Page 87 of Mountain Freedom
“I called a few patients who were, um, overdue for appointments and got them on the schedule,” she explained, her guilty expression betraying her. “We have a full docket all week.”
I took a breath. “Excellent.” I smiled, deciding to take it as a win instead of focusing on the past.
If Beverly actually started scheduling patients and Danny started logging accurate vitals, this clinic might have a shot.
“Where’s Danny?” I asked, realizing I hadn’t seen him yet.
Beverly frowned. “Must be running late. I’ll try to call him.”
“Thanks,” I said, glancing up as the front door opened. My first patients were already arriving at 8:15—something unheard of since I’d started here. I ducked out, letting Beverly start checking people in, while I congratulated myself on our progress.
After a long day,where all eighteen patients showed—but my nurse didn’t, leaving me to do all the intakes myself—I felt exhausted but happy. It was the kind of day I had imagined when I first took the job. I felt like I had actually helped some people, and happily, I hadn’t had a single patient demand narcotics.
On top of that, Mike hadn’t pulled anything else, and I was starting to think maybe we had blown the whole thing out of proportion.
I was packing up my things for the day when Beverly knocked on my office door.
“Come in,” I called out while tucking a medical book into my bag so I could review a protocol later.
“I’m about to leave, but I was wondering if you wanted me to stay for your meeting?” She let the words hang in the air.
“What meeting?” I frowned.
“With Dr. Johnson. Remember? You asked me to schedule a meeting with him about the medication-assisted drug treatment program. I put it on your calendar—and told you about it—last Friday. It’s scheduled for six tonight.”
“Oh my goodness.” Shehadtold me. I had just been too busy enjoying the flowers I’d assumed were from Jackson to actually pay attention to what she was saying. “I remember now.” I glanced at my phone. “Oh man. It’s too late to cancel, isn’t it?”
“I could try,” she offered.
I groaned. “No, that wouldn’t make a very good impression, would it? After all, I’m the one who asked for his help applying for this grant. It’s fine. I was just looking forward to getting home.” More like looking forward to getting home toJackson.I knew he had gotten called out to a case though and would likely be working late anyway.
“Okay,” she said. She was hesitant, like there was something she wanted to say. “So do you want me to hang around for it, or…”
I realized she was worried I’d make her stay late for the meeting, which was above and beyond the call of duty. “No, no,” I said, waving her off. “It’s fine. Go on home and enjoy your evening.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course. I wouldn’t put you out like that.”
“Okay. Well, goodnight, then.” She still looked hesitant.
“Goodnight, Beverly. See you tomorrow. And great work on the schedule this week!”
She gave me a faint smile, then closed the door and left.
With Beverly gone,I felt oddly unnerved about being alone at the clinic. I shot Jackson a quick text, letting him know I had a meeting I had forgotten about and would be working later than normal. Then I peeked outside the front window. The two deputies were still stationed out front.
“Everything’s fine,” I said, feeling jarred by the sound of my own voice in the empty building.
I had fifteen minutes before Dr. Johnson was scheduled to arrive. It only took five to pull the files I had prepped with my ideas for the program, so I killed time by playing on my cell phone.
My call log showed five missed calls from Mama from over the weekend, and I toyed with the idea of calling her back. But I just wasn’t ready for another conversation with her. Not when she seemed intent on souring everything I was building for myself here. So I played solitaire instead, distracting myself from the anxiety building within me.
Dr. Johnson arrivedwith precise punctuality, knocking on the clinic doors at exactly 6:00. I unlocked them for him and waved to the deputies on the street, letting them know he was okay. Then I locked the door behind him and invited him into my office.
He walked in and looked around before taking the seat across from my desk.
“It’s good to see you here,” he said, a proud smile on his face. “I think you’re exactly what this clinic needed. Fresh blood. New ideas. Everything worked out, didn’t it?”
