Page 72 of Take Me Home for Christmas

Stop right there,my safe side warned me.

Sorry,I said right back.This time, I’m pulling a Gracie.

“But there’s a dark side to your practice that the residents are talking about. Some of us feel that you prefer white male doctors, or that you choose people willing to put up with long hours and unspoken expectations.”

His demeanor changed before my eyes, and he spoke in a cool, level tone. “Clearly, you and Braxton have been in collusion. You know, young lady, being disgruntled that you weren’t our top pick and spreading rumors can harm your career.”

In collusion? Had Brax told them the same thing? Also, was Dr. Brunner subtly threatening me to get me to keep quiet? “The other thing, Dr. Brunner, is that I don’t believe you’d ever refer to a male resident as a young man. You’d call himDoctor.I’d appreciate the same consideration.”

He narrowed his eyes in a way that should have worried me. I’d never uttered a word out of the respect zone ever to any of my superiors. “I should write you up for being disrespectful.”

I didn’t back down. “I’ve only said what a lot of us are thinking.”

As I turned away, I discovered that two of my interns and four of our nursing staff were hovering nearby, listening intently. Soon, the entire hospital would know what I’d done.

Well, good. I’d finally stood up and said what I felt needed to be said.

I loved kids, and I loved my job. But Brax had called it right. I truly wasn’t upset about letting that job go. My heart wasn’t into doing well-child checks, charting growth and development, andeducating moms on the many nuances of raising a healthy child. Not that that wasn’t wonderful stuff—it just wasn’t wonderful to me.

Also, I was done with trying to achieveperfect. I wasn’t coming close in any aspect of my life anyway. And I didn’t need the prestige of belonging to that practice.

Or the misogyny.

I was glad—even proud—that I hadn’t stayed silent. But I wasn’t sure quite what to do now that I’d just shot my promising future right in the foot. Or about the fact that Brax was leaving for good.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Mia

I was scheduled to see patients in the heme-onc clinic with Dr. March that afternoon. I skipped lunch to seek out Gabe because I knew he was nearby, getting ready to supervise interns in the primary care sick clinic today. I was trying desperately to compartmentalize, but I was a mess.

The first thing he did was sit me down and hand me half of his turkey sandwich—and refuse to talk to me until I ate it.

“Congrats on getting engaged,” I managed after the first bite.

“Thanks, but don’t even bother saying anything else. Sam told me everything, including what you said to Brunner. You’re my hero.”

I knew word traveled fast in the hospital, but that fast? I forced myself to swallow another bite of sandwich, but it was no use. “I made a mess out of everything.”

He smiled. “Yes, you did. Welcome to the world of human beings, Superwoman.” He hugged me hard. “The only thing I can say is that I saw Brax last night, and he looks as bad as you do.”

I sat back and looked at him. “How bad?”

“Pretty darn bad.”

A flicker of hope kicked deep inside of me. “Have you talked to him?”

Unaffected by my grilling, he looked me calmly in the eye. “I think the real question is, have you?”

“He was on call last night, and I’m on call tonight.” I could tell by Gabe’s eye roll that he saw right through that. “Okay, fine. He hasn’t called. And I haven’t contacted him either. He kept a huge secret from me, Gabe. And I just found out he gave up the BCP job and he’s leaving.”

“Leaving?” Gabe frowned. “That doesn’t sound like Brax.”

He was calling us quits. Blowing out of town. Running away. “I guess he was right all along. He couldn’t do a relationship after all.”

Gabe hugged me hard again. “I don’t have any idea what he’s thinking. But you know what you need to do.” He mimed talking motions with both his hands.

“No matter what happens, I’ll be okay.” I tried to honestly believe it, not ask it like a question. And yes, I’d be courageous. I’d pick up the pieces of my career, my family, my life, one at a time, starting right now. I pushed the sandwich away. “Thanks for sharing—and for being my friend.”

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