She was about to leave when the intercom lit up. “P. J., are you still here?” It was Dr. Stone. Besides being her mentor, he was also sub-department chairman for cardiothoracic and vascular surgery.
“Not for long, if I can help it,” she chuckled.
“Would you step over to my office please?”
“Sure.” She closed her door and walked around the nurses’ station to his door and knocked as she pushed it open. “What’s up, Doc?” She smiled. That line never got old.
“Come in. Sit down. Close the door.”
P. J. took a quick assessment of his austere demeanor, her insides lacing up tight. Suddenly, this didn’t feel like a friendly meeting. She sat on the edge of her chair, her back tensed as she waited for him to begin.
He cleared his throat. “P. J., I hope you know I have the utmost respect for you. Furthermore, I know what it’s like to be young and living alone. I used to be that way myself. It’s been a few years, but I was in the dating pool once.” He threw her a smile, but it looked strained.
It certainly had been years since Dr. Stone had dated. P. J. glanced at the pictures that festooned the bookshelf behind him. His children were older than she was. Some of his grandchildren looked like they were within a few years of her.
He went on. “The administration has caught wind of your relationship with Mrs. Thornton’s son, and to put it mildly, they don’t approve.”
P. J.’s lungs lost air. A wave of dizziness assaulted her as she clenched her hands. “But you were teasing me about Kyle.” Her words got strangled as she gulped in a quick breath. “I thought you were supportive.”
Sympathy simmered in his eyes. “Yes, initially I was. However, the situation has shifted. Someone has raised a concern over it.” His gaze locked with hers. “If you don’t stop seeing him, then there may be serious, negative consequences that could affect your future here at the school and, by extension, the rest of your career.”
His words came at her like a bulldozer, mowing down a cluster of unsuspecting trees. She tried to think. “A—a concern?”
He nodded, his lips forming grim lines.
“Who would do such a thing?” Was it Ascott? Surely, he wouldn’t do such a thing! Was it one of the nurses? Heat rose up the back of her neck, and she felt her face flush. Dr. Stone looked down at his hands for a moment, and then raised his eyes so he was looking directly at her. “This is serious, P. J. Don’t mess around with it. It’s time to end this right now. The Board will be expecting me to take an answer back to them in the next few days.”
Shock rattled through P. J. as she sat quietly, her mind on fire.
“The nurses all talk. You know how they do when they’re sitting and passing time. I’ve spoken to them. They approve of your dating Kyle, but I’m afraid their opinion doesn’t really matter.”
So, it wasn’t one of the nurses. That left Ascott. “I didn’t think it bothered any of the nurses.”
“The complaint didn’t come from the nurses. They’re envious, by the way, because they’re enamored with Mr. Thornton. And, while it would be fine for one of them to go out with him, it isn’t for you. We can’t have romantic relationships with our patients. There are ethical boundaries in force, both under the state medical practice act and under hospital policy. I must advise you to cut it off immediately.”
P. J. felt like she’d been thrust in a coffin. The lid was closing and being nailed shut. “But Dr. Stone, he’s not a patient.”
“His mother is, so while I admit he’s not technically covered by these rules, it’s a line we don’t want to cross. And by ‘we,’ I mean you.”
Her jaw tightened. “Did Ascott Carson make the complaint?”
Dr. Stone’s eye twitched slightly. “I’m not at liberty to say who made the complaint, and that really doesn’t matter. What matters is that there is a complaint,” he said stiffly.
P. J. looked at her mentor. He was late in his career. He’d built up decades of experience as a cardiothoracic surgeon, and all that wisdom and experience was the reason he was here as a professor. Along with those years came a lot of life experience. Bless his heart, he was wringing his hands as he spoke. It was clear that he wasn’t enjoying their talk, and that he was doing it because he had to. No doubt the Board had put him up to it. Ascott’s whining must have gone all the way to the top … if this was Ascott’s doing. P. J. had no way to know who the instigator was. For all she knew, it could be one of the other doctors at the hospital. Or even one of the administrators.
“Dr. Stone,” she asked pensively, “are you advising me to cut Kyle off, or ordering me to?” Her heart slammed against her chest.
He blew out a breath. “I won’t force you to do it, but just be aware that there could be unpleasantness ahead if you carry on.”
She leaned forward a little. “What would you tell me if I were your granddaughter?”
“I’ve been in the politics of med schools for quite a while. I know how things work. I’d cease and desist, if I were you.”
“Thank you. I’ll certainly take your words under consideration,” P. J. said as she rose to her feet and left his office. Her mind a jumble, she stumbled to her car. When she got behind the wheel, tears stung her eyes. This was so unfair! She was a conscientious doctor—one of the best!
P. J. had given so much to her career! All the long hours, the mental and emotional energy. Friendships that she’d passed up … any semblance of a social life. It had all seemed worth it. But what about now? The mere thought of jeopardizing her career filled her with dread. Yet, she couldn’t lose Kyle. This wasn’t just a dating situation. What she and Kyle had was rare. Just last night, she’d confided to her mom in the kitchen that she thought Kyle was the one.
Dr. Stone hadn’t come right out and demanded that she stop seeing Kyle, but the implications had been clear. Still, Kyle wasn’t her direct patient.
Her phone buzzed. She grabbed it out of her purse. It was a text from Kyle, telling her what time he’d swing by to pick her up for their date. An image of him swept through her mind. His deep brown compassionate eyes that stirred her soul. His chiseled features and wavy hair. Even more than his looks, Kyle really got her in a way that few other people had. With him, conversation flowed so easily. P. J. felt like she could talk to him forever. Should she just forget everything Dr. Stone said and move forward? Let the chips fall where they may?
Her stomach twisted into a hard knot. No, she couldn’t do that. It would be too reckless. But she couldn’t give Kyle up. She clasped her hands. She just couldn’t!
Her heart began hammering against her chest. She was too confused right now. She needed space to sort this out.
Even as her fingers began typing a response, guilt churned in her gut.
Hey there. Sorry, but something came up with work. I’m going to have to take a raincheck on tonight.
He responded with
How about tomorrow night instead?
She swallowed the tightness in her throat.
I’m afraid I’m going to be tied up all weekend. Sorry.
I guess that goes with the territory. I’ll catch up with you Monday :-)
Tears brimmed in her eyes as she started her engine and headed for home.
The weekend loomed long and lonely without P. J. Maybe this was what P. J.’s dad had been referring to—those times when Kyle would have to put aside his own desires and make room for P. J.’s work. Kyle understood the situation, but he still missed spending time with P. J. No question about it. He would stand by her side. Having P. J. in his life and dealing with her demanding work schedule certainly beat not having her at all.
Monday morning, Kyle sneaked through the back door of the cardiac surgery clinic and found P. J. sitting in her office. He paused to gaze at her through the doorway. Even though she wore a white coat like all the doctors did, she still rocked the high heels and pearls. A lock of her red hair fell over her shoulder, her chin set in concentration as she stared at her laptop screen. Hi
s heart skipped a beat. Man, she was beautiful. He stuck his head into the doorway. “Hey there. Are you free for lunch?”
She jumped, eyes widening. “What are you doing here?” she asked, impatience coating her whisper.
Kyle rocked back, a chill going through his body. “I’m sorry. I—I didn’t know it would be a problem.”
She looked past him. “Hurry. You can’t let them see you. Come in and close the door.”
Puzzled, he did as she requested. “Who can’t see me?” P. J.’s distraught expression cut him to the quick.
“Dr. Stone called me into his office on Friday and told me we have to stop seeing each other.”
Anger pulsed hard and fast through his veins. “What? Why? It’s none of his business.”
“According to ethics rules, it is. We’re not allowed to date patients, people who work for the hospital, or anyone we supervise. It’s not his idea. This comes all the way from the school’s board of directors.” She paused, her eyes becoming deep pools of sorrow and fear. “I could lose everything if we keep going.”
“I could lose everything if we don’t,” he said hoarsely. This sudden turn of events had blindsided him. His stomach felt queasy. P. J. was fast becoming his world. He didn’t know how to let her go. Hadn’t he just looked Hoyt in the eye and promised that he wouldn’t get in the way of P. J.’s career? This was all so whacked. What could it hurt for him to date P. J.? He wasn’t her patient. Forget the ethics committee and their stupid rules! This was his life they were talking about. His and P. J.’s life.
She got up from her chair and stepped closer to him. Everything in him wanted to sweep her into his arms and kiss her again.
When she spoke, her voice was practical, a little high-pitched. “Look Kyle, I don’t want to cause either one of us any trouble. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know you, but maybe we shouldn’t …” She bit her lip, looking down at the floor.
Kyle couldn’t help it. He reached out and touched her arm. The familiar tingle of attraction ran up his fingers. He sucked in a deep breath. “I’m leaving tomorrow to take Mom back to Clementine. I guess this is goodbye.”
P. J. offered a brave smile, tinged with sadness. “Drive safely. Don’t get into any trouble, okay?” Tears misted her eyes as she blinked and looked away.
“I’m a computer geek, remember?” he said with a small, bitter chuckle. “We don’t get into trouble.”
She looked back up at him. “I’m sorry that it has to be this way. It’s just the rules, and I’m bound by them.” Her jaw worked. “Maybe someday in the future …” Her voice quivered, tears brimming in her eyes. “I’m sorry,” she said as she dabbed at her tears.
He peered into her face, focusing on those mesmerizing jade eyes. Her very essence was so deeply imprinted in him that he knew she would be impossible to forget. She’d captured his heart from the moment he saw her.
It took all his strength to turn away, but he did. His steps were heavy as he moved to the door.
“Kyle,” she uttered.
He turned.
“I can’t let you go.” She jumped across the space between them and flung her arms around his neck. She either pulled herself up to his mouth or pulled him down, it wasn’t clear which, but either way, their lips instinctively found their way to one another as they kissed long and hard. Kyle wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight. “What’re we going to do?” he breathed into her hair.
“I don’t know.”
The shrill ringing of the phone on P. J.’s desk sent them both jumping as they moved away from one another. P. J. wiped her mouth. “Back to work. Call me later.”
The guilty look on P. J.’s face pricked at Kyle, bringing more anger over the ridiculous rules. As he left P. J.’s office, he was met with suspicious glares from the medical assistants sitting in the nurse’s station.
Stone-faced, he walked as fast as he could out of the clinic.
13
As the workday wound down, Kyle got everything wrapped up for his departure. He had a good team of four assistants, and he made sure they knew how to do everything that might come up while he was out of the office. He left Melanie detailed instructions. She had various ways to contact him should any urgencies arise. After giving the office one last look, he left for his apartment and headed to the grocery story to pick up a few items for dinner.
A couple hours after Kyle left P. J.’s clinic he’d texted her but hadn’t gotten a response back. Hopefully, she wasn’t second-guessing her decision for them to keep seeing one another. Conflicting emotions churned in his gut. Kyle didn’t want to be the cause of hurting P. J.’s career. And yet, he needed her in his life. It seemed so ridiculous that a hospital ethics rule could prevent them from dating. Still, what would it do to P. J. if her career were put in jeopardy? Would she end up resenting Kyle? Kyle certainly wouldn’t score any brownie points with Hoyt Bandy if he knew what was going on right now.
With a heavy heart, he opened his apartment door. “Hey, Mom,” he called out, trying to sound more cheerful than he felt. Usually, he would bound in and give her a hug, or at least he’d done so ever since her chest had healed enough to allow it. Tonight though, he froze in place. There sat his mother and P. J. on the couch, drinking lemonade and laughing together.
P. J. looked up at him, her emerald eyes sparkling. “Aren’t you glad to see me?” she asked, an impish grin curving her lips.
“Glad doesn’t begin to cover it.” A wide smile broke over his face. “I’m glad, happy, excited, thrilled, uh, yeah, glad. And shocked, surprised, wow.” He set his bag of groceries on the kitchen counter. “What’s going on?”
“Doctors still make house calls sometimes. I had to come check on my best patient before I let her go home.”
“Sit down, Kyle,” his mother directed. “I was telling her about your second-grade teacher.” She turned back to P. J. “So she told Kyle that he couldn’t go to recess because he’d forgotten his homework, and for the third day in a row, I might add. He thought he just had to sit in his chair the entire time. He was so scared; he didn’t ask to get up or go to the bathroom or anything. Poor little guy, he just sat there and it was too much for his bladder to bear. When his teacher called me to ask if I could bring him some dry clothes, she apologized for a good ten minutes. She felt so horrible. It wasn’t her fault, right Kyle? You should have asked her if you could go to the restroom, but you thought you couldn’t.”
The look on P. J.’s face was priceless. Kyle shook his head. “Mom, why’re you telling that story? I hate that one,” he grimaced.
P. J. laughed so hard she had to set her glass of lemonade on the end table before it fell out of her hand. When she could breathe, she asked, “You really did that? Oh Kyle, you were such a cute little guy. I hope your bladder control has improved though.”
“Very funny. She could have told you about the time I saved my sister from the copperhead snake in the front yard, but instead, she tells you about me wetting my pants. Gee, thanks, Mom.”
His mother and P. J. just kept laughing. When she could speak again, Mom said, “Dr. Bandy got here about three hours ago. She’s been helping me fold my clothes and get them into the suitcase. I told her I can do it myself, but she’s so sweet and she just wanted to help.”
Shock must have shown on Kyle’s face. P. J. gave him a pretend wounded look. “What, did you think that just because I can do a heart transplant that I don’t know how to fold clothes? I’m multitalented, you know.”
He sat down on the couch next to her. “I never would have doubted that. Are you staying for dinner?”
She put her hand on his, where it rested on his knee. “If you’ll have me, I’d love to. What’s on the menu?”
Having her this close, the warmth of her skin flowing into his knee was distracting. “I was going to do up a chicken stew with dumplings. I’m sure it won’t be as good as Mom makes, but since she’s here to supervise, I thought I might give it a whirl.”
“Soun
ds great.” P. J. flashed a bright smile. “Let’s get to work.”
They went over to the kitchen. He handed her a knife. “Do you know how to use one of these?” he teased.
“Your mother’s here. She’ll teach me, I’m sure.”
Kyle whispered to P. J. “Did you tell her about your conversation with Dr. Stone?”
P. J. didn’t answer right away. Her expression grew strained as she let out a breath. “No, not yet.” She cleared her throat. By this point, Mom was listening intently. “The med school has an anti-dating policy for doctors and patients. They’ve called me into the office and told me in no uncertain terms that I have to break it off with Kyle.”
P. J.’s glum expression matched Kyle’s feelings. Mom looked at her, and then at Kyle. “From the looks of y’all, I’d say you haven’t broken off anything yet.” Her brows furrowed. “Are you going to get into a lot of trouble?”
“Potentially,” P. J. answered, keeping her eyes fixed on Kyle’s, “but only if someone there decides to make an issue out of it.”
“What’s the possibility that could happen?” Kyle asked, remembering the glares from the medical assistants. No need to tell P. J. about that. It would just worry her.
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