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London felt as if she would permanently damage her cheek muscles if she was forced to maintain this smile for another second, but she did it anyway. That’s just what you did when the person who’d put you up in an eight-hundred-dollars-a-night suite and treated you to a two-hundred-dollar lunch was expounding on all the wonderful things his hospital had to offer.
The first thing London thought when Dr. Bruce Davidson greeted her was that he was tall enough to play center for the Chicago Bulls. She soon learned that he had been a standout collegiate basketball player back in the day, but that losing his younger brother to leukemia had started him on the path of pediatric oncology.
His kind eyes and quiet demeanor were well suited to someone who had surely had his share of tough discussions with scared parents. London took mental notes. She did just fine with the kids but could use some work when it came to communicating with her patients’ caregivers.
Although she wasn’t sure how much face-to-face communication she would have with patients or their families if she accepted this fellowship. Based on everything that had been covered so far, this position was far more research heavy than any of the others she’d looked into.
But maybe that’s what she needed. Research was less stressful than being in the operating room day in and day out. It would do her some good to have less stress in her life for a couple of years.
But she didn’t become a surgeon to spend her time in a lab. And while it may be stressful to have a tiny human’s life literally in your hands, the reward of a successful surgery that gave that child a longer life was worth all the stress in the world.
Shethrivedin the operating room. It was where she was her most content. Would she even be happy in a fellowship like this one?
“And there she is,” Dr. Davidson said.
London turned in the direction he pointed. She didn’t have to force her smile this time, not with one of her heroes striding toward her. London beamed as the short Black woman in her mid-sixties approached.
“London Kelley, may I introduce you to Eveline Mayberry.”
“It is truly an honor, Dr. Mayberry.” London shook the woman’s outstretched hand. “I’ve followed your work throughout medical school and my residency. I wrote several papers on your groundbreaking research on Eisenmenger syndrome.”
“I’ve read them,” Eveline Mayberry answered.
London’s head snapped back. “You have?”
“Of course I have. Your reputation precedes you, Dr. Kelley.” She looked to Dr. Davidson. “Do you mind excusing us, Bruce? I’d like to buy Dr. Kelley a cup of coffee and speak to her one-on-one.”
“Not at all,” Dr. Davidson said. “In fact, let me do the buying.”
He guided them to the hospital’s nearby doctors’ lounge that made the one back at County look like an abandoned 1950s roadside diner. Everything was clean lines and stainless steel. Dr. Mayberry chose a table next to the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Chicago River.
As they waited for Bruce Davidson to return with their coffees, Dr. Mayberry inquired about London’s flight up from Austin and asked if she was enjoying her stay at the Drake.
“Everything has been amazing,” London said. “This is my first time in Chicago, so it’s a treat to stay in the heart of the city. I’m going to do a little sightseeing once Dr. Davidson and I are done.”
“We’re not done, are we?” Bruce Davidson asked as he returned. He placed two cups of coffee on the table, along with an extra that was filled with various sweeteners and single-serve nondairy creamer cups.
“No, you’re not done,” Dr. Mayberry answered. “I’ll bring Dr. Kelley to your office once we’ve chatted a bit.”
“Enjoy,” he said before leaving their table.
“You know, Dr. Kelley,” Eveline Mayberry began as she opened a single pink packet of sweetener and added it to her coffee. “I personally asked Dr. Davidson and the others in the fellowship program to roll out the red carpet for you because I want you on my team.”
London’s heart began to thump so loudly in her ears that she was sure the other doctor could hear it.
“Um, that’s…very flattering.”
“Youshouldfeel flattered, because it’s not something I would normally do. I trust they have rolled out the red carpet for you?”
“Yes.” London nodded vehemently. “Everyone has treated me extremely well. It makes the decision I have to make even more difficult.”
“That’s disappointing to hear,” Dr. Mayberry said.
London paused mid-sip. “Excuse me?”
“This decision should be an easy one. Who are we up against?”
It took a lot to intimidate her, but London had to admit that Eveline Mayberry intimidated the hell out of her. All four feet, ten inches of this woman screamed,Cross me and I will crush you.
