“Dr. Sheinberg wrote this, of course, and that’s all fine.” It was Houston who had gone behind her back. After he made her feel that he could actually care about her.
And now this.
She whispered so no one else in the cafeteria could hear.
“Dr. Adkins is a highly qualified physician who shows advanced knowledge of general medicine as well as orthopedics. Her communication skills are superb in regard to both colleagues and patients, and she works well with other members of the surgical team.”
Josie took a deep breath.
Sara blotted her lips with her napkin. “What does that have to do with a transfer? All that sounds great.”
“I haven’t gotten to the bad part yet.”
Her voice began to tremble as she continued to read. “However, staff surgeon, Dr. Hayes, finds that Dr. Adkins displays a lack of confidence in her abilities in the area of reconstructive orthopedics and recommends Dr. Adkins for the pediatric orthopedic residency at St. John’s Hospital.”
Sara’s mouth fell open.
Josie’s sentiments exactly. How could he do this to her? Forcing her out of Acadia without even discussing it with her? It was comparable to smearing “don’t trust this woman with a scalpel” all over her permanent record.
“The transfer will be effective October first, according to this little gem Dr. Sheinberg presented me with.”
“Houston recommended a transfer?” Sara asked. “He didn’t. He couldn’t.”
“He did. He could.” Josie threw her head down on the table and fought the urge to crumple the paper up into a tiny ball and fling it across the room. Then sob. “He didn’t even tell me.”
Houston had effectively pulled the rug out from under the rest of her career.
“Josie, I don’t know what to say. Maybe he thought he was doing you a favor.”
She snorted, not bothering to look up. “Yeah, right. I don’t call sabotaging my career doing me a favor.”
Her words were muffled through her folded arms. “This is my punishment for getting personal with another staff member.”
His punishment to her. His way to push her away after getting so close the night before.
Control.He always had to be in control, and she threatened that.
It was a toss-up which was the biggest mistake—hooking up with him, or falling in love with him.
They were both colossal regrets.
“Your elbow’s in your salad.”
Josie jerked up and saw a big glob of ranch dressing on her sleeve. Fabulous. Swiping at it with her napkin, she decided what she had to do. “I’m going to go talk to him.”
“Do you really think that’s a good idea?” Sara pushed up her glasses and frowned. “I don’t think talking to Dr. Hayes is really the best thing to do right now.”
“You’re right.” Josie gripped the paper and narrowed her eyes. Talking was too good for him. “I’ll strangle him.”
Sara shook her head. “That’s not what I meant. I meant that you’re not exactly in the right frame of mind to have a rational discussion with him about this.”
“Rational?” Josie lost it. “You call this rational?” She waved the report around in front of her face. “Houston Hayes doesn’t know the meaning of the word rational. I wasbornrational.”
“You sure don’t sound it right now.”
Josie took a deep breath. Maybe Sara had a point. But this was about much more than her career. This was about her heart. And the fact that Houston persisted in ripping it into little pieces and stomping on it with his tanned feet.
“Okay, I’m better now. I only want to castrate him, not kill him.”