Page 16 of Wasted

“You think I only want to switch to physiatry because I want to help Spring.”

Victoria nodded. “And others like her, yes. That’s a good thing. But you must remember that you would have a huge impact on people’s lives as a surgeon, too. You would save lives every day.”

“True.” His mouth worked as it always did when he was deep in thought. “But it doesn’t seem like enough somehow.” Discontentment weighted his voice, cinching her ribs.

She wanted to see him happy and fulfilled. But more than that, he needed to do the right thing. Praise the Lord, Hank was a Christian as Spring and Victoria were. She could go deeper with him and give him the kind of help that would truly make a difference. “Have you prayed about this?”

Surprise lifted his eyebrows. “You mean about Dad? You think I’m not honoring him the way the Bible says I should?”

“Well, that is a point, and you’d need to pray about that. But I was actually thinking of your vocation. Have you asked God to show you what He wants you to do for your career? That’s so much more important than what I think or even what Dad wants.”

“Right, as usual, Vicki. I can’t say I have been praying about it, at least not as much as I should. I’ll take more time to do that.” He shot her a glance that looked almost guilty. “And you’re right about my emotions running all over the place. Yesterday, I actually thought I might switch to pediatric oncology.”

“What brought that on?”

“I read an article about a three-year-old girl who’s suffering from a rare form of acute leukemia. They haven’t found a successful treatment for it yet.”

“See?” She squeezed his shoulder. “You’re compassionate.”

“And confused, I guess.” He let out a laugh as he set his mug on the table and stood. “Anybody told you lately that you’re the best and wisest sister ever?”

She rose and smiled at her little brother, who now towered over her. “I believe you just did. I love you, Hank.”

“Love you, too, Vicki.” Hank bent and enveloped her in a hug with his long arms. “Oh.” He pulled back. “I should’ve asked—how was your day? You look beat.”

The urge to share pressed against her lips—about the hostage situation at her client’s, Cillian materializing out of the past, and the brief meeting with him she still couldn’t forget. The anxiety that was making itself at home in her stomach and mind. The unease about Thomas’s odd behavior and his hints of some kind of danger.

But she hadn’t had the luxury of pouring out her heart and thoughts to anyone since she was fifteen. She had a much more important purpose and duty to fulfill.

She smiled. “It was fine. Now go home, go to bed, and don’t give this another thought until you’ve had a good rest.”

“Roger.” Hank chuckled as he said goodnight to her and then Max before leaving through the garage.

Vicki went to retrieve her work notebook computer and begin the long night of documentation. She would do her best to take her own advice and not give her clients’ personal problems or her own—Cillian included—another thought.

The Lord’s mercies were new every morning. She would rest in that promise to face tomorrow. Whatever her heavenly Father had in store, He would provide all she needed to weather it in His strength.

Chapter

Six

Dr. Henry Weston malpractice suit.

Cillian glanced at the open doorway to his new office as he typed the search terms into the computer’s Internet browser.

The hallway was empty. Not that anyone could see his screen, since it faced away from the door. But better safe than sorry.

These people were Victoria’s co-workers. Probably had a high opinion of her father, the famous Chicago neurosurgeon.

But everyone had secrets. Especially bullies like Victoria’s father, people that always got what they wanted, that climbed ladders to success and pushed down anyone who got in their way.

Dr. Weston’s days of getting away with those tactics were over, at least with Victoria.

Cillian had about thirty minutes between the early morning orientation meeting that had just ended and the next meeting with Racquelle to sign more paperwork. He wasn’t about to waste another second before working on the real reason he’d come back and taken this job.

Given his observations during the all-too-short dessert meeting with Victoria last night, there was no question she was still under her dad’s thumb. It was way past time to cut her loose and let her live her own life.

And Cillian knew how to do it. Since she was obviously not going to free herself, he’d have to go to the source—her father. Cillian would have to force him to let her go.