Page 12 of Doctorshipped
“Sounds fair. Actually, I’m sure I’m getting the better part of that deal.”
The thought of Shannon moving out sends my stomach into a little flip. We share the rent for this old house. Since she’s getting married, she’ll be moving into Duke’s home. That means I have to take on a new roommate, which isn’t likely with such a small population. Or I have to move out and find somewhere I can afford on my own. I keep putting that whole decision off, as if avoiding it will make it go away.
“K. Welp. I’ve gotta get ready for class,” Shannon announces as she walks toward the kitchen door. “Oh! I almost forgot. That new doctor is supposed to be moving into town this week too—Hazel’s cousin. It’s all the buzz. People can’t stop talking about him. No one’s seen him yet. You know how this town loves a mystery and anything worth a little gossip.”
“Don’t I ever. Well, at least his arrival will keep the interest in my travel fiasco to a low roar.”
“Don’t count on it. When it comes to gossip, we can multitask.”
“Truth.”
5
GRANT
The movers showed up just after we did Saturday. I could honestly buy my dad season tickets to the Cardinals for recommending a full-service moving company. They even emptied the silverware into drawers—all while Fiona stood by supervising and giving very detailed opinions about where everything should go.
Fiona starts school in less than two weeks, so aside from seeing patients, my number one job is getting her everything she needs to start her sixth grade experience with confidence.
I’m sitting at my desk, acquainting myself with patient files. This town had a doctor who retired several years ago. Hazel stepped in and took over the practice full-time. As a nurse practitioner, she’s almost as qualified as a physician to handle most issues. But, she’s overwhelmed. Our need for a change just happened to coincide with her need for more support.
“Well, good morning, Doctor.”
Hazel’s voice and the sound of the door to my office sliding open draws my attention away from the file of a man named Walt who is suffering from arthritis. I have some thoughts as to alternate treatments. I’m not a rheumatologist, but as an internal medicine physician, I have treated my fair share of seniors. I know my way around their common ailments. I’m looking forward to seeing Walt.
This kind of stuff gets my blood pumping. Knowing I could make a change in someone’s quality of life simply because of my training and knowledge gives me a rush. Even if my parents hadn’t been physicians, I’m pretty sure I would have pursued medicine for this reason alone. I can make a difference. I have even occasionally saved or prolonged lives.
“Good morning, Hazel.”
I set the file down and steeple my fingers, resting my elbows on my desk.
“Doesn’t your cousin get a hug after—what is it?—four years of not seeing one another face to face?”
“In general, the only human who gets hugs is Fiona. My dad occasionally. And. Well. That’s all.”
“And I’m supposed to take that as an answer? Stand up and make an exception.”
I feel my brows draw in as I stand, but I don’t fight Hazel. She wants a hug. I can oblige her. Now, if patients start requesting hugs, they will need to rethink their expectations of me as a physician. The very thought of it sends a shiver down my spine. It’s not customary for physicians to hug patients, but in a town this provincial, one never can tell what they might want.
I walk toward Hazel and wrap my arms around her.
“You hug like Frankenstein the day he came to life. Stiff, stiff, stiff.”
Hazel pokes my ribs and I recoil.
“Ah. You are still ticklish there. Don’t ever forget I was your summer playmate all through our childhoods, Grant. I’ll always cherish our summers at the lake with Gramps and Grams. Remember how we loved that dock, racing out there and seeing who could hold their breath underwater the longest?”
I almost smile at the memory.
“How’s Joseph?”
Joseph is Hazel’s older brother. He’s three years older than us, and always seemed like he wanted to be left alone—trying to prove how much older and better he was than us at everything. Hazel and I ended up entertaining one another for the weeks both our families spent at the family cabin in Maine every summer. Joseph and I never bridged the gap he initiated all those years ago.
“He’s fine. He and Sandy are settled in Fairbanks, as you know.”
“How anyone settles in Alaska is beyond me.”
“It’s beautiful, friendly, and as a rule, the people are adventurous and free-spirited. Plus, there’s so much to do outdoors.”
