Wash

“I’m sure you’ll make it amazing.” He scratched the stubble on his chin. “I have to admit, I Googled you after we spoke on the phone. You’re quite the successful donor-fundraiser… party planner… thing.” He shrugged and made a confused face. “I don’t know what your official title is.”

“Neither does my father,” she teased, “but at least he knows what I do or he wouldn’t have called.” She noticed the wing they’d been walking down now had expensive wooden doors. The first office had her dad’s name on the plaque, and across the hall was Elijah’s name. “You must be pretty special to have an office right here.” By my dad is what she wanted to say but held back. Her opinion of her father

was not shared with fellow doctors. He was the man. The Dr. Scott Thompson. Lifesaver super-hero.

“The chief gets the next best office.” Elijah dropped his head a bit and grinned like a little boy. “Sorry, just trying to impress you.”

Charity blinked, surprised at his honesty. “I’m impressed. A little.” She pretended to shrug. “You’re pretty young to be chief. I’d ask who you had to sleep with to get the job, but since my dad’s in charge, I don’t really want to know.”

Elijah’s head tilted back and he burst out laughing.

The door to her father’s office swung open, probably from the sound in the hallway. “Charity!”

Chapter 5

A bit more grey in his hair and a little more tired, her father still commanded power. Years of hard work and respect earned from success gave him that posture. He was one of the best doctors in the country, even at almost sixty-five. He would always be distinguished and handsome. Charity sometimes wondered why he hadn’t remarried since her mom passed away. He’d probably had a lot of offers.

She hadn’t seen her dad in over a year, almost two years. Two Christmases ago she had flown home to spend the holidays with him. Christmas day ended in a big row right after they had gone to the gravesite to drop some flowers off on her mother’s stone. She’d left early the next morning, not even sure if her father was still in the house or already gone to the hospital. Last year she made up the excuse she had to work so she wouldn’t have to fly home. She felt guilty, but guilt was better than fighting with a man who couldn’t be wrong.

They still called each other once every two or three weeks and never discussed the fight. He had made the first call and she had called him the next time. It continued until he called earlier this week. Four days and two phone calls had broken the pattern.

“Dad!” She awkwardly stepped forward to shake his hand at the same time he leaned over to hug her.

“I trust your flight was all right?” He stepped back so she could come into his office.

“It was fine.” She stepped through, absently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

Elijah followed her into the office. She’d momentarily forgotten he had brought her down the hall. “Why don’t I let the two of you catch up and I’ll chat with you later, Scott.”

“No!” both Charity and her father said at the same time.

“I mean,” said her father, “I want your opinion on what I’m hiring Charity to do for the hospital. As chief you also need to sign off on it.”

Charity glanced back and forth at both men. Did her dad seriously mean that, or was he just as afraid as her to be in the same room alone together?

Elijah checked his watch. “I can really only stay a moment. I have surgery in thirty minutes and need to scrub in with a first year. It’s a cardiothoracic, so I’m not leaving my attending in charge.”

Her father harrumphed. “Right.” He clapped his hands and walked around to his desk and sat down behind it. “Why don’t you meet Charity and me for drinks after?” He stared at Charity. “What’s that place we went to before… the Threaded Cork? Yes, that’s it. Meet us at the Threaded Cork when you are done.” It wasn’t a request.

Elijah nodded. “Sounds good. You’re treating then, right?” By his smile and relaxed stance, it was obvious to Charity that he wasn’t intimidated by her father. Elijah just earned a new level of respect from her. He smiled at her, and just as he turned to leave he winked, then strolled out the door.

An uncomfortable silence filled the room after the door closed. Her father cleared his throat as he rested his fingertips against each other. “I really appreciate you being willing to take this on.”

“It’s not everyday your father turns sixty-five.” She crossed her legs and then uncrossed them. “Do you want this gala to be a dinner or just a party?” Part of her dreaded planning it, but another part really wanted to show her father how good she was at her job.

“What do you think?” His thumbs tapped a steady beat while he waited for her answer.

“Well, it all depends on how you want the evening to go. Do you want to focus on raising money for the hospital, or your birthday, or the fact that you’re stepping down?”

“I’m not stepping down.” He straightened against the back of the chair.

Charity had to make herself resist the urge to let her eyes roll upward to the ceiling. “Okay, but from a professional standpoint, I need to know what the theme is going to be. If I don’t ask you and set the wrong theme, you are going to hate it.”

“Right. Sorry.” He relaxed his straight posture by a tenth of a degree and ran his fingers through his hair. “I built this hospital so we could be a leader in research and innovative surgeries. I plan to keep up the research end and help run the board, but Dr. Bennett is the chief now. He’s good at his job.” He looked Charity directly in the eye. “Lousy at staying away from the women. Ask the nurses or first years or anyone who seems to look good in a skirt.”

Charity burst out laughing. She couldn’t help it. “Are you jealous, Dad?”

“Just warning my head-strong daughter.”