Risking It All For The Children's Doc by Tina Beckett

Author:Tina Beckett
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollinsPublishers
Published: 2020-06-09T18:42:31+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

LYRIC SAT ACROSS from him at an Italian eatery that was within a ten-minute drive from Alia’s preschool. She’d been so worried about that kiss turning things between them into an untenable situation, but it didn’t seem to have. Unlike her, Ellis had evidently brushed it off as insignificant, at least from his attitude. She wasn’t sure whether to be insulted or relieved.

Relieved. This is not a situation, like with Jim, where you wanted it to mean more than it did.

In this case, she definitely did not want it to mean anything.

“I met with Dr. Radner, and she wants us to work some cases together. I guess I should have run that past you first,” she said.

Dr. Theresa Radner was one of the psychiatrists at the hospital, so it would be natural for them to collaborate on some of the cases involving children.

“No need to run it by me. Maybe talk to Jack about it, just to see if that meshes with the rest of the needs of the hospital.”

He said it as if it didn’t matter, but there was the slightest hardening to his tone that made her wary.

“You don’t sound thrilled by the idea.”

“I don’t really have any thoughts about it at all. I see where you’re coming from, though.”

No change in his voice.

Now she was sorry she’d brought it up. Would he change his mind about being Alia’s alternate for pickup? Well, if it took something as little as that to change his mind, maybe it would be better if he wasn’t on the list at all. “If you’re worried about it interfering with my work in Pediatrics, it won’t. But since the behavioral aspect of my degree is important to me, I think the other behavioral departments should be able to call and ask for a consult, don’t you?”

“I do. And like I said, it’s not my decision. Ultimately, it’s Jack’s.”

So was he saying that Jack might be the one with the problem? Because that’s not what it sounded like to her. “Do you think he’ll object?”

Ellis stared at her for a second as if he was going to refuse to answer. Then finally, he said, “I doubt it. The two departments have just had different focuses, that’s all.”

“Aren’t both focused on helping children?”

“Of course.” He took a bite of his ravioli and glanced over her shoulder, avoiding meeting her gaze.

Despite his words, she was feeling more and more like he was the one with the problem. And she couldn’t for the life of her guess why that might be.

So she followed his example and ate for a minute or two before trying again. “I also thought she—specifically—might have some thoughts on my project. I’m still at the brainstorming stage of how things might work.”

“I get that. And you don’t have to justify your reasons. I’m sure it will be fine.”

“Okay, that’s great.” It wasn’t really, but what else was she going to say? She really needed to tread carefully and not forget that she was the new kid on the block.

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