“Dr. Tilson, I am needed on the wards for a surgical consult, but may I walk you out?”
Annabel couldn’t help the thumping in her chest. He could walk her anywhere, she thought. Even five minutes with him would make her day.
“My former chief resident doesn’t need permission,” she said.
“That’s good. And you aren’t my student anymore,” he said and smiled.
“So true. I hope that’s working out better for you.”
“On the contrary. But I’ll get to that. I thought I’d give you some of my good news.” He didn’t walk out the door but stood planted to the spot.
“Which is?”
“Remember the lawsuit that the Simmons family filed against me, the surgery department and the hospital?”
“Yes, our patient with the inguinal hernia repair and brought back to the OR for the retained surgical sponge. The Dr. Mack debacle. I remember well.”
“Mr. Simmons’ passing was a tragedy which I’ll never forget. Because data from this meeting was presented to some of us beforehand, we were able to send it to our attorney who passed along the information to the family. Long story short, they have amended their suit and will mostly be going after the drug company. They are only suing me and the department for the retained sponge which is indefensible. Lawyers are already talking about a settlement, the sums of which are appropriate.”
“I am glad for you,” she said sincerely. “You are a super doctor …,” she hesitated as she couldn’t give him any more accolades or she’d never stop. His gorgeous brown eyes and charisma were melting her on the spot. Annabel took a slow steady breath to calm her heartstrings and smiled.
“As are you,” he said. “And you have a bright future ahead of you.”
“Thank you.”
They both looked towards the door. The secretary stepped in and went to remove the coffeepot as Robby pointed for them to leave. They both slowly left the department into the hallway where Annabel pressed the elevator button.
Robby took one step closer to her. “As I was saying, you aren’t my student anymore and I’m not your chief resident. So, before I leave for my medical service in Africa, I was wondering if we could have dinner together some time.”
At first she didn’t say a word. It was as if she was back on that stretcher with her vocal cords paralyzed. But then the elevator buzzer sounded and the doors opened.
She glued her eyes on him and said, “I would love to.”
As the doors closed, her face erupted in a smile. Oh yes … she would definitely love to.
END
If you enjoyed my protagonist, Dr. Annabel Tilson, her background – her family story and history - can be found in the Dr. Danny Tilson novels, especially in Secondary Impact. (Book Four; all listed below). Also, Dead Still is now followed by Deadly Delusions.
From the Author
If you’d like a release alert for when Barbara Ebel has new books available, sign up here. 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.
The following books are also written by Barbara Ebel and are available as paperbacks and eBooks:
The Dr. Annabel Tilson Novels: (Individual books and two box sets).
Dead Still (A Dr. Annabel Tilson Novel: Book 1)
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2ai7H1T
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2a37GL3
Deadly Delusions (A Dr. Annabel Tilson Novel: Book 2)
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2gE7R3D
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2gXlsGb
Desperate to Die (A Dr. Annabel Tilson Novel: Book 3)
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2ta1GeH
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2tyZEHV
Death Grip (A Dr. Annabel Tilson Novel: Book 4)
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2mDfoUu
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2EQqFIz
Downright Dead (A Dr. Annabel Tilson Novel: Book 5)
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2MkSixv
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2n9ZgKG
Dangerous Doctor (A Dr. Annabel Tilson Novel: Book 6)
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2SFrURS
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2s6PknW
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2MZgJ3q
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2m0zlV4
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2zl8sVD
The Dr. Annabel Tilson Novels Box Set: Books 4-6
The Dr. Danny Tilson Series: Available as individual books as well as a Box Set:
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
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2nyPLFA
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).
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1fTlicS
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1lA2DSE
Collateral Circulation: a Medical Mystery (A Dr. Danny Tilson Novel: Book 3 – excerpt follows). Also an Audiobook.
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1BrINiE
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1CNTgta
Secondary Impact (A Dr. Danny Tilson Novel: Book 4).
Amazon US: amzn.to/1N7iyI2
Amazon UK: amzn.to/1P1AnKL
Outcome, A Novel
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2mMzZrF
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2mw0Wj0
Younger Next Decade: After Fifty, the Transitional Decade, and What You Need to Know
(nonfiction health book).
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/sjJeEL
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/19W3D2s
Visit the author at her website: http://barbaraebel.weebly.com
Also written and illustrated by Barbara Ebel:
A children’s book series about her loveable therapy dog:
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
The Chester the Chesapeake Trilogy (The Chester the Chesapeake Series) – eBook only
Visit Chester at his website: http://dogbooksforchildren.weebly.com