Page 23 of Fourteen of a Kind

CHAPTER 7

Graham

After picking up the Jeep I bought, I drove to my new apartment building. Unlocking the door, I stepped inside and stared at the fully furnished place. It looked exactly how it did online, which made me happy. I rented a fully furnished apartment because I knew this wasn’t my long-term home. I was only here for two years, and once I finished my fellowship, I’d leave and return to New York.

After settling in, I ran to the grocery store to get some things. The rest of my boxes from New York would be here in a few days, and I needed to ask the landlord if he could let the delivery guys in since I’d practically be living at the hospital. After unpacking my groceries and putting them away, I grabbed the small bouquet of flowers I bought and went to the cemetery.

“Hi, Dad. It’s been a long time.” I said as I laid the flowers on his grave. “I’m still pissed at you, you know.” Tears filled my eyes. “Fuck.” I shook my head and headed to my car.

I tossed and turned all night. It wasn’t because the bed was uncomfortable. It was being back here, and the fact that I started my fellowship tomorrow. I could have done my fellowship anywhere in the country, but I chose Cedars because Dr. Ashley was one of the best in the country.

The following morning, I showered, packed a bag with all the necessities to keep in my locker, and headed out the door. I made sure to leave early enough because of the traffic. The last thing I needed was to be late on my first day and make a bad impression. I arrived with thirty minutes to spare. When I stepped through the lobby’s doors, I stopped at the coffee bar and grabbed a coffee before heading upstairs to Dr. Christian Kind’s office.

“Dr. Malone. Come in.” Dr. Kind smiled, walked over, and extended his hand.

“Dr. Kind. It’s nice to meet you in person.” I shook his hand.

“And you as well. Please, have a seat.” He gestured. “Sure beats all those Zoom meetings, right?” He grinned.

“Sure does.” I smiled.

“Welcome to Cedar Sinai, Dr. Malone. Your father was a brilliant surgeon, and I’m sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you. That was a long time ago.”

“Heart attack, correct?” he asked.

“Yeah.”

“When I saw your application for the pediatric surgical fellowship come through, I was pleased. And upon further investigation into you, I was even more pleased. Your colleagues at Mount Saini sang your praises, and your record is impeccable. Both Dr. Ashley and I are highly impressed. Unfortunately, Dr. Ashley was called out of town for a family emergency. She’ll be back in a couple of days. In the meantime, I can show you around and you can fill in where needed. Whether that be up on the pediatric unit or down in the emergency department.”

“Of course.” I nodded.

“I know you’ll miss your friends and co-workers in New York, but you’ll meet some really nice people here. We’re one big happy family at this hospital. At least, I think so. If you hear otherwise, let me know.” He smirked.

“I will.” I chuckled.

The office door opened.

“Hey, Uncle Christi—I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you had?—”

She stopped speaking the moment I turned around, and our eyes locked.

“Ella?” My brows furrowed.

“Graham?” She stood in shock.

“You two know each other?” Dr. Kind asked.

“What are you doing here?” Ella stared at me.

“What are you doing here? I thought you were studying art at NYU.”

“Uh, I can explain that.” She bit down on her bottom lip.

“Huh? An art student at NYU?” Dr. Kind raised his brow. “This is my niece, Dr. Ella Kind. Ella, this is Dr. Malone, our new surgical pediatric fellowship resident.”

“You’re the Dr. Ella Kind?” I asked in shock.

---