"We better go," she said. "Sophie has to get to bed and so does Drake. He's playing with the band this weekend, now that he's almost officially recovered from his concussion. I want him well-rested."
"Yes, nurse," I said with a laugh.
"I'd love to come and hear you play," Elaine said. She turned to Ethan. "Maybe we could come and see the band? What do you think?"
Ethan nodded. "I heard you play once, back when the band first got together," he said and I was surprised. We'd never much talked about Mersey. "I'd love to come and hear you guys again. Seems to me you did a lot of Beatles. I was a Stones fan, myself."
"They play the Stones," Kate said, smiling. "The old stuff. Paint it Black, Under My Thumb."
"That music was big when we were over in 'Nam. Do you mind if we come?" he asked me.
"Of course not," I replied. "I'd love to have you. I'm sure the O'Rileys would love to meet you."
"It's a date," Ethan said. "It's good to get out of the house now and then. Take the old wheelchair for a spin. Is it wheelchair accessible?"
I nodded. "Yes. It's on the main floor and there's a ramp into the building if I remember correctly."
"Great. I look forward to it."
At that, we all kissed and hugged and said our goodbyes.
On the way home, Kate turned to me and took my hand. "I'm so glad it's all over. We can put this behind us and move forward."
I kissed her hand. "Me, too."
In her car seat beside us, Sophie's eyes were closed and her pacifier was clamped between her teeth, the sound of the car lulling her to sleep.
We got home and put her to bed without much fuss, and then it was just Kate and me alone.
I sat down on the sofa and opened my arms, wanting her to come and sit with me.
"Come here," I said softly. "I have something to talk about with you."
She came over and slipped into my
arms, her arms around my neck.
"Shoot."
Her face was expectant, and I didn't know how to word my news, except to come right out and tell her.
"Michael Owiti has taken over the helm of the neurosurgery department at the Southampton Children's Hospital. He wants to add a robotic surgery unit to the neurosurgery department. He wants me to be the head of the unit and get it set up."
She looked in my eyes. "And?"
"And I want your thoughts."
"When would the position start?"
"January."
She sighed. "You don't really want to leave Manhattan again so soon, do you?"
I could see tears forming in her eyes. She didn't want me to take the position.
"There's nothing here for me now. I can't work at NYP. I can't do my fellowship at NYU. We've lost so many donors at the foundation that it's being shut down."
"It's being shut down?" Kate's face reddened. "That's terrible!"