Page 16 of Fever: Love In Scrubs

“ A nd this is the pediatric wing.”

I followed Ms. Levi, the hospital administrator, as we stepped off the elevator.

Today I was doing an interview for a Patient and Community Relations Specialist position at Saint Ambrose. I took Jaxson’s advice and looked on the hospital’s website for an open position. Since my move here was a permanent one, my employment needed to match.

While I loved my job back in Colorado Springs, I couldn’t give my all to it from here.

Working remotely, then in the office one day a week, wasn’t fulfilling.

I needed to be hands on, and I preferred face to face interaction with my clients.

This position would allow that. Lucky for me, they had an open position working with children and their families. I felt like it was a sign.

When I put in the application, not even a day later, I got a call asking me to do an in-person interview.

So far, it had gone great. Ms. Levi was thoroughly impressed with my resume and accolades.

She told me I would be perfect for the job and wanted to show me around so I could get a feel of the space.

The pediatric wing was bright and vibrant, unlike the rest of the hospital.

My eyes flicked over every detail. There was a large playroom door propped open with a beanbag.

A big corkboard hung on the wall, crammed with crayon drawings signed in crooked handwriting.

A nurse was pushing a mobile vitals cart with stickers on the side.

Murals of smiling cartoon characters floated along the walls.

The smell of hand sanitizer mingled faintly with the sweet hint of bubblegum air freshener.

Each hallway seemed to have a different theme painted along the walls.

We passed the nurses’ station, a semicircle of counters covered in colorful sticky notes written in a child’s handwriting and a jar of rainbow lollipops.

Everyone gave a friendly smile and wave as our eyes met.

The energy up here felt different. It was light and happy.

I could tell these people enjoyed working with these kids and did their best to keep them in good spirits during a scary time like being in the hospital.

“Here’s where the magic happens,” Ms. Levi continued.

“Our nurses are trained not only in pediatrics, but also in child life techniques like distracting with stories, and using play therapy before procedures. It lowers anxiety for the kids and the parents. We put heavy emphasis on strong patient engagement here. We want them to know that they aren’t just patients to us. They are family too.”

I smiled. “I love that. My kids at my last job felt like family to me too. I found it was the best way to build a relationship with them and get them to trust me.”

“That’s what we want. Trust is everything. If a patient doesn’t trust you, you’ve already failed before you can begin.”

“I wholeheartedly agree.”

She led me to another part of the wing where there was a family lounge, explaining that the families spent a lot of time in there to decompress. It was filled with books, puzzles, toys, and a coffee and snack station. There were even volunteers that watched the kids to give families a break.

Further down the hall, we ventured into the office spaces so she could show me where mine would be located.

As we approached a door, I noticed one with the word Pathology written above it.

Just as she opened my potential office door, the door to the Pathology lab opened and out stepped Jaxson, looking as fine as ever in his white coat.

When he saw me, he smiled, and I smiled back.

“Oh! Dr. Pierre!” Ms. Levi said, waving him down.

I felt my face flush as he approached us. Even though I’d spoken to this man every day since our date a few nights ago, I felt like a teenaged girl in his presence.

“Good morning, Ms. Levi,” Jaxson said, offering her a handshake.

“Good morning. I’d like to introduce you to Wynter Driscoll. She’s interviewing for the Patient and Community Relations Specialist position.”

Jaxson grabbed my hand and kissed it. “We’ve been properly introduced,” he said, winking at me.

Ms. Levi looked between the two of us and smiled.

“Well, excuse me, then! I see you two. Just so you are aware, we don’t have a typical no fraternization policy, but we do require that relationships between employees be disclosed to avoid potential conflicts of interests.

Since you two would be working in different departments, I’m sure there will be no problem.

“Understood,” I said. “I have no problem pretending I don’t even know this man at work.”

Jaxson chuckled. “Damn, you’re gonna do me like that? What if I wanted to have lunch with you?”

I giggled. “We can make arrangements.”

“So, does this mean you’ll take the job?” Ms. Levi asked. “I’m prepared to make you an offer right now.”

I nodded. “I want the job. Looking at this floor, I think I’ll feel right at home.”

“Awesome!” Somewhere down the hall, someone called her name. “Give me a second and we can head back up to start your paperwork. Feel free to explore your office.”

She left Jaxson and I alone. I turned back to him with a smile on my face.

“How unprofessional of me would it be to kiss you right now?” he asked, stepping closer to me.

“Very, sir. You want the nurses up here whispering about me before I even start work?”

He looked around before pushing open the door to my office and motioning me inside. The moment it closed, he pushed me up against the door and dropped his lips on mine with a kiss that made my knees buckle.

“I’ve missed you,” he said, pressing his forehead to mine.

“I’ve missed you too.”

“I’m a little excited I get to see your face at work soon.”

I grinned. “I bet you are. Thank you for telling me about this. I put in the application and got a call the next day.”

“That just means it was meant for you. Congratulations. I see Silver Run is becoming more like home.”

“It’s getting there.” I looked around the office space. “I guess I have to make this place my own.”

“You have the freedom to do that. My office is pretty plain aside from a few pictures of my family and my degree on the wall. At least up here you can liven up the place.”

I smiled. “I’m so excited to work with these kids.”

“They are pretty sweet up here. I told you, if I hadn’t gone into pathology, I would have gone into peds. The little ones make me want to have another one.”

“Do you put on your dad voice when you talk to them?”

He chuckled. “I do. I picture them as a little Jamari.”

“How is she? I know you told me about the issues with her mom.”

He sighed. “She’s okay. A little sad because of everything, but she’ll bounce back. That shit is killing me, man.”

“Something else happened?”

“She told me her mama’s boyfriend or whoever the nigga is she’s dealing with walks around the house naked at night. She’s seen him exposed twice.”

I frowned. “What!”

“Exactly. I confronted her mama about the shit, and she acted like it was no big deal. Then she texted my daughter some bullshit and I had to pull up on her. He was there and shit got heated. Before I could stop myself, I was beating his ass for acting so nonchalant about it. I don’t know what they think this is, but I don’t play about my baby. ”

My eyes widened hearing that he’d gotten physical with someone. I looked down at his hands, noticing the slight bruising on them. Grabbing them, I placed a kiss on his knuckles.

“I can’t say I blame you. There are some sick individuals in this world. If you don’t protect her, who else will?”

“I’m going for full custody with supervised visitation for her.”

“Good for you. I’m glad she has someone to stand up for her. I can tell you’re a great father, Jaxson.”

“I try my best, you know? I might not get it all right, but I’m present. I wanna do something to lift her spirits, though. Maybe take her out for a pamper day this weekend.”

I smiled. “That would be nice. I would have killed for daddy daughter days with my father growing up.”

“He really didn’t do anything with you, love?”

“Sometimes he would play with me. Then he’d start thinking about my mother and just like that, playtime was over. He was stuck in his grief. Most of his time was dedicated to my mother’s memory. I was an afterthought once I could take care of myself.”

“Damn. I’m sorry, love.” He pulled me onto his chest and wrapped his arms around my waist. “I know I’m not your father, but you are more than welcome to come on our daddy daughter date.”

I giggled as I slipped my arms around his waist. “I don’t wanna intrude.”

“It’s no intrusion.”

“You don’t think it’s early for me to meet your daughter?”

He grinned. “Maybe you could coincidentally run into us in a mutual place. No harm, no foul.”

“And where would this mutual place be?”

“She loves Primo Nail Bar over on Devine Street. It’s where I take her all the time. Saturday, around eleven.”

I studied the seriousness of his face. “You really want me to go?”

“A day with two of my favorite girls? How could I pass that up?”

“How am I your favorite so soon, sir?”

He cupped my face and peered into my eyes.

“Because you are. I really like you, Wynter. I enjoy spending time with you and getting to know you. I’m too old for games, baby.

My player days are far behind me. If you learn nothing else about me, you’ll learn that I’m very intentional in the way I move with people I care about.

And yes, I care…” He pecked my lips. “About.” Another peck. “You.”

I was over here grinning like a damn Cheshire Cat. This man had the ability to make me feel things I’d never felt before. I couldn’t help but to like him more and more, every time we interacted.

“Say you’ll come?”

I nodded as his pager went off. “Okay.”

“Good.” He checked the pager and placed it back in his pocket. “I gotta go, but I’m gonna call you when I get off.”

Leaning in, he kissed me once more before opening the door to leave. Ms. Levi gave him a side eye as he passed her approaching the door. He offered her a smile and kept it pushing.

“I don’t know what you’ve done to him, but keep it up,” she said with a soft smile. “You wouldn’t believe how many women here have tried to get close to that man but he’s always turned them down. He’s a good one. You hold on to those.”

“I’m learning that,” I said, looking around the room again.

“What do you think?”

“I think I can make it as festive as the rest of the wing.”

“Good. I can’t wait to see what you do with the place. We are so lucky to have you. Your references spoke so highly of you. They even pulled together some video footage from a few of your clients and they had nothing but good things to say about you.”

My hand flew to my chest. “Really?”

“Yes. You changed quite a few lives. Knowing how hard you went for your clients made this a no brainer. The interview was just a formality. The job was always yours.”

I blushed. “Thank you, Ms. Levi. I’m grateful for this opportunity.”

“I know you’ll make us proud. Now, if you’ll follow me, we can go over your paperwork and salary.”

I took one last look around the office before following her out with a smile on my face. Maybe Silver Run would become home after all.