Page 25 of Heartbeat Harmony (Hearts in Hawthorne #2)
When they finished eating, Peter said, “I see Autumn is about to leave. I want to see if she’ll come chat with us a moment.” He waved, apparently catching Autumn’s eye, because she joined them moments later.
“Good to see you again, Peter. I hope that you’re enjoying your time in Hawthorne and meeting the great staff and seeing firsthand the programs Dr. Carson has put together.”
“Please join us,” Peter encouraged, indicating a chair at their table, which Autumn took.
“I was telling Eli what a good hire you are,” Peter said smoothly. “I was a little worried that you didn’t have the experience necessary to manage a large group of nurses, but you’ve proved me wrong. Eli knew what he was doing when he hired you.”
“I appreciate the opportunity Dr. Carson has given me,” Autumn said. “I plan to take the Certified Director of Nursing exam once I have the required year of experience in this position.”
“I heard that you helped deliver a baby last night after we all left.”
Eli watched her face soften, and he thought she would be someone who took to motherhood with ease.
“I was happy to assist Dr. Carson with the delivery. Leah and Mike are first-time parents, and it was obvious how frightened they were. She had some Braxton-Hicks contractions the previous day, and she thought that her contractions last night were the same. By the time they figured out the baby was coming, it was too late to reach a hospital. I’m thankful we were here and able to bring Scott into the world. ”
They chatted a few more minutes before Autumn excused herself, saying, “Just like you, I’m making the rounds today in the different units. I’m trying to get to know my nurses, not only as professionals, but as people. I want to be out on the floor frequently and see them in action, as well.”
After she left, they went to Eli’s office. He informed Nancy that Kelby Sutherland would be arriving soon, and he wanted the meeting to occur in the conference room.
“I can have bottled waters and coffee ready for you, Dr. Carson,” Nancy told him.
“Thank you, Nancy.”
Kelby arrived a few minutes later, asking if she could give a brief overview of the services she offered, and they agreed to hear her pitch. She also showed them examples of her work and then asked what they might have in mind for Triple H.
Peter explained how everything from social media was of a generic nature, all under the Hogan Health banner, and how all webpage additions were made via the corporate office up until now, but he was willing to beta test using someone local who had their finger on the pulse of the community and could post to the Hogan Health Hawthorne website and social media outlets faster than corporate, as well as personalize the social media so that it reflected Hawthorne.
“I’d be happy to handle social media accounts for Triple H.
I suggest we open separate ones for Triple H since I’ll be tailoring those posts to this particular hospital.
I’ll always tag Hogan Health, however. I have various packages you can review and choose from.
I would really enjoy placing human interest stories on the Triple H website.
If your corporate office wants to maintain other areas, that’s fine.
I can also take over, however. I’m very flexible and want to do whatever you like. ”
Peter explained how Eli and Autumn had delivered a baby last night after the reception, and Kelby said it would be a wonderful social media story to kick off the opening of Triple H.
“I can email a contract now to Eli or you, Peter,” she offered. “I use a local attorney, and he handles the legal end of things for me.”
“What’s his name?” Peter asked.
“Sawyer Montgomery. He’s actually Autumn’s cousin. If you’d like to meet with him, I can see if he’s free this afternoon.”
“Do that,” Peter instructed. “I’ve got the authority to cut a deal such as this.”
Kelby called the attorney, and he told them to come straight to his office. They did so and walked out half an hour later with a six-month agreement. Peter said he would be monitoring social media for the response, as well as reviewing the website weekly.
Kelby shook hands with both of them. “I’ll head back to the hospital now.
I want to get a few shots of the staff in action and talk with Leah Anderson before she is released.
From what you’ve said, she’ll be agreeable to me taking a few pictures and posting them to the new accounts I’ll create for Triple H.
Thank you again for your business, gentlemen. ”
Peter said, “Hogan Health couldn’t be more pleased with how smoothly things are running, Eli. I think I’m going to go ahead and hit the road now. If you’ll drop me at my car, I’ll leave now.”
They returned to the hospital and said goodbye. Eli went back to his office and took a moment to simply breathe.
Today had gone better than he had expected.
He was glad he was able to answer all of Peter’s questions and believed Hogan Health was happy with his performance and that of his staff.
He also looked forward to seeing what Kelby Sutherland could do to raise the new hospital’s profile on social media.
Of course, that meant he’d actually have to get on social media himself to see the progress. Maybe Autumn could help him with that.
He caught up on his emails and then decided to text Autumn. He asked how her day had gone and if she might want to grab some dinner with him after work. He didn’t hear back from her immediately and figured she was busy.
Ten minutes later, though, Nancy buzzed him, saying that Autumn was here to see him.
“Send her in.” His heart skipped a beat, and he tried to set aside instant nerves which sprouted inside him.
She came through the door, looking fresh as daisies blooming in springtime, despite the fact she’d been up all night with Baby Scott and his parents.
Closing the door behind her, she came and took a seat in front of his desk, asking, “How did everything go with Peter?”
“Really well. I wanted to share all that with you and hear about your day.”
“I’m not quite ready for us to go public,” Autumn told him. “I want to keep this between the two of us for just a little while if that’s all right with you.”
“I think that’s a good idea,” he agreed, wishing he could take her to a restaurant in Hawthorne and proclaim to the world that this amazing woman was interested in him. He understood what she was saying, though.
“What if we do takeout at your house instead?” she asked.
He smiled, relieved that she still wanted to be around him. “That sounds good to me. What would you like? I could stop at the diner if that sounds good. I do takeout from there a couple of nights a week, so that wouldn’t raise any suspicions.”
“Ordering two entrees wouldn’t clue Dizzy in?” she asked teasingly.
Eli chucked. “Not at all. Sometimes, I order two at a time so I have a meal for the next night and don’t have to stop.
Of course, our cafeteria has pretty darn good food.
I may try to eat my main meal of the day in the hospital at lunch and have something lighter at night in the future.
What would you like me to order for you? ”
“Anything but turnip greens,” she declared, laughing. “It’s probably the only food on the planet which I refuse to put in my mouth.”
He glanced at his watch. “What time are you leaving?”
“I can leave now,” she said. “I’ll just go back to my office and grab my purse and turn off the lights. I’ll meet you at your house.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Autumn left, and Eli picked up his cell.
Dizzy’s diner was listed on his favorites since he called the number so often.
Although he enjoyed eating in the diner, he had been putting in long days these last few weeks in the hospital, causing him to yearn for peace and quiet once his workday ended.
He found it easier to stop by and pick up a meal and take it home and eat in silence, with Atticus for company.
Dizzy himself answered, and Eli said, “Got a takeout order for you, my friend. What’s today’s special?”
“Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans, Doc.”
“I’ll take one of that. Add to it a chicken fried steak, zucchini and tomatoes, and black-eyed peas.”
“Rolls, cornbread, or both?” Dizzy asked.
Usually, he went for the cornbread, but he didn’t know Autumn’s preferences, so he said, “Mix it up a little this time. I’ll be there in about fifteen minutes.”
“See you then, Doc.”
Eli looked at his briefcase and decided it would stay here tonight.
Because he had other things he planned to do with Autumn.