Page 18 of Reeves

Practitioner agrees not to establish, own or operate a competing pediatric therapy practice within 75 miles for a period of 24 months following separation.

I take a long sip of wine.

If I sold and it didn’t work out, I couldn’t rebuild here. I’d have to start over somewhere else. That would mean uprooting Benjy, leaving my parents, and starting over somewhere new if I want to keep practicing.

I grab my notepad and start calculating my current monthly income after expenses. Then I make a second column with the proposed salary with benefits valued.

Then I make a third column with the tax implications.

The difference is there, but smaller than it first appeared.

The proposal offers security, not wealth. I'd get protection from administrative headaches and freedom from wrestling insurance claims at night.

But also someone else deciding how many patients I see each day, someone else making my schedule and someone else owning the practice I built.

I scratch rough circles around numbers, pressing harder with each loop of my pen.

My thoughts drift back to the beach that afternoon. I smile thinking about Benjy’s face shining with the simple joy of discovery and my mother’s pointed questions.

I drum my fingers against the table, the rhythm matching my thoughts.

The house creaks quietly around me. I close the spreadsheet but leave the proposal open on the screen.

I should go to bed. The decision doesn’t have to happen tonight. But the questions keep stacking up anyway.

"Fuck it," I say out loud to the computer. I pull it closer and open a new email.

I take a long sip of wine. If I sold to them and it didn't work out for whatever reason, they could fire me. And then I'd be screwed. I couldn't rebuild here. That would mean uprooting Benjy, leaving my parents, and starting over somewhere else if I want to keep practicing.

I hit reply and start typing.

Dear Mr. Henderson,

I stop, delete, and try again.

Dear Dr. Henderson,

My lips press together as I craft each sentence with surgical precision.

Thank you for the comprehensive proposal regarding MidSouth Pediatric Partners' interest in acquiring Pediatric Therapy Solutions. Before our scheduled meeting next Tuesday, I have several questions that would help me evaluate this opportunity properly:

1. What specific protections exist for me as an employee following the acquisition? Please clarify the severance terms should MidSouth terminate my employment within the first two years.

2. The non-compete clause mentions a 75-mile radius restriction for 24 months. Is this negotiable in terms of both geographic scope and duration?

3. Is the buyout payment contingent upon my continued employment with MidSouth? If I were terminated six months after acquisition, would any portion need to be returned?

4. The productivity expectation of 32 weekly client sessions appears non-negotiable. What occurs if this threshold isn't consistently met due to cancellations or scheduling limitations beyond my control?

I read through each question twice, adding one final inquiry.

5. Does the proposed salary structure include annual cost-of-living adjustments or performance reviews with potential increases?

I look forward to discussing these details during our meeting, but advance clarification would allow our conversation to be more productive.

Sincerely,

Charli Parsons, PT