Gifted by Susan Rohrer

Author:Susan Rohrer [Rohrer, Susan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781502772800
Publisher: Infinite Arts Media
Published: 2015-02-05T07:00:00+00:00

ANY ILLUSION THAT LILY COULD RELAX was dispelled the moment she emerged from Aaron’s pre-op station.

There was her mother, waiting. This day wouldn’t get any easier. Lily forced a cornered smile. “At ease, Mom. Crisis averted.”

“Crisis curtailed,” Mom corrected. “There’s a difference.”

Lily massaged her knuckles. “Did you ever consider that maybe it’d be better if I went to Dalton-Pearce? Face it, Mom. It’s not like we have the greatest working relationship.”

Her mother’s forehead knitted. “You think I’m harder on you than they would be?”

“Exponentially so.”

“At home, it’s another matter, Lily. But on the job, I treat you with precisely the level of respect that you earn.”

Compulsion got the better of Lily’s inclination toward silence. “So, here it’s guilty until proven innocent?”

“Just as it is with every new employee on this staff.”

“I interned here. And I’m hardly new to you,” Lily replied. “I’d think that counts for something.”

Her mom shook that aristocratic head of hers. “Now, you’re asking for special consideration?”

“No, I’m not,” Lily said. There had to be a way to articulate this. “I’m just...questioning my own judgment, I guess.” Lily leaned against the wall. “When I took this job, I thought I could work here. With you. With Dr. Cyrus. Adding Rainy to the equation loaded the deck, sure. But I don’t know. Maybe I bit off too much. Maybe family working so close together isn’t such a great idea.”

Mom seemed to soften. A little. “You’re rationalizing.”

“I am not.”

Claire leaned against the wall beside her. “Your father and I worked well side-by-side for the better part of two decades. You referenced that when you interviewed for your residency here.”

She turned her mom’s way. “How would you know?”

“Dr. Cyrus consulted me.”

Lily rolled her eyes.

“I’m hospital counsel, Lily. It’s well within appropriate protocol.”

Lily laced her fingers through her hair. “This is... You know what, Mom? As much as I adore you and the more I go over it, I don’t think I want you that deep into my business.”

Mom released a sigh. The kind that said she expected more maturity than Lily could muster at that moment. “Tell me, Lily. Who came into whose already existing business of twenty years?”

“Fine, Mom. Okay, it’s your territory.”

“And who came barging into whose private business first thing Monday morning?”

Lily lowered her voice as an orderly passed. “That would’ve been you, Mom. Calling me before I even got to work.”

“I take it I’m still allowed to call you.”

“Of course, but...” Lily shook her head. “You’re saying there was no business agenda to that call?”

“None,” Mom said. “I was attempting to tell you about my engagement. On a personal level.”

All she could do was concede.

Maybe Mom was right this time. “Business, personal. It’s all tangled up in this huge hairball in my head and, you know what? I’m kind of choking on it. And you can call me a quitter. You can call me weak. But you can’t call me a liar. Because that, Mother, is the truth.”

Mom took it in quietly. “All right. I just have one question.

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