Page 44 of Broken Dreams

Rick nodded. “That's what I thought. Would you consider staying on here? I have an open medical director position to offer you.”

Stunned, he stared at him. “I don't have the credentials to be the medical director of rehabilitation.”

“Take the boards, it shouldn’t be too hard for a smart guy like you.” Rick didn't seem concerned. “With your trauma surgery background, it's not a stretch. With your personal experience, you probably know more about rehab than some of the other physicians do. These past few weeks have convinced me you're perfect for the job.”

He didn't know what to do, or what to say. A part of him wanted to run, to get away from facing the truth. He'd always wanted to be a surgeon. Couldn't believe the career he'd loved had been snatched out of his reach.

Yet, how much longer could he continue to fool himself into believing otherwise? The incident with the central line had convinced him his career was finished. And what was that he had told Billy? He wasn't going to fold. Or leave the game. Rick Johnson was offering him a chance to take another card.

The offer of staying did interest him. His chat with Billy hadn't been as awful as he thought it would be. And as the physician in charge of the unit, there were things he could do around here to help. Like pushing to renovate the empty wing to put the rehab gym on the same floor where the patients were.

He warmed to the idea. Why couldn't he take the rehabilitation medicine boards? And staying here would give him a place, a purpose. He'd lived while Shane had died, but his life was worth something. And maybe it was time he found his path. The path God had chosen for him.

What about Amber? She wanted to travel, to see the world, but her family was here. Maybe she would consider staying?

No, that wasn't fair. Amber needed to make her own decisions, and so did he. This decision had to be about him. His life. His career.

“Okay.” A sense of rightness swept over him as he accepted the position. “I’ll take your offer, Rick. Thank you.”

“Great.” Johnson grinned. “I've asked Kathy, Roland's former assistant, to clean his personal stuff out of his office so you can move in.” He picked up a key from his desk and handed it over. “She'll have the office ready for you within the hour.”

Nick closed his injured hand around the key and stood. There was still time to back out, to change his mind, but he knew he wouldn't. “I'll find out when I can take the boards, and of course, I’ll have to prepare for them.”

“I know you will.” Johnson didn't look concerned. “I'm glad you're staying. You’ll be a great addition to the rehab medicine team. I think you're going to be an even better medical director.”

With a nod, Nick left. In a daze, he returned to the rehab unit. When he saw Billy, seated in his wheelchair, he couldn’t help but smile. And when the kid propelled himself down to the elevators for his scheduled session in the physical therapy gym, he knew he'd made the right choice.

For him.

Three hours later Nick was seated in his new office, facing a computer screen full of unopened emails and a pile of paperwork that needed to be taken care of. Apparently, Roland hadn't done much of anything over the past few months.

One item caught his eye. A request for a professional reference from Traveling Nurses, Inc. for staff nurse Amber Monroe.

Kathy poked her head in the door. “I'm sorry to bother you, but I’ve had several messages from that traveling nurse company. Apparently, they really want that reference.”

He stared at the request on the screen. And if he didn't fill it out? Then what? He shook his head. Amber would still go. She'd find someone else to give her professional reference. Besides, this needed to be her choice, not his.

“I'll complete this right now,” he promised. He pulled the keyboard close and prepared a glowing reference for Amber.

He emailed it he emailed it and also printed a copy when Kathy called from her desk in the outer office. “Yes?”

“There's a nurse here to see you, Amber Monroe.”

His pulse quickened. “Send her in.”

She strode through the doorway, looking upset. “I didn't believe it when Leanne told me.”

He stood. “It's true.”

“You took Roland's job.” It was an accusation not a congratulations.

“Yeah, I did.”

“But I've already given my notice.”

The letter burned in his hand. “I know.”

“And that's all you have to say? Don't you care?”

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