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Nora and Janessa were in the middle of a debate over something that had happened with a patient the previous day. Aria’s gaze ping-ponged between the two, and Gareth wondered what she was thinking. It might take a little while for her to get used to how they all related to each other.
He appreciated that she wasn’t rocking the boat too much just yet. But hopefully, she’d come to understand that her opinion mattered too and feel comfortable voicing it.
“Do you have any concerns, Gare?” Janessa asked.
“Nope. Everything’s been going smoothly.”
“Did you train Aria on printing test requisitions yet, Janessa?” Nora asked.
“No.”
“Why not? She needs to know how to do that.”
“I am aware,” Janessa said, her tone firm. “But that won’t be a regular part of her duties, so it’s low on my priority list of things to teach her. There are far more important things she needs to learn first.”
“Why are you so focused on this, Nora?” Gareth asked. “Janessa explained yesterday why she wasn’t teaching her that yet. This needs to be the last time you bring this up. Janessa is in charge of teaching Aria what she needs to know.”
Nora lifted her chin. “I’m just trying to help.”
“If you have a valid concern, you can bring it to me,” Janessa said. “Don’t bother Aria. She’s still in the learning phase, so it’s less confusing for her to hear about issues from just me.”
“I agree with that,” Jay said, and Gareth nodded.
“You shouldn’t need to act as a go-between,” Nora said. “If she’s not strong enough to take criticism, this might be the wrong job for her.”
Gareth sighed. “Nora, Janessa isn’t acting as the go-between. She is training Aria, so any issues that need to be addressed during this period of learning should go through her.”
“Don’t question it,” Jay said. “This is what Janessa has asked us to do, so this is what we’ll do.”
Nora looked like she wanted to argue, but apparently thought better of it. Gareth hoped she’d stop focusing so much on Aria and just do her job. That’s what they should all do. Aria would learn the job in due time, and she certainly didn’t need four people watching her every move.
And it wasn’t as if anything she did was life or death that could end with a patient’s health being jeopardized. Any mistake she made could be easily corrected.
“If that’s all,” Janessa began, “Aria and I need to get back to work.”
“Nothing more from me,” Jay said.
“Me either,” Gareth added.
Janessa didn’t bother to wait for Nora’s response. She gathered up her trash and dumped it into the garbage. Aria did the same, then followed Janessa from the room.
“I don’t think this is going to work out.”
“Give it up, Nora,” Gareth said. “We’re not firing Aria without cause. She’ll be given a fair shot at the job.”
“Two days isn’t a fair shot,” Jay added. “So just back off and let Janessa do her job.”
Nora glared at them both, then got up and cleared the remnants of her meal away before leaving the break room on her absurdly high heels.
“Is this going to be a problem?” Jay asked as he sprawled back in his chair, crossing his arms.
“I certainly hope not. We need both of them.”
Jay nodded. “I just don’t want Aria to think that this is a hostile work environment if Nora won’t leave her alone.”
“I think she’ll settle down,” Gareth said. “For some reason, she’s feeling threatened by Aria.”
“For some reason,” Jay scoffed. “I think we know what that reason is.”
