Page 19 of Paging Dr. Hart
He drops one last bomb. “As an incentive, if you are successful in this task, I’ll give one of you the Resident of the Month award. Ethan, have you heard of it yet?”
Ethan shakes his head no.
“It’s a certificate given to one resident in the hospital each month. A generous bonus of $1,000 comes with it. Needless to say, it’s very sought after.” Another swipe of Kleenex to the tip of his cherry-red nose before he drops the crumpled tissue in the trash can.
“Doesn’t some big committee determine the winner?” I ask. I always imagined it as a grand affair, like the gathering of the Continental Congress. White-wigged doctors carefully weigh each candidate’s attributes to choose the best one. They all sign the Resident of the Month certificate like it’s the Declaration of Independence.
“There is. I’m on that committee. I already told them I’ll be awarding it next month.” Dr. Washburn folds his hands over his chest and leans back, preening.
Huh. Well, that’s disappointing.
So much for an impartial group of men and women handing out theResident of the Month certificates. This is like finding out that Santa Claus isn’t real. “But only one of us can get it?” I clarify, trying to wrap my head around how this will work.
“Yes, you’re right. I’ll have the medical staff in Cleveland report back to me about how you both perform. That way, I can decide who to give it to.”
Why does Dr. Washburn appear so smug when he says that? It’s like he enjoys pitting us against each other. Maybe he thinks this is the medical version of theHunger Games.Aggravated, I clench my fists, fingers digging into the soft flesh of my palms.
Unbelievable.
Last month, I lost that award because Ethan ruined my lecture. Now I might lose it again because of him. Dr. Washburn gives us a few more instructions, such as when to arrive at the hospital and where to park. He hands me a badge that will let me enter the hospital.
Dr. Tiffany Hart, Radiology, Highview Hospital.
Ethan still has his old badge from when he used to work there.
Shell-shocked, Ethan and I return to our office.
The X-ray before me swims in and out of focus. I can’t concentrate, too busy worrying about Fred The Cat, the only companion who’s never left me. Who will take care of him? And what about my beat-up 1990s sedan? Can it make the drive to Cleveland without breaking down? I barely trust the car to travel the couple of blocks between my apartment and the hospital.
Most of all, I’m plotting how to win that award. I desperately need the money for my conference at Disney World. I also want the validation it provides. That certificate is proof that all my striving and sacrifice haven’t been in vain.
Ethan’s unusually quiet, all his earlier mirth gone.
Finally, I can’t take the silence any longer. I spin my chair toward him. “This is your fault,” I scold, pointing my finger at him. “I said during your interview this would happen.”
Ethan doesn’t rise to match my anger. “You’re right. I knew this was coming. I just didn’t think it would be this soon,” he says glumly.
I don’t know how to handle this withdrawn version of Ethan. He’s usually so outgoing and confident.
He doesn’t want to go with me.
Well, that’s fine because I don’t want to go with him either.
Before I can take it back, the thought flies from my brain and out of my mouth. “You can ask Dr. Washburn for a different resident to go with you. You obviously wish it wasn’t me.”
Ethan’s head snaps up, his eyebrows puckering in confusion. “What? No, that’s not it, Tiffy.”
“I told you not to call me that.” I want to shake him, I’m so annoyed. Shake the defeated look off his stupid, handsome face. Why, of all people, do I have to compete against him? “God,” I say, throwing my hands into the air, “I just can’t get rid of you, can I?”
“That’s right. You’re stuck with me.” He glares right back, flecks of gold swirling in his amber eyes. There’s a certainty to his words. Like he’s making a threat…or a promise.
16
Worrying about Fred The Cat weighs me down. In desperation, I text Melanie.
Tiffany: HUGE favor to ask.
Melanie: What’s up?
