Page 12 of Heartbeat Harmony (Hearts in Hawthorne #2)

Chapter

Six

T he past six weeks had been some of the most satisfying of Eli’s life.

He had dabbled in everything from recruiting and hiring staff to working with the new board of trustees for Triple H.

The hospital would officially open in two weeks, and Hogan Health would hold a large party to launch its newest facility, inviting the entire community of Hawthorne.

In the meantime, though, Nancy thought it would be a good idea if he held something at his house to welcome all his new department heads and build camaraderie. He had reluctantly agreed to do so this morning, having only been to two other parties his entire life.

Both had proved to be disastrous.

He now wrapped up the first meeting he had held with all his department heads, saying, “I hope you are beginning to settle into life in Hawthorne and here at work. To welcome you, I’m having a party at my house a week from this coming Saturday.

Nancy will be sending you an evite. I hope you’ll be able to join in. ”

Eli knew he was one of the few—if not the only person seated at this table—to have permanent housing.

Hogan Health was paying for the doctors seated at this table to receive a housing allowance until they could find lodging of their own.

Some were staying at Hawthorne’s only motel, while others were renting rooms at local B&Bs.

Construction was booming in the city and on its outskirts, with so many professionals associated with the hospital coming to the area.

“If you don’t have any more concerns, I’ll turn you loose to do whatever you need to be doing,” he said genially.

People rose and began chatting, striking up conversations with others as they walked out the door.

“Could I see you a moment, Ms. Sutherland?” Eli asked, and she turned to head back in his direction.

“Have a seat,” he invited, and she took a chair to his left, opening her notebook again and clicking her pen, poised to take notes.

He admitted to himself that the best part of the past few weeks had been getting to work with Autumn.

She was not only knowledgeable and efficient but nurturing, as well.

She had done an excellent job putting together a nursing staff Triple H could be proud of.

A few of her hires were a bit unusual, but he knew it took all kinds of people to complete a hospital’s staff.

He himself had made a few unique hires with the doctors he had chosen to become his colleagues.

Many of them skewed on the younger side, in their thirties, with a few in their early forties.

He wanted a young staff, hoping to mold it not only in the philosophy of Hogan Health but also the vision he had for his new hospital.

And Eli definitely thought of Triple H as his.

Addressing Autumn now, he said, “This is on the personal side, not the professional one. I need some advice. I didn’t want Nancy to know how socially inept I am.” He paused. “You and I have become friends, and I feel I can show my true self to you.”

“First, Nancy adores you, Eli. She tells everyone how brilliant you are. But thank you for trusting me. What can I help you with?”

“It’s this damn party I mentioned at the end of our staff meeting,” he said, sounding disgruntled.

“Nancy thought I should hold something at my house. Something informal to bring the leadership of the hospital together in a more casual setting, so the department heads could get to know one another better. They’ve all been working long hours, trying to prepare for our opening, and they haven’t had much time to create bonds with one another. ”

“I’m not quite sure where I come in,” she said, frowning.

Eli sighed, straightening his tie. “I don’t know the first thing about how to hold a party. I’ve only been to a couple and have never hosted one.”

“That’s easy enough,” she told him. “Do you want to center it around a meal? Or just serve appetizers and drinks?”

He shrugged. “I have absolutely zero idea where to begin, Autumn.”

She thought a moment. “Some of the department heads are new to Texas, so we should make it centered around Texas. I think you should have BBQ Bliss cater the food. They’re the best barbeque joint within miles, and it would give people an introduction to Texas food.

Shorty can not only prepare everything, but he can also serve.

That’ll free you up to host your guests. ”

He felt his face reddening and sheepishly admitted, “I don’t have any furniture for guests to sit on.”

Autumn frowned. “You live in a house with no furniture?”

Eli got up and closed the door, not wanting Nancy or anyone else to overhear what he was about to share.

“You may have noticed I’m a little awkward around people. Not good at the small talk thing. If it involves anything in the world of medicine, I’m fine. I can also hone in on a problem. Quickly find a solution. But anything beyond work-related stuff, I’m hopeless.”

“I have noticed you’re a bit reserved, but you seem personable enough when you’re talking to others. Are you one of those introverts who performs as an extrovert at work?”

“That about sums me up,” he admitted. “I know there’s the whole philosophy of nature versus nurture. Well, I got absolutely zero nurturing growing up. I guess it’s in my nature to be clueless outside of work situations.”

He fell silent and appreciated that Autumn didn’t push him. She had a good sense of people and simply waited for him to open up to her now. He had told her a little bit before, but he decided to put all his cards on the table with her now.

“I grew up in the foster care system. My mother was an addict who was forced to relinquish her parental rights. No father was in the picture. I went into foster care when I was five. By the time you’re five or six, you’re considered unadoptable.

That too many bad patterns are already set, and you can’t be saved from whatever forced you into foster care in the first place.

I left my last placement home when I went away to college.

I didn’t age out in the system, Autumn. My IQ was off the charts.

I skipped several grades and graduated from high school when I was fourteen.

While those around me were getting their driver’s license and starting to date, I was this oddity who sat on the periphery of each class.

The young, pint-sized kid who always broke the curve and ruined things for everyone.

I had no family at home and no friends at school because everyone was so much older than I was. ”

“That must have been difficult, being so alone.”

“At the time, it didn’t bother me. I was a loner and lost myself in a world of books.

I won a combination of scholarships which paid for my undergraduate at Rice.

I lived with two married professors my first couple of years, but they were childless and didn’t interact much with me, which I preferred.

The wife took a visiting professor’s job in Oslo for a year, and so I moved to the dorm for my final year.

Again, I was the fish out of water. Students in my classes were getting drunk and getting laid.

I did neither. I earned my bachelor’s degree at seventeen and headed straight to med school. ”

Eli shrugged. “Same song, next verse. I focused on my studies and learning everything I could so I’d be the best doctor.

A few others reached out. Tried to befriend me, but we mostly wound up as acquaintances, trading notes and talking medicine.

I had nothing in common with the other students in med school, other than the fact that we were in med school together.

By then, some of my classmates were already married.

A few of them even had kids, and I still wasn’t old enough to vote.

I’m socially awkward because I never had the shared experiences of others my own age.

Playing video games with someone. Being on a sports team and competing together. That kind of thing.”

She looked at him with empathy. Thank goodness he saw no pity in her amazing turquoise eyes. He wouldn’t have been able to stand that.

“Do you not know how to choose furniture for yourself, Eli? If that’s the case, I can help guide you through that process.”

“Would you?” he asked eagerly. “I spent my residency and then seven years after that as a physician in the ER. I lived in an apartment close to the hospital and merely biked to work each day. I did get my driver’s license along the way, more to use as identification than anything else, but I haven’t had a whole lot of driving experience. ” He shrugged. “You know that.”

She laughed, and Eli thought her laughter sounded musical. Hearing it made a glow fill him, as though his insides warmed with happiness.

“Hopefully, you’re getting some practice driving around Hawthorne, from your house to the hospital and back. On errands. That kind of thing.”

Nodding, he confirmed, “Yes, I am feeling more comfortable behind the wheel of a car these days. Would you mind coming to my house after work now? If you see it, you may be able to give me a better idea as to how I should furnish it. At least have something for people to sit on.”

Autumn glanced at her watch. “It’s close to quitting time now. Why don’t we head to your place? Text me your address, and I’ll meet you there.”

Relief swept through him. “Thank you. You don’t know how much I appreciate this.” He texted her the address.

“See you in about fifteen minutes,” she told him, leaving the conference room.

His step light, Eli returned to his office, where Nancy told him that she was ready to send out the evites.

“You have a time in mind, Dr. Carson?”

With confidence, he said, “I’m going to have barbeque catered in. People can eat and then mingle afterward.”

“That’s a wonderful idea. Shall we say seven next Saturday?”

He assumed that would be an acceptable time since she suggested it, so he merely nodded. “Sure, Nancy. Run with it.”