Page 88 of Mountain Freedom
“It did,” I said, smiling warmly. “Thanks to you. I really appreciate your vote of confidence. I know I wouldn’t have gotten this job without you.”
He bowed his head, accepting my thanks.
“Now,” I said, pulling out the files I had prepared. “Here’s what I’m thinking about for the program.”
He took the file from me, thumbed through it briefly, then set it aside. “I assure you, you’ll have the hospital’s full support in setting it up however you wish,” he said. “But that’s not really why I’m here.”
I knew immediately I had made a mistake. “Then why are you here?”
He stared at me a moment, then smiled. “You look so much like your mother. It’s shocking, really. You didn’t always. As a child, I thought you resembled your father more, but with every year that passed, you looked more like her. Then she took you away. And somehow, with her as your only influence, you seem to have transformed even more into her likeness.”
A new question formed. “Dr. Johnson. How well did you know my mother?”
He smiled again. “Intimately.”
I felt my face flush. “Are you… Are you my…” I couldn’t even bring myself to ask the question.
He cocked his head, giving me a strange look. “Am I your what?”
I swallowed hard. “My biological father?”
Shock appeared in his eyes. Then he softened and laughed. “Goodness, no. Though I suppose I can understand why you’d jump to that conclusion.”
I sank back in my chair, relieved. “Dr. Johnson, I wish you’d get to the point. You’re not here to talk about my program, and you’re not here to tell me you’re my father. Please don’t tell me you’re here to rehash an affair with my mother.”
He shook his head. “Of course not. We have much more to discuss than that.”
“What do we need to discuss?” Fear began to rise. I had no logical reason to be afraid of Dr. Johnson, who had always beenkind to me. But I also knew that a kind exterior could hide a predator’s heart, and everything in my body was telling me to run.
He pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket. “This,” he said, holding it up. But he didn’t pass it to me. He cocked his head again. “Did you know that I’m not only responsible for getting you this job, but I got you into the residency program in Memphis as well?”
I was taken aback. “No. No, I didn’t.”
He nodded. “I’ve been watching you for a long time, Allison. It’s been hard waiting for you. But I understand the need to pursue a vocation, and I admit, I was delighted you chose medicine. So I’ve waited patiently. And now, here you are.”
“Yes…” I forced myself to act calm.
“I must say, you’re more beautiful in person than I ever imagined. You were worth the wait. But…” he frowned. “I was very disappointed that you didn’t wait for me, too. That’s why I got a bit angry Saturday and left that mess at your house.”
My hands began to shake. “That was you?”
“It was out of character,” he admitted. “And I realized after that my reaction wasn’t fair to you. After all, you didn’t know about our agreement. I apologize for overreacting. I hope you’ll forgive me the way I decided to forgive you.”
“What agreement?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
He smiled. “The one that made you mine.” He tossed the paper he was holding onto my desk.
I picked it up with trembling fingers, not knowing what to expect.
But nothing would have prepared me for what I read.
It was a letter from my father. A signed letter promising me to Dr. Johnson in exchange for the release of his gambling debts.
Horror flooded my body as I read the words. When I was finished, I dropped it like a hot coal onto the desk.
“This doesn’t mean anything,” I said, shaking my head. “I’m not property, and this document is meaningless.”
Dr. Johnson just smiled. “No. You’re right of course. Legally speaking, it means nothing. But you owe me, Allison, just the same.”
