Page 34 of Older Cowboy

Erika nodded. She was beside herself with joy. If it wouldn’t have shown a distinct lack of professionalism, she would have skipped around the office whooping and hollering.

Callie clapped her hands over her mouth and did a near silent whisper-scream. Still, both Julie and Tim threw them pensive looks when they came across their quiet but clearly delighted display.

“What’s going on?” Julie asked.

“Everything all right?” Tim inquired right on her heels.

“All good,” Callie covered for Erika, and again, she was reminded of just how good a friend the sister of her boss had been to her.

Within an hour of that, Erika received a request for an interview with the local clinic and instantly agreed to it. It was amazing how swiftly things seemed to jump forward when all the right circumstances fell into place.

Once closing time came, Erika rushed to make her exit. Despite how she’d left everything with her parents, she felt excited to update them. Even though they kept butting heads about Blake and her hanging out so much with the Cantrells, they’d also been endlessly supportive of her, especially of her career. She knew they felt proud of her, and now that she’d come so far, she yearned to share this with them.

Yet Tim approached her before she made it to the door.

“Erika, may I speak with you?”

“Uh,” she didn’t bother to be discreet about checking the time. “Sure.”

“So, I hear you’re thinking about leaving us,” he said once she’d shut the door behind her, and Erika felt sorely tempted to throttle her best friend. How could Callie rat her out like this?

“Where did you hear that?”

“The Rocky Ridge Medical Clinic.” He tapped on his computer keyboard. “They were checking your references.”

Right. She’d forgotten all about that. In her head, she apologized to Callie, thankful she hadn’t accused her of anything out loud.

“It’s true,” she confirmed. It was time to be straight with her current employer. “I want type one diabetes eradicated in children, and I’m dedicating the rest of my career to making that happen.”

Like with Callie, she’d been anticipating a much larger blowup. Tim could be short with people, and while none of those people were ever his young patients, she knew from direct experience that the adults in this office could be fair game. Not that he’d sniped at her in months and months now. Not since his sister stepped in on Erika’s behalf.

Yet the doctor remained cool as a cucumber.

“Have they already offered you a position?” He was being nosey, and he must’ve realized this because he backtracked. “If you don’t mind updating me.”

She sat back in the chair opposite his. “No. I have an interview with them, but no offer has been formally extended to me yet. They seemed quite interested, though, so I’m confident they will.”

He spun to face her. “I’m not trying to impede your career choices or anything, but if you’re willing to hear me out, I have a proposal for you.”

What was all this about?

“I’m listening.”

“I’d like to expand this practice so that I’m only working in-office three to four days a week. Preferably three. Amanda would like me home to help with the kids more, and well, we’ve just discovered that she’s pregnant with number four.”

Talk about unpredictable events.

“Oh, wow. Congrats. Does your sister know?”

“Yes. We told her a couple of days ago. We can hire another RN to fulfill your original duties, and now that you’re fully qualified, you can take on some of my patient load. If you’d like, we can make sure any patient with diabetes or endocrinology concerns are directed to you. We could share the practice, which would mean your name going up right next to mine. I’d be willing to share ownership as well, maybe a sixty-forty split in my favor?”

Erika gawked at him, speechless. Tim waved a hand in a dismissive gesture.

“We don’t have to worry about all that right now,” he said. “But if you’d like to consider it, I’d like for you to stay. We can hammer out all the details later. I’ll have Callie adjust the appointment schedule accordingly, then we’ll set up a meeting with our attorneys to make it official. If you agree, that is.”

Thoughts churning like a merry-go-round, Erika openly gawked at him, still incapable of speaking.

It took her three swallows and a raspy clearing of her throat before she eventually succeeded. “I don’t know what to say. I never imagined you asking me this.”

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