by Barbara Ebel
“I’m going to miss the entertaining squirrel up this tree, Pete’s Café, and the upstairs floor of this house where I’ve lived for four years.”
“But you’re going to a place that holds many more memories. And leaving Cincinnati may help you finally move forward after Dustin.”
“It’s been a challenge to get over him, but you’re right.”
She jumped off and Bob closed the doors.
“I’m a bit envious,” Bob said, changing the subject. They single-filed up the staircase and opened the door. “Envious that you have nothing to do to set up a new residence in Nashville. That you can go straight to your parents and aunt’s place for however long you want before getting your own place.”
Inside, Oliver didn’t bother to get up. Their coming in and out with boxes for the last hour had become a routine.
“You are not envious. You don’t have an envious bone in your body. And I can’t thank you enough for driving all the way up here to help me out.”
“I packed and moved before graduation because I had an extra week off after my last elective. You weren’t so fortunate.”
“Graduation proved to be the best, most memorable, and hard-earned graduation and commencement ceremony I ever had. Plus, my sister and I started talking again that weekend.”
“I agree about graduation. But, sadly, most students are going their separate ways.”
“But at least we’ll be in the same city.”
“I’m going to like Nashville. I couldn’t have been luckier to match there in an orthopedic residency. I still wonder if a recommendation from your dad was influential, especially when they were down to their last medical student candidates. Maybe his vote of confidence pushed me to the top of the list.”
“We’ll never know, but you earned it anyway. Your academic and clinical assessments were all stellar.”
“So were yours.”
“And Stuart. He made us proud finishing first in the class.”
“I hope he’s happy with the pediatric residency he snagged here in Cincinnati.”
Annabel hooked Oliver to his leash and she and Bob each picked up a small suitcase. “Go ahead,” she said. Bob stepped out the door and she stayed still, sweeping her eyes over the bedroom and kitchen. She would miss the place where she studied like a fiend late into the nights. The place she called home for four years.
Downstairs, they loaded the last items into the truck and Oliver took his last pee on the tree out front.
“How about we stop in two hours when we get to the outskirts of Louisville?” Annabel said. “Get a cup of coffee and gas somewhere?”
“Okay. I’ll follow you. If we get separated, just give me a buzz.”
With Oliver all the way in the back, Annabel started her SUV and pulled away from the curb. She glanced in the mirrors at the U-Haul and Bob’s Honda behind her. It was time to go home to Tennessee.
-----
They soon passed into Kentucky and Annabel set the music volume on low. Her graduation from medical school and becoming a doctor soared her spirits high during the drive. But before that day, she had passed another infamous day in her medical career … Match Day.
Match Day in the fourth year of medical school always takes place on the same date - the third Friday in March. It had been a nail-biting experience for the students, the day in which residency candidates and residency programs “match” to fill the first and second year post-graduate training positions.
There had been lots of preparation for that day beforehand. For Annabel, it included making a decision. One that her friends had already made. What would she specialize in? What specialty would she apply for and where?
It never went away. The curiosity and interest she developed for anesthesiology during her first rotation of surgery never left. Most rotations were interesting, but she finally did more electives in anesthesia in her fourth year and she needed no convincing.
Anesthesiology was crazy, sometimes full of heart-throbbing crises and other times nice and easy. That is, if you knew tons of pharmacology, medicine, machinery, and hands-on skills like putting breathing tubes in tracheas when a patient’s anatomy almost forbade it. She also liked the dynamics of being in the operating room.
She applied to Nashville’s University residency program as her top choice and she was not the only one worried and restless over the outcome. Her family wanted her back in Nashville as much as she did.
Like her father would have done, she threw up a silent prayer to the heavens that Match Day morning, and also crossed her fingers. Perhaps none of the wishful thinking and methods helped, but she won her own lottery when she “matched” with Nashville’s program on the third Friday in March.
Since Bob also “matched,” she and Bob would both be in a “surgical” field and at the same University. They would certainly cross paths once in a while. Maybe even the same cases in the operating room. Their friendship would not die, at least for the next four years.
Annabel drove along with a smile on her face and a happy dog in the back when a hands-free call rang through. She pressed the plastic button on her steering wheel to answer. It must be Bob, she thought. His vehicle was two cars behind her.
“Hello?”
“Annabel, hey, I’m glad I caught you.” Her heart squeezed in her chest. It was Dustin. Why was he calling? She could do without hearing his voice; the pain of their breakup was finally settling in and she was ready to move on.
“Dustin, I’m driving. Going back home to Tennessee. I graduated from medical school.”
“How about that?! Congratulations.”
“Thanks.”
There was a pregnant pause and she held her breath.
“The reason I’m calling is because of a development. I called the Chairman of the Pediatric Department just now, Dr. Fisher, thinking many of the doctors might not know the big news yet. We both thought you would also like to be told.”
“You have my attention.”
“The total resolution of the criminal charges against Dr. Gillespie were still pending. If you remember, there was a temporary suspension of his license by the State Board of Medical Examiners, but he’s now totally agreed to surrender his medical license. We were pulling up more dirt on him from before he started working here in Cincinnati, so his lawyer advised him to throw in the towel.”
“Wow, no more Dr. Gillespie doing pediatric exams or getting his jollies by spying on children. His whole career is actually a real shame, Dustin. Every once in a while, I did watch him adequately treat a few kids.” She thought back to some, like Stephanie Miller, the three-year-old he diagnosed with a neuroblastoma.
“However,” she added, “this is the best possible outcome. Thanks for letting me know.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Hey, give Solar a treat for me.”
“Do the same with Oliver. Bye, then. Good luck.”
“Bye,” Annabel said and clicked off the call. Emotion welled up in her chest and she sighed heavily. She was glad he called to tell her the news, but also happy the call came before she arrived in Tennessee. She wanted a new start back home, including with men.
-----
The sunshine was voluminous and the traffic light as Bob kept tabs on the U-Haul truck and Annabel’s Nissan with a “Dog on Board” bumper sticker. The five-hour drive was giving him plenty of opportunity to decide how he wanted to proceed with Annabel.
Based on his perception of her, he thought she was over the main hurdle of getting Dustin out of her system. He wanted to take the plunge and ask her out; change the nature of their relationship. Otherwise, he would never know if he had any kind of future with her.
From a guy’s perspective, he had waited long enough. What if she got to Nashville and, boom, some new fellow asked her out, she accepted, and there he was again watching her date some other guy.
And what if she didn’t want to date him? That would be embarrassing and hard to digest. Plus, it would make things uncomf
ortable when and if he bumped into her during residency.
But, it was now or never. He had to take the plunge.
His apartment was all set up in Nashville, and when they arrived, the day would be slipping away and he would need to get home after helping her unload at her parents’ house.
But he needed to ask her. His mind was made up. No more excuses.
They stopped for coffee and food, gas, and an Oliver walk on the other side of Louisville, and then they both scurried to get back on the road. Their spirits were high and Oliver was as happy to jump back in the car as to take the stroll. The long car ride was amazing.
The next two hours, they polished off fast food sandwiches in their own vehicles, and directed their cars southeast when they hit the city. Annabel loved it when she finally turned on the street she knew so well … her grandparents’ street and to their house where her mom and dad, sister, and aunt and uncle now lived. The sprawling house accommodated everyone.
She parked in the driveway, stepped out, and stretched her legs. The last of the sunshine beamed down on the walkway and the greenery that her grandmother, years ago, made sure encircled the house. She let Oliver jump out, but leashed him only because it was a permanent new place and she wanted him to get used to the boundaries.
Bob pulled into the double driveway and pushed open the driver’s door. “I lost you for a bit back there. Luckily, I remembered the way from the trip we took when Dakota died.”
“Yes, that was a sad trip after losing our family dog. But now my whole family will also have Oliver when he’s with me. He’s going to have so many people loving him and taking care of him.”
“Ha, when he’s with me, he’ll need to catch up on his rest.”
“I’m sorry. I hope that’s not the case.”
“I’m yanking your chain. His back and forth will be wonderful, just like in Cincinnati.”
Annabel walked to the front step and sat down with Oliver. Bob lowered himself as well. Perfect, he thought.
“Dustin called me along the way,” she said, which prompted a frown from Bob. “Only to give me an update on George Gillespie. He surrendered his medical license.”
“Awesome. However, did Dustin try to open up old wounds with you?”
“No. It’s okay. I’m glad he called.”
The front door opened and they both turned.
“Welcome home, honey. Hi, Bob.” Danny Tilson, her father, stepped forward and petted Oliver. He had met the dog when he was in Ohio for his daughter’s medical school graduation. “You two have a decent drive?”
“We did.” She stood up and hugged her father. “We’ll be in after we take Oliver for a little spin.”
“I’ll tell everyone else you’re here. By the way, which bedroom do you want?”
“Melissa’s old room.”
“You got it.” Danny disappeared back inside and closed the door.
Bob stood. He signaled to take Oliver’s leash, but he didn’t want to start walking the dog yet. Annabel handed it over and looked at him.
Bob seized the opportunity to lock eyes with her. “Don’t worry, we’re super good friends in case you would rather not. Go out with me, that is.”
“Go out? As in changing our relationship to more than a friendship?”
His eyes held. She couldn’t resist his cheerful expression and those blue eyes.
He kept his mouth shut and nodded.
“I can’t think of a nicer guy. Plus, you’ve been my dearest companion the whole time.”
Bob’s apprehension turned into a smile.
They narrowed the gap between them and had their first kiss in front of her family’s home.
End
FROM THE AUTHOR
If you’d like a release alert for when Barbara Ebel has new books available, sign up here: http://eepurl.com/cKrn0D This is intended only to let you know about new releases as soon as they are out.
Barbara Ebel is a physician and an author. Since she practiced anesthesia, she brings credibility to the medical background of her plots. She lives with her husband and pets in a wildlife corridor in Tennessee but has lived up and down the East Coast.
Visit or contact her at her website: http://barbaraebel.weebly.com
The following books are written by ‘Dr. Barbara:’
EBook Box Sets:
The Dr. Annabel Tilson Novels Box Set:
Books 1-3 (The Dr. Annabel Tilson Series)
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2MZgJ3q
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2m0zlV4
The Dr. Annabel Tilson Novels Box Set:
Books 4-6 (The Dr. Annabel Tilson Series)
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2FL5NWW
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2CyzuH9
The Dr. Danny Tilson Novels Box Set:
Books 1-4 (The Dr. Danny Tilson Series)
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2nDTy3J
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2DYNwW9
The Dr. Danny Tilson Series: (Individual paperbacks and ebooks):
Operation Neurosurgeon: You never know… who’s in the OR (A Dr. Danny Tilson Novel: Book 1).
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1fYfPh7
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/k4xol9
Silent Fear: a Medical Mystery (A Dr. Danny Tilson Novel: Book 2). Also an Audiobook.
Buy now on Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1fTlicS
Buy now on Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1lA2DSE
Collateral Circulation: a Medical Mystery (A Dr. Danny Tilson Novel: Book 3). Also an Audiobook.
Buy now on Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1BrINiE
Buy now on Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1CNTgta
Secondary Impact (A Dr. Danny Tilson Novel: Book 4).
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1N7iyI2
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1P1AnKL
The Dr. Annabel Tilson Series: (Individual paperbacks and ebooks):
DEAD STILL: A Medical Thriller (Dr. Annabel Tilson Novels Book 1)
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2ai7H1T
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2a37GL3
DEADLY DELUSIONS: A Medical Thriller (Dr. Annabel Tilson Novels Book 2)
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2gE7R3D
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2gXlsGb
DESPERATE TO DIE: A Medical Thriller (Dr. Annabel Tilson Novels Book 3)
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2ta1GeH
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2tyZEHV
DEATH GRIP: A Medical Thriller (Dr. Annabel Tilson Novels Book 4)
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2mDfoUu
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2EQqFIz
DOWNRIGHT DEAD: A Medical Thriller (Dr. Annabel Tilson Novels Book 5)
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2MkSixv
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2n9ZgKG
DANGEROUS DOCTOR: A Medical Thriller (Dr. Annabel Tilson Novels Book 6)
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2SFrURS
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2s6PknW
Other Books:
Outcome, A Novel
Buy now on Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2mMzZrF
Buy now on Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2mw0Wj0
Younger Next Decade: After Fifty, the Transitional Decade, and What You Need to Know
(nonfiction health book).
Buy now on Amazon US: http://amzn.to/sjJeEL
Buy now on Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/19W3D2s
Also written and illustrated by Barbara Ebel: A children’s book series about her loveable therapy dog; illustrated with real pictures:
Chester the Chesapeake Book One
Chester the Chesapeake Book Two: Summertime
Chester the Chesapeake Book Three: Wintertime
Chester the Chesapeake Book Four: My Brother Buck
Chester the Chesapeake Book Five: The Three Dogs of Christmas
th friends