Page 79 of Give Me Forever

Chapter Twenty

Sam

"Good work, Maxwell," Bobby, one of my colleagues, said as we both entered the doctors’ lounge.

"Back at you," I replied.

It had been an exhausting and grueling day, but at least we hadn't lost any patients. That always meant it was a good day. All I wanted to do was grab an energy drink and a vending machine sandwich, shower, and leave.

I stood in front of the vending machine, toying with the card in my pocket. Everything looked like crap.

"Maxwell."

I turned around at Robinson Matthew's voice. He’d just come in. In fact, he was still holding the door open.

"Come to my office,” he said. “I've got some news for you."

I instantly felt wide awake, as if I’d already drunk the energy drink. I tried to read from his expression which way this conversation would go, but I was too exhausted to figure it out.

My family always said they were in awe of my people-reading skills. Right now, though, I wouldn't mind some of my legendary skills kicking in. No such luck. I was too tired.

I followed Robinson through the corridors, all the way to his office. The hospital was eerily quiet in the late evening hours. Most patients were asleep, unlike during the day when they were wide awake and being tended to.

I was anticipating Robinson's news. Two weeks ago, we’d spoken about my plans for a clinic, and I hadn’t heard anything since.

He guided me inside his office, pointing to the seat opposite him. He sat down behind his desk, and his shoulders sank. That was my first clue. "They don't want it, do they?"

"It's more complicated than that.”

“You can just be up front with me. I know how to take a no."

"That's just it, though. It's not exactly a no."

I narrowed my eyes, leaning farther back in the seat, putting the ankle of my right leg on top of my left knee. "What does it mean?"

"It means they are interested in a clinic."

"That's great news." I was certain I could set it up with very little capital. My heart was thumping harder as I contemplated the next steps. "If it's a matter of funds, I can always chip in."

"Maxwell." His voice was hard. "I’ve told you repeatedly. Never throw your personal money at a state hospital. It's a losing game, trust me. If you're so intent on blowing your trust fund, build your own damn private hospital."

"Setting up a hospital from the ground up is a nightmare," I said. "The paperwork alone would take my entire lifetime. I'm a doctor, not a businessman. What else did the board say?"

"They’re opening a satellite hospital in Maine. They would be able to include a clinic there."

I felt as if someone had punched me in the face. "In Maine?"

"Yes. I know this is not ideal."

"What do you mean, not ideal? It's not what I asked for. If they can open one there, then why not here?"

He massaged his temples, like a headache was brewing. "Because that one is being built from the ground up. The layout is flexible. Everything is still flexible. Apparently trying to do something here is too daunting for them to consider.”

“I'll talk to them."

"No." He stood up. I’d pissed him off, but I couldn’t help it. This was important not only to me, but to the community, and it would help so many people. Besides, I was a Maxwell and used to getting what I wanted. "You listen to me, Maxwell. I like you, but this is my goddamn hospital, and you will not go over my head, got it?"

"I'm sorry. That’s not what I meant. I just know that if I pitch it to them, I can convince them. Surely they’d understand how beneficial this would be to the underprivileged in the area."

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