Page 92 of Pieces into Place
Her pager startled her from her thoughts. Melanie Wright never paged911unless it was serious, so Avery went sprinting from her office to Blake’s room. She’d run out in such a rush she’d left her white coat, which Avery always wore with pride. That left her only in a pair of hospital-issued scrubs that weren’t comfortable at all. But that didn’t matter. All that mattered was getting to Blake.
Avery slowed her sprint to a quick walk as she entered the room. She always tried not to run into a patient’s room at the risk of scaring patients and their support people more than they already were by the time Avery got to that point. It was no different now with Blake, and Avery felt every single concerned eye looking at her as she entered the room.
And not only were Blake’s wife and mom two of the people in the room, but Avery’s boss Vera was also in the room. Well,bosswasn’t really the word, but Vera was one of the most senior doctors at the hospital and Avery respected the shit out of her. Avery never wanted to miss something with a patient, but that was especially true when that patient was Vera’s daughter.
“I turned off the Pitocin. It was instinct,” Vera’s voice was level despite the nervousness in her eyes.
She’d never seen Vera look like that before. Normally Vera had a poker face when working that Avery never could decipher. It was why Avery still had no idea if Vera liked her or not. They’d been working together for seven years and yet Avery still felt like she had to impress Vera to get her approval. She had felt that way since her residency interview with Vera and several other doctors.
Sitting across from the row of five doctors was more than enough to scare the shit out of Avery. She was on her seventh residency interview and had nine more lined up over the next few weeks. Avery’s car had been all over thenortheast as she tried to find the perfect hospital to spend the next four years.
Taylor Memorial Hospital had one of the top OBGYN residency programs in the county, and Avery was desperate to impress the doctors sitting across from her. They all had on white coats that had their name embroidered in black cursive letters. Avery felt more than confident as she sat across from them in a tailored suit and tie that had been her power outfit since graduation. She’d worn it to almost every interview and it made Avery’s confidence soar.
Until that confidence came crashing down as her eyes stayed focused on one of the doctor’s last names.
Mackenzie.
For the entire interview, Avery tried to convince herself there was no way she was related to the Mackenzie woman sitting across from her. They looked nothing alike. And, besides, it was a common last name. Or at least that’s what Avery kept telling herself.
“So, you’re from New York City?” Vera slowly looked up from Avery’s resume and smiled. “My wife is from New York City. Lovely city.”
There’s no way, Avery thought to herself. She forced herself to focus through the rest of the interview as her mind kept wondering if Vera’s wife was her mother’s estranged sister.
Avery shook the memory from her head as she focused back on the screen showing stats from Blake and the baby. Melanie had been right to call her. The baby was having decreased heartbeats at each contraction and Blake’s blood pressure was still elevated. It was time to make a call, but Avery didn’t want to make the wrong one with Vera in the room.
Stop it, Jacobs. Focus. She’s your patient. Just focus on what Blake and the baby need.
As Blake labored through three more contractions, Melanie kept repositioning her to attempt to find a positionthat the baby tolerated. But nothing was working. Avery knew it was time to make the call. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Isla desperately looking back and forth between her, Vera, and Melanie as she seemingly tried to read the room with what was going on. Avery kept her face as neutral as she could as she looked at Vera. Something in Vera’s eyes told Avery she knew the decision Avery had to make and supported it. She nodded slightly before turning to Blake.
“Blake, Alexis,” the steadiness of her voice surprised her, “the baby’s heart rate still is not tolerating the contractions well. I know this isn’t what you want to hear, but I’m recommending a cesarean. I strongly feel that’s our safest option for mama and baby.”
Avery watched as everyone reacted to the news. Alexis and Blake never took their eyes off each other as Isla kept her eyes locked on her daughter. A pang in her heart tried to distract her from the moment as she wondered what it would have been like to grow up with Isla Mackenzie as her mom.
Because Isla’s sister, Gena, had been a shitty mom.
“Mama,” Blake’s voice cracked slightly as she looked at Vera, “I’m scared.”
“Oh, honey.” Vera hurried over to Blake as they held tightly onto each other. “I know this isn’t what you wanted, but I think it’s the best decision for you and the baby. I know it’s scary, but Dr. Jacobs is amazing and you’re going to be in great hands. And Mom and I are going to be right here, okay? We got you.”
Vera looked at Avery and nodded her head firmly. But knowing Vera trusted her did little to help ease Avery’s worries as she got ready for the surgery. She and Vera changed in the room off the operating room together. Avery tried not to look at her as she nervously tied the string of her pants, untied them, and tired them again.
“Avery,” Vera didn’t continue until Avery looked at her, “you’ve got this. You’re an amazing doctor. You have been since you started here. I didn’t know when I interviewed you seven years ago that you would be the one doing my daughter’s cesarean, but I’m glad it’s you. I trust you.”
“You… you do?” The shock in Avery’s voice was apparent, but Vera didn’t comment on it.
“I wouldn’t be letting you operate on Blake if I didn’t. But you’ve never given me any reason to doubt you, so I’m not going to start now.”
“Thanks, Dr. Mackenzie.”
“Vera,” she smiled, pausing for a moment before she left to rejoin Blake.
Alone in the scrub room, Avery tried to kick everything out of her brain except the surgery. She had to let go of the fact that she was about to perform a surgery on Blake Holland.
Her cousin.
With her Aunt Vera in the OR with her.
Except neither of them knew that.
