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“But we can do better,” he said. “When I was in Costa Rica, their system fascinated me. Do you know they have one of the best health care systems in the world?”
“Really?”
“Reasonable pricing, full coverage of all health procedures, doctors and hospital visits, prescription drugs with a small monthly payment. That takes the pressure off the patient and their family while they’re trying to fight cancer, for example. Not worrying if you’d be able to afford that series of chemo is a blessing. Patients have enough weighing on their minds.”
“So true,” Amanda agreed softly.
Gene sighed. “We can do better. I want to do better for my patients.”
Amanda studied his face and had an epiphany. She understood now why he’d pushed her to get the CT. Her mother had seen a specialist who’d only seen her for mere minutes to just throw test after test at her, then shrugged when the results were either normal or inconclusive. They needed doctors who saw the patient as a person, not just a case or a set of tests. Doctors like Dr. Bloom.
“Do you think you can do that working with Dr. Bloom?” she questioned. “Treating small town folks?”
“I honestly don’t know. That’s why I’m here—”
“Exploring. Right,” Amanda finished the sentence for him. “I can tell you if not for Dr. Bloom, I don’t know how my family could deal with my mother’s illness.
“He went above and beyond his capacity as our family doctor,” she continued. “Without him guiding us through the process with the specialists and advocating for us, we would’ve been lost in the system. Though, in the end, my mother didn’t survive her disease, Dr. Bloom gave her and our family peace of mind by being there for us every step of the way. I personally feel we need more Dr. Blooms.”
Gene smiled slightly. “I agree. There’s not many who can fill those big shoes.”
She searched his eyes. “I think you can.”
Amanda knew Gene graduated from one of the best medical schools in the country and worked for the number one hospital in the state, so he was probably more than qualified to fill Dr. Bloom’s shoes. And experiencing his full attention firsthand after the accident, there was no doubt he cared enough.
The better question was: would he want to stay?
Gene locked gazes with her as if he heard the unsaid question. He smiled slightly.
“Thank you for your vote of confidence. But that’s yet to be determined.”
“I think it’s more about what future you see yourself in,” Amanda said. “See, I’ve always wanted to preserve my mother’s legacy, but also make my mark in this town, henceSanctuary. Working there every day makes me happy. Do you see yourself working in the ER for the rest of your life?”
His brows furrowed deeply. “No. But I hadn’t planned to move on this early, either.”
“You have time to decide your next step, I suppose,” Amanda said neutrally. It wasn’t her place to influence him, even if she thought he should stay. Especially if she wished he would stay. Amanda eyed the ominous dark clouds edging the blue sky. “We should probably get moving if we want to hit those RVs. Looks like a storm is brewing.”
Gene followed her gaze. “Wow, where did that come from? They didn’t forecast a storm for today.”
Amanda stood up, laughing. “You still trust the weather forecast? Nine out of ten times they got it wrong lately.”
“We could use the rain to wash out the pollen,” he said, pulling his backpack on. “Ready to get back at it?”
Amanda nodded and geared her head back onto the mission. “Let’s go.”
seventeen
“Ooh, people!”
Amanda pointed to the RV parked at the next slot.
Gene watched as she and Loki ran ahead of him to the family returning from the water with their young kids. The woman surprised him yet again with another side of her—the insightful one.
It was funny she’d reminded him he couldn’t save all his patients when she’s determined to find one girl she’d seen for mere seconds. He would hate to be the one to tell her the same thing if they couldn’t find any leads.
However, it was her simple statement that he could fill in Dr. Bloom’s shoes if he wanted that humbled him. She obviously thought highly of Dr. Bloom, which made her statement mean more to him. He wanted to be the kind of doctor who knew his patients inside out, not just as names on the charts which he’d forget once they left.
It was probably why he’d burned out at the ER, because he couldn’t file the patients away at the end of the day. But could he do better for patients in this small town than in Atlanta?
