Page 43 of Crossing the Line (Phoenix Ridge Medical #6)

"Because I realized something watching you work this week.

You've been thriving without me as you build professional relationships, earn respect from colleagues, and prove your surgical abilities have nothing to do with our personal connection.

" Carmen's voice grew stronger as she spoke.

"You don't need my mentorship or protection. You never did."

"I could have told you that weeks ago," Harper said bitterly.

"You tried to. But I was too afraid to listen.

" Carmen leaned forward, her eyes never leaving Harper's face.

"I spent so long protecting myself from professional betrayal that I became the one doing the betraying.

I betrayed your trust, your love, and your faith that I could be brave enough to fight for us. "

Around them, the café remained unnaturally quiet.

Harper was acutely aware that this conversation was being witnessed by dozens of women, many of whom knew her story through community gossip networks.

The attention should have made her uncomfortable, but instead it felt validating that Carmen was finally willing to be vulnerable in public.

"What changed?" Harper asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I watched you lead a surgical procedure today with the kind of confidence and skill that made other surgeons stop and take notice.

I realized you're not the woman who needs my protection; you're the woman I've been too afraid to deserve.

" Carmen's voice cracked slightly. "And I can't live with myself if I don't fight for the chance to prove I can be worthy of your love. "

"Carmen," Harper started, but Carmen held up a hand.

"Let me finish. Please." Carmen took a shaky breath, glancing around at their audience before continuing.

"I love you, Harper. Not the brilliant intern or the promising surgeon, but you—the woman who makes me laugh, who challenges my assumptions, who sees possibilities where I see only problems. I want to build a life with you. "

Harper's chest tightened with something that might have been hope. "What about all the professional complications? Your reputation? Your career?"

"I want us to face those challenges together.

As equal partners." Carmen reached across the table, her fingers brushing against Harper's hand.

"I want us to go to Dr. Mars together and be completely transparent about our relationship.

I want to follow proper disclosure protocols and accept whatever administrative requirements come with this. "

The proposal hung in the air between them, more intimate than any physical gesture. Carmen was offering partnership in the truest sense—shared risk, shared consequences, and shared decisions about their professional future.

"You're saying you want us to approach the administration together?" Harper asked, needing clarification despite the wine making her thoughts fuzzy.

"I'm saying I don't want to make another decision about our relationship without you. We face the consequences together, or we don't face them at all."

Harper looked around the café, taking in the faces of women who'd become her community over the past weeks. Some she recognized as regulars, others were newer faces, but all of them seemed invested in this moment. Lavender stood behind the bar, her expression warm with maternal approval.

"What about my mother?" Harper asked, remembering Natalie's fury.

"Your mother gave me her blessing to fight for you. She said your happiness matters more than her comfort with our relationship."

"She did?" Harper was genuinely taken by surprise.

"She did. After I explained that my feelings for you are real, not casual, and that I'm finally ready to prove it publicly."

Carmen stood from her chair and moved closer to Harper, close enough that Harper could smell her familiar perfume and see the gold flecks in her dark eyes.

"Harper Langston," Carmen said, her voice carrying to every corner of the now-silent café, "I love you.

I'm sorry I was too afraid to say that publicly before.

I'm sorry I treated our love like something to hide instead of something to celebrate.

And I'm asking you—in front of everyone here—will you give me another chance to prove I can be the partner you deserve? "

The café held its collective breath as Harper stared into Carmen's face, seeing vulnerability and determination in equal measure. This was what she'd been asking for all along

"Yes," Harper whispered, then louder: "Yes, I'll give you another chance."

The café erupted in cheers and applause as Carmen leaned down and kissed Harper with the kind of desperate relief that spoke of separation and the joy of finally being able to love openly.

Harper kissed her back, melting into the embrace.

Harper's hand found Carmen's as they walked through the hospital corridors toward Dr. Mars' office, their fingers interlacing with the natural ease of two people who'd decided to face whatever came next together.

The wine from Lavender's had worn off during their walk back to Phoenix Ridge General, leaving Harper clearheaded but nervous about the conversation ahead.

"Are you sure about this?" Harper asked as they approached the Chief Medical Officer's door. "Once we have this conversation, there's no going back to maintaining our professional distance."

Carmen squeezed her hand. "I'm done with professional distance. We do this together as equals or we don't do it at all."

Dr. Mars looked surprised when they knocked and entered her office, though her expression quickly shifted as she took in their joined hands and serious expressions.

"Dr. Méndez, Dr. Langston. This is unexpected. Please, sit." Dr. Mars gestured to the chairs across from her desk, her tone careful but not unwelcoming. "How can I help you both?"

Carmen and Harper exchanged a look, and Harper felt a flutter of nerves. They'd agreed on the walk over that Carmen should start, given her seniority, but they'd also agreed that Harper would be an equal participant in the conversation.

"Dr. Mars, we need to discuss a personal relationship that requires administrative review," Carmen began, her voice steady despite the way her fingers tightened around Harper's.

"Harper and I have been romantically involved, and while she's no longer under my direct supervision, we want to ensure complete transparency. "

Dr. Mars' eyebrows rose slightly, but her expression remained neutral. "I see. When did this relationship begin?"

"Before I knew who Harper was and that she’d be working here," Carmen said. "We met outside the hospital, and the relationship developed before either of us realized the professional complications."

"And it continued after you discovered Dr. Langston was your intern?"

Harper felt Carmen's hesitation and decided to step in. "The relationship became complicated when our professional roles became clear. We attempted to maintain appropriate boundaries, but our feelings continued to develop."

"Dr. Langston," Dr. Mars said, turning her attention to Harper directly, "do you feel your evaluations or opportunities have been influenced by this personal relationship?"

"No," Harper said firmly. "Every evaluation I received was based on my performance and knowledge. Dr. Méndez maintained professional standards, even when it would have been easier to show favoritism."

Dr. Mars nodded slowly, making notes on her tablet. "What are you both asking from the hospital specifically?"

Harper leaned forward slightly. "We want to know what protocols exist for relationships between attending physicians and interns, and we're committed to following whatever guidelines you establish."

"And you're both comfortable with full disclosure? This will require documentation and likely some hospital gossip."

"We understand," Carmen said. "We want to handle this properly, following all administrative requirements."

Dr. Mars set down her tablet and studied them both carefully. "I have to ask…why come forward now? You could have simply kept your distance and avoided administrative complications."

Harper and Carmen exchanged another look, and Harper felt Carmen's slight nod encouraging her to answer.

"Because we realized we were choosing fear over being honest," Harper said. "We want to build something real together, and that requires transparency and equal partnership, not hidden relationships and professional anxiety."

"And you're both certain this is what you want? Workplace relationships can be challenging, especially given the power dynamics."

"Which is why we're approaching this together," Carmen said. "No decisions about our relationship or our careers get made unilaterally. We're partners in this conversation and in whatever comes next."

Dr. Mars was quiet for a moment, reviewing her notes and considering their request. Finally, she looked up with what looked almost like approval.

"Here's what I can offer. Harper, you'll remain in trauma surgery, which eliminates any direct supervisory concerns.

Carmen, you'll need to recuse yourself from any administrative decisions affecting Harper's career progression.

Both of you will need to sign disclosure agreements acknowledging the relationship and confirming your understanding of hospital policies. "

"That seems reasonable," Harper said, looking to Carmen for confirmation.

"Very reasonable," Carmen agreed. "We appreciate you working with us on this."

"I'm not finished," Dr. Mars said with a slight smile. "You'll also both need to attend a professional relationships workshop within the next month, which covers boundary management and conflict resolution for couples working in the same institution."

Harper felt heat rise in her cheeks. "A workshop?"

"It's standard protocol for any disclosed workplace relationship. Nothing punitive, just practical guidance for maintaining professionalism while building a personal life together."