“I’m Gen, and this is Bella.And Marco, our neighbor.”
“Aren’t you sweet?”Mackenzie crooned to Bella.
“I’m nearly ten,” Bella announced.
“In March,” Gen murmured.
“That’s only six months away,” Bella said.
“Wow.My baby is not even four months old yet, so you’re a lot bigger than her.”Mackenzie smiled.“They should be out soon.”
“Great.”
But the longer she waited, the more Gen’s nerves grew.She really didn’t want to be the person spoiling Kyle’s return with an ill-advised remark to the coach.Maybe it had been a simple birthmark, and this was all an overreaction on her part.
Finally, the doors opened and she was all set to smile at Kyle.But it was the coach who appeared, a frown etched on his face.He pointed to her.“I need you to come with me.”
“Me?”
He nodded, and gestured to an adjoining room.
“Um, Marco, can you please keep an eye on Bella?I don’t know how long I’m going to be.”
“This won’t take too long,” the coach muttered, opening a door and gesturing her to go inside to what was obviously a medical facility.Where one of the team staff members she’d spoken to back in April was waiting.
“Dr.Rivas.It’s been a minute.”The man she vaguely recognized shook her hand.“Gerry Travis.”
The other one, wearing a lanyard announcing “Team Doctor” nodded.“Dr.Cheloff.”
“Hi.”She turned to Coach Aitken.“Sir, I really didn’t mean to embarrass you but I thought it was something worth checking out.”
“And it is,” Doc Cheloff said.“I noticed it a while ago and said something, but it’s definitely changed in shape and size since.”
She winced.“I’m sorry, Coach, but it sounds like you need to deal with it as soon as possible.”
“Oh, I’m getting it checked out tonight.I just wanted to say thank you, and thanks also for being so quick to help diagnose Tinks all those months ago.”His gruff exterior lifted as he smiled.“Who knew what a trip to the hospital would bring him?”
“I know I’m probably not supposed to say this, but I’m very thankful to God that it happened, as it’s brought a lot of good things.”
Coach Aitken nodded.“Like the fact that you’re here tonight.Well, I am very grateful to have someone observant like you willing to say something.”
Dr.Cheloff smiled.“If ever you need a job, young lady, then we would be happy to give a reference.”
“Thanks, but I love where I work.”Even if the upcoming board review meant she might not be working there for much longer.
“Well, let’s get some pictures so we can post about this on our accounts.That okay with you?”
“I might need to run it past the hospital’s powers that be, first.”
“Of course.”He smiled.“I can send a request if that’d help.”
“Uh, sure.Thanks.”
She blinked.Was this part of why she’d come tonight?Wasn’t this similar to what Marcie had recommended?Go public, make a fuss.And while she hadn’t wanted to do that, this felt like a golden opportunity to be recognized for her competency, of proving herself to the naysayers, without pointing a finger of blame at anyone.And if the hospital realized via social media buzz that some people recognized that she was a valuable asset to the hospital, then that had to be a good thing, right?
“Okay.Well, let’s get some pictures and we’ll get the wheels in motion.”
She smiled and posed with the coach, then took a few more pictures with the medical staff, all the while feeling like this was a dream.But hey, who knew if it might help sway the board at the upcoming review?Her future wasn’t in the hands of men, anyway.It was in the hands of God.
