Rex nodded acknowledgment then gave Tiffani a winsome smile.
“We’ll be ready in just a minute,” Maggie said as she hurried away. Over her shoulder she added, “I’m glad you’re wearing your scrubs. I like a touch of authenticity.”
“I’m in scrubs because I am an authentic surgeon,” he muttered through gritted teeth, watching her go.
Tiffani touched his arm lightly. “Be nice. Also, would you mind taking off your head cover? And you’ll need to see the makeup person.”
This was getting worse every second. “Why do I need makeup?”
“Please, Rex. It won’t be much. This is too important. Please, just go along with it,” Tiffani begged.
He leaned in close so that only she could hear him. “You know, I like the sound of my name on your lips.”
Her blush was his reward. “Stop,” she hissed. “Come on over here.”
Rex wasn’t sure the hospital’s image was worth this aggravation as Tiffani led him to a young woman. “She’ll do your makeup and brush your hair.”
Rex narrowed his eyes and tightened his lips to let her see his disgust before she hurried off. Five minutes later the woman pronounced him ready for the camera and directed him to the chair on the right. He took the seat. One of the assistants hurried over and attached a tiny microphone to the V of his top and clipped the power pack to the waistband of his pants in the back.
Maggie joined him, settling in the other chair. Tiffani stationed herself beside one of the cameramen in front of a monitor.
“Rex, I’ll be introducing you then we’ll just talk. Easy-peasy,” Maggie quipped.
Something warned him not to believe it would be that simple. This couldn’t be over soon enough.
“Okay, here we go,” Maggie said.
Rex straightened, eyeing Tiffani. She gave him a reassuring smile. He returned a less enthusiastic one. Because he had nothing to hide he wasn’t nervous, but it was nice to have Tiff on his side.
“Good morning, Memphis,” Maggie announced with professional enthusiasm. “Today we have a very special treat for you. We’re coming to you live from Metropolitan Hospital. We’re going to highlight the hospital and share a little bit about what happens in the daily life of the staff here. A staff made up of many dedicated and special people. This morning we’re talking with Dr. Rex Maxwell, a surgeon here at Metro.” Maggie turned toward him and beamed. “Welcome, Dr. Maxwell.”
“Good morning.” He answered with all the pleasantness he could muster.
“I’d like to start off by asking you to tell us what a usual day would be like for you.”
He glanced at Tiffani. Her expectant smile reminded him how important this interview was to her. He’d agreed to do this, so to please her he would play the game and play it well.
“I’m a general surgeon. Most of my cases are people who come through the ER. My typical day starts at five thirty in the morning and I’m at the hospital by six. I do paperwork and see patients until seven, when my surgery schedule starts. After that I see patients in ICU or on the floor.” How he could have said more and told less, he didn’t know.
Maggie nodded, wearing a thoughtful expression. “Wow, that sounds like a busy day.”
He’d leaned forward a little, tilted his head. “Some days more so than others.” A covert glance at Tiffani made him think she was pleased with his efforts.
Meanwhile Maggie gave him a practiced smile. “I understand that recently you and the hospital were involved in a malpractice suit. Would you care to comment on that?”
There it was. What his gut had told him was coming. His gaze found Tiffani. She wasn’t moving a muscle and her expression implored him to give a positive answer. Was she afraid he was going to lose his temper? Taking a page from Tiffani’s playbook, he went on the offensive.
Leaning closer to Maggie as if he were going to tell her a secret, he said, “I can’t say much but I’ll tell you this. I use every skill I have to care for and save lives. Every time I, or my fellow surgeons, enter the OR our priority is saving patients’ lives. Our livelihoods are the last thing on our minds when we’re operating. This hospital puts its patients first in every case. Sometimes we simply can’t win the war between life and death, but we do everything within our knowledge and with our experienced skills to fight the battles.”
Maggie blinked, as if she needed a moment to regroup, then asked, “So you’re telling me there was nothing to the malpractice suit?”
Rex sat back and clasped his hands in his lap. “When your loved one dies, it’s only natural to seek a source of blame.”
“Does that mean you’re not guilty?” Maggie’s look bored into him.
Rex squared his shoulders. He wasn’t going to rehash old news for anyone. “No one likes being accused of doing something they didn’t do. How many stories have you had to retract? Or weather forecasts have you issued that turned out to be wrong? Should you be fired for acts of God?”
Maggie’s head jerked back as if she was astonished. “I guess we’ve all faced that at one time or another.”
“That’s true. But most people don’t have to live with the accusation they caused someone’s death or the fear they might lose their job because of something completely out of their control.” Rex held her gaze with confident humility.
Maggie’s eyes softened and her voice became sympathetic. “I imagine you do have some days when it’s hard to go to sleep.”
He smiled. “Yes, I’ve had more than a few. But I love my job and find being a doctor rewarding.” Sneaking another look at Tiffani, he was relieved to see she no longer appeared worried.
Maggie’s fake smile turned genuine. “Tell us why you wanted to become a doctor.”
“Well, Maggie, I worked at a local nursing home when I was a teenager. I needed a job and wanted to do something where I could make a difference.”
She nodded and leaned toward him. “So tell me, what does a surgeon do in his off time?”
“I don’t know, what does a popular newscaster like to do?” He winked at her.
Maggie giggled. “You sure there’s nothing you want to tell?”
He gave her his best grin, hoping it looked sincere. “It isn’t an adventure if you know the destination.” He then relaxed against the back of his chair.
“Before you get back to work, I’d like to know if you’re participating in the Walk with a Doc event sponsored by the hospital an
d this station this weekend?”
Rex looked at Tiffani. She put up her hands in a praying manner and nodded her head.
“I wouldn’t miss it.” He tried to sound eager.
Maggie looked at the camera. “So everybody come out and join Dr. Maxwell and I this Saturday for a chance to Walk with a Doc in Tom Lee Park. As well as the walk, there will be qualified medical professionals providing free health checks.” She turned back to him. “Dr. Maxwell, thanks so much for being here with us today.”
Rex nodded, relieved it was over, and as the cameras cut out, the assistant quickly came over and removed his microphone. Tiffani’s smile was wide, happy. It was nice to have her pleased with him. To have earned her genuine pleasure.
* * *
Tiffani couldn’t believe her eyes or ears. Rex had actually had Maggie flirting with him. He’d used his charm to get around her probing questions and had come out the winner. The hospital had as well. The interview could have been a train wreck but he’d turned it into a PR triumph.
She watched as he stood, speaking to Maggie one more time, then came over to her. She met him halfway. Without thinking, she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. “You were great!”
His arms encircled her, pulling her against the hard wall of his body. “Thanks. I’ll take a rain-check on your enthusiastic expression of gratitude because I have to go. They’re waiting for me in the OR.”
Tiffani quickly released him, feeling heat flushing her face.
He whispered, for her ears only, “Don’t ask me to do that again.”
“But I had another in the works for next—”
“I won’t do it. I’m not explaining my actions. Especially when I wasn’t guilty of anything.” He walked away and out of the room.
Was he going to fight her on every front? He’d done an excellent job and now he wanted to quit. Today’s interview was the type that changed people’s minds. It helped them to see him as a person, a dedicated doctor, significant. Was there something more than the malpractice suit eating at him?