Page 39 of Dr. Off Limits

Jacob

The morning had gone well, but I was looking forward to getting out into the sunshine. I strode across the lawn toward the haystack maze, leading twenty-five foundation doctors like I was the pied piper. The morning had focused on learning from our mistakes and the most common issues for new foundation doctors. Most of it boiled down to communication, so this afternoon I had devised games that encouraged the doctors to understand the difficulty of communicating in a stressed environment and how it was important to do it anyway. I’d revised the program a little since I’d first spoken to Gerry, and as usual, him pushing me had made things better.

This morning, my gaze had wandered to Sutton more than it should have. It was completely subconscious. I was just drawn to her. She was quietly so determined and confident; it was palpable. She was one of the quieter members of the group. There were doctors like Gilly, David, and Thomas who made their presence felt. I’d learned a long time ago, they were rarely the best doctors. Sutton was the graceful swan in a pond full of over-excited minnows. She wasn’t trying to stand out or get my attention—quite the opposite. But she had my attention anyway.

When I got to the haystacks, everyone fanned out in front of me. I slid on my sunglasses. Yes, the sun was out, but my shades were there to cover my subconscious pull toward Sutton. “I’m going to split you into teams of five. Each team will take one of the five activities. Each activity should take around three quarters of an hour to complete. There’s a volunteer at each station to show you what to do. I’ll be going between groups to observe.”

The doctors stood in front of me, most of them nudging each other and swapping in-jokes.

“This activity is a haystack maze. You’re going to have to find your way through to collect the prize at the center, then find your way out the other side. You’ll be teamed up in pairs. One of you will be in the maze, blindfolded, with your hands tied together, and the other one will be standing on the tower, directing their partner.” I nodded toward a platform overlooking the waist-high maze. Each of you will have a chance to direct and be blindfolded. It will be a time trial. Fastest couple wins.”

Some people laughed and some people groaned. Sutton just stood there, also wearing her sunglasses, hands on her hips, as if ready for battle. She and I could have done something like this on our first date. It would have been fun. Although I wouldn’t want to be pitted against her. I’d much prefer to have her on my team.

I picked the teams and they all went to their first stations. Sutton’s first activity was the maze. I wanted to stick around and see how this went.

She turned to Andy and asked him to be her partner. I knew Sutton had said she wasn’t interested in a relationship because she wanted to focus on work, but I wondered if things had changed for her. Or whether they would. And would Andy be the guy by her side when they did? I couldn’t think about it.

“You can be blindfolded,” Sutton said. “I’ll be your guide.”

Andy shrugged and pulled out the blindfold while Sutton grabbed a map.

“Before you put the blindfold on, let’s agree that you’re only to take very small steps. Just half a foot in front of the other. That way we can avoid having to go backward.”

“But it will be quicker if I use bigger strides.”

“Not if you overshoot,” Sutton said. “Then you’ll have to go backward. Everything will go to shit. Just trust me on this.” She was right. I wasn’t sure Andy was the guy to listen, though. After a little more to-ing and fro-ing, she slipped the blindfold over Andy’s eyes. Sutton positioned him at the entrance to the maze. She gave a little laugh, glanced at me, and then headed to the tower. I wasn’t the only one watching her. Her colleagues were, too. This wasn’t the time to have a moment.

Sutton refocused and began giving out instructions as Andy shuffled ahead, followed by a volunteer and then me.

She started strong, was confident in her delivery and successfully guided Andy around two corners.

“Stay still,” she said. “I want you to turn to your right ninety degrees. Shuffle around.”

“Now move forward?” Andy asked.

“Yes, it’s about half the distance that you went before. Take it slow.”

“Stop,” she said. “Now stay on the stop and shuffle right.” Andy turned left. “No, wrong direction, the other way.”

“Are you sure?” Andy asked.

“I’m sure,” Sutton said.

“But we just turned that way,” Andy argued. What was he doing? Why wouldn’t he just listen to what Sutton said. She was the eyes in this partnership.

“You need to trust me to be able to see where you’re going. You need to turn one hundred and eighty degrees clockwise.”

“Really?” He sighed and pivoted right as instructed. Finally.

“Now move forward,” Sutton said. “Keep going.”

Andy shuffled forward.

“Stop,” Sutton instructed. “Now ninety degrees anti-clockwise.”

“Surely we’re back where we started.”

Sutton started to laugh the most delightful laugh, and I had to fight back a smile at the way her face lit up and her ponytail swished behind her as she tipped her head back. I wasn’t sure if she was laughing with him or at him. “Now reach forward with both hands.” In front of Andy, on a pedestal, was a tennis ball. I moved onto another group in case I could be accused of fixating on Dr. Sutton. Which I seemed to be.

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