will be taken care of in the morning. Go home, Scott,” my father tells him and he gets up and leaves without a word.

When Scott closes the door, my father turns his attention to me. “What’s going on, Skylar? You know better than this.”

“Better than what? He’s a successful surgeon. He’s intelligent and attractive, and he’s interested in me. What’s wrong with exploring the possibilities? I’m not a little girl anymore,” I argue.

“You’ve never been boy crazy. We practically had to rent you a prom date. By the time you hit college, your mother was sure that you were gay. You pick now to decide to explore the possibilities? When you’ve been given the biggest opportunity of your career so far? Why would you pick now to muddy the waters?”

“Maybe the answer is in the question, Daddy. If I’ve never been boy crazy and I’d be willing to risk the best opportunity of my career to be with him, then maybe, just maybe this is something real.”

“I’m your father, but I can’t control your life anymore. Still, I want you to know that I don’t approve. You should go home and evaluate your position, too. I don’t want to see you make a mistake that will damage your future.”

I force a smile and say, “I appreciate your concern. May I go?”

“You’re excused. Be sure to arrive early tomorrow. Doctor Cindy Mills will be expecting you in the NICU,” he picks an envelope up off his desk and holds it out to me.

“That’s my father. Always following protocol. I assume there’s a welcome letter and a map of the hospital in here with my new assignment?” I quip.

“Following protocol is how you advance in this world. I hope, for your sake, that you don’t end up learning that the hard way.”

I rush out of his office and storm down the hall. My face is flush and a storm is forming in my eyes. I have to make it to my car before the dam breaks and my tears become visible. The humiliation that I feel from being chastised by my father is nothing compared to the devastation that I feel for bringing problems into Scott’s life. I would ever forgive myself if his perfect record was stained because of me, but that’s not my greatest fear.

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