Page 67 of Tide and Seek
C.J.announced, “Everyone, this is Dr.Maxwell Thornton and his partner Royce Callum.”
The group gave a warm murmur of greeting.
C.J.steered Royce and me toward an older couple standing near the makeshift bar.“Max, I want you to meet some friends of mine.This is Dr.Robert Feldman and his wife, Susan.”
Dr.Feldman was a distinguished man in his seventies with silver hair swept back from his forehead and intelligent gray eyes behind wire-rimmed glasses.Despite his age, he stood straight and had an alert gaze.His wife Susan was petite and elegant, her auburn hair, no doubt from a bottle, pulled into a soft chignon.She wore a flowing coral blouse that complemented her still-vibrant complexion.
“Robert just retired from vascular surgery at Cedars-Sinai,” C.J.explained with obvious pride in her friend.“I thought you two might have a lot in common, Maxwell.”
Dr.Feldman’s face lit up with interest as he extended his hand.“Maxwell Thornton, we meet at last.C.J.has told me all about you.Weren’t you at Saint Joseph’s?I’m sure I’ve heard your name mentioned before in surgical circles.”
“I was,” I replied, shaking his firm grip.“Though I’ve since traded the scalpel for general practice in Texas.”
“Texas?”Susan’s eyebrows rose with curiosity.“How wonderfully adventurous.What brought about such a dramatic change?”
I wasn’t about to share that I’d made the change because I’d lost confidence in myself.That was more personal than I wanted to be with someone I’d just met.“I wanted a quieter life,” I said instead.
Dr.Feldman grunted.“And quiet it must be by comparison.Although, you know, I admire anyone who can step away from vascular.Vascular surgery involves big teams, intricate coordination, and high stakes, whereas general practice is more solitary and personal.I imagine the transition to general practice must feel rather like switching from conducting a symphony to playing solo piano.”
I nodded.“It’s very different being a GP.I deal with people on a much more personal level.If I’m honest, it was a difficult adjustment for me.”
“Was it?”Susan studied me.
Grimacing, I admitted, “I’m not really a people person.”
Smiling, Susan touched my arm.“Neither is Robert, but he’s perfectly personable to anyone who’ll take him golfing.Offer him a Saturday morning tee time and he’ll be your new bubbly best friend.”
We all laughed, which was a relief.I didn’t want to talk about my reasons for changing my specialty, and happily, both Susan and Robert seemed fine with changing the subject to things like living in Texas and their favorite vacation spots.By the time C.J.dragged us off to meet more people, I could see why she liked them.
As C.J.introduced us to a few more doctors, bankers, and corporate-type clients of hers, I was happy to see Royce had no issues conversing with them.He seemed perfectly at ease, and comfortable in his own skin.His confidence was one of the things that had first attracted me to Royce.He knew who he was and he didn’t feel the need to change just so he’d fit in with new people.
“And finally, these are my team from Salt & Sun Yoga,” C.J.said cheerfully, as we approached a group of four.
“You saved the best for last,” said a blonde woman with the kind of tan that suggested serious dedication to outdoor meditation.“I’m Sage,” she said, extending a hand with multiple silver rings.
“Nice to meet you,” both Royce and I said.
“I hear you’re a sheriff in Texas?”she asked, giving Royce an admiring once-over.
Royce nodded.“That I am.”
“It must be so exciting.That’s a very challenging job.So many dangerous people out there,” a skinny brunette said, dipping a chip into a bowl of guacamole.
Royce shrugged.“I watch my back best I can.”
Sage’s friendly demeanor shifted slightly as she turned her attention to me.“C.J.says you’re a doctor, Maxwell?Are you the kind of doctor who dismisses the body’s natural healing abilities?”
I blinked at her challenging tone.“I’m not sure what you’re asking.”I certainly hadn’t expected to have my perspective on medicine questioned at this party.
“Now come on, Sage,” C.J.laughed nervously.“Don’t give Maxwell a hard time.There’s room in the world for all types of medicine.”
Sage frowned.“I’m simply pointing out that Western medicine has taken its sweet time catching up to what we’ve known for centuries.The body can and will heal itself without all those harmful drugs traditional doctors love to hand out like candy.”
“We don’t hand out drugs like candy,” I said.“And medicine has always been about healing—”
“But not holistically,” interrupted a plump redhead with crystals dangling from her ears.“I’m Moonbeam, by the way.Nice to meet you both.”She cleared her throat.“I teach our crystal healing workshops at the studio.Have you ever considered how gemstones can realign your chakras?I bet, as a surgeon, you carry a lot of negative energy.”
“Ex-surgeon, actually.I’m a GP now.”
