Page 8 of Paging Dr. Hart
The new arrivals pick up their forks and dig in. As much as I like Melanie, I have an equal dislike for pompous, boring Patrick. I make introductions, and Melanie strikes up an animated conversation with Ethan. She mostly covers information I already know—where Ethan is from, why he likes radiology, and so on.
Occasionally, Patrick interjects comments about himself. He tells Ethan all about why he chose radiology and how it is one of the higher-paid specialties. Apparently, no one ever taught Patrick that talking about money is impolite.
Now that I don’t have to entertain Ethan, my mind returns to the strange text message from this morning. Who sent it and why? My mouth goes dry thinking about it. Hoping a drink will help, I get up to refill my glass. When I return, the atmosphere is strained. Ethan frowns down at the table with his jaw clenched. Melanie’s normally jovial face is pale.
“Hey guys, what’s going on?” I ask lightly.
“Nothing.” Melanie’s a terrible liar.
Maybe I should force them to explain what’s happening, but one look at all those tense faces makes me pause.
For now, I let it be.
6
Afew days later, during a break between patients, I’m looking at that photo again, the Las Vegas sign. It’s been haunting me; a riddle I can’t solve.
Needing a distraction, I decide to follow up on that strange lunch incident.
My fingers fly over my cell phone as I text Melanie.
Tiffany: Question. Last week? When new guy was at lunch? I went away and when I came back, everyone was upset. What happened?
Melanie: Nothing.
Tiffany: Tell me.
Melanie: Don’t worry about it.
Tiffany: MELANIE!!
Melanie: OK. OK. Don’t yell at me. It was Patrick.
Tiffany: UGH! He’s the worst.
Melanie: The worst!! Can’t stand him.
Tiffany: Same. So? What was it this time?
Melanie: Talked crap about U. Told him to stop.
Tiffany: What did he say?
The cursor on the screen blinks its three little dots for a long time. Thevisual equivalent of Melanie hesitating. I imagine her typing out an answer, erasing it, and then typing it out again. Finally, the blue bubble pops up.
Melanie: Called U an ice queen.
Tiffany: That’s all?
Melanie: Asked Ethan if he enjoyed spending time with the “ice queen.” Sorry. He sucks.
Tiffany: It’s OK. Other residents call me that, too.
Melanie: Not OK.
Tiffany: Been called worse.
Melanie: They’re jealous. You keep acing our exams.
