Drew followed a few feet behind the two doctors, listening intently as London gave Susan Hemingway a detailed account of what she hoped to accomplish with the sensory room. It was obvious based on the other doctor’s reaction that London had done her homework, which didn’t surprise him in the least.
What did surprise him was how awestruck London seemed by Dr. Hemingway.
Normally, London Kelley’s confidence was an entity unto itself—the kind that came with knowing that you were the smartest person in the room. It was refreshing to see her engaged in this little display of hero worship. She wanted to impress the doctor from Seattle, and Drew had no doubts she had.
Exuberance radiated from her as she described her plan of action, rattling off idea after idea. Drew was mesmerized. He could tell by her enthusiasm that her passion for this sensory room didn’t come from a place of ego—even though completing a project as ambitious as this one would be a huge feather in the cap of any surgical resident.
But it wasn’t about that for London. She wasn’t doing this because it would look good on her résumé. This was 100 percent about doing what she thought was best for her patients.
Everything she did at this hospital was for her patients, even if it ruffled the feathers of some of the most powerful people here. London didn’t back down from the fight, she brought it.
He’d had no choice but to fall hard for her. How could he not?
Drew did his best to keep a running tally of expenses in his head as London outlined her vision. It would take about fifty grand to design the space to her compromised specifications, but that was more than doable, especially because they wouldn’t have to build anything from the ground up. Her plan was to repurpose this underutilized room on the pediatric floor.
Drew was now convinced that the only reason it hadn’t been approved by the hospital’s administration yet was that Frederick Coleman had personally vetoed the idea. The amount of evidence-based research London had to back up her efforts to customize this room made it a no-brainer.
She ushered them to an area that was currently being used to house decommissioned medical equipment. “And this space is what I call the ‘Feel Good’ spot. There will be numerous textures used on surfaces throughout the room, but I also want to create a corner that specifically addresses tactile sensory issues,” London explained. “It will include weighted vests and blankets. I’ve even run across weighted stuffed animals and other toys.”
“Those are popular with kids,” Dr. Hemingway said. “Combining the tactile features with the proper auditory and visual components will go a long way in making this space a calm environment for both patients and their parents before surgery. What measures are you all taking now for patients with sensory issues?”
“We provide teddy bears for the kids to hold on their way to the operating room. It’s so ridiculously inadequate,” London said. “We can and should be doing so much more. I’ve been pushing for County to create this sensory room for several years now.” She looked over at Drew and smiled. “I am so grateful that it is finally being seriously considered.”
It would be foolish to read anything more into that look she directed at him, but he wanted her love too much not to see it reflected in her eyes. There was more than just gratitude there. Even if she wasn’t ready to say the words, Drew felt them. He felt her love every time she peeled back another layer of herself and allowed him to get closer. This was no longer one-sided. It was real.
All three of them turned at the sound of the door opening. Frederick Coleman walked into the room.
“Here she is,” the chief of surgery said. His jovial expression threw Drew off for a moment.
“Fred?” Dr. Hemingway’s face beamed with recognition. “I forgot you were in Austin. Is this your hospital?”
“Yes, it is,” Dr. Coleman said.
London looked from one doctor to another. “I’m always astounded at just how small the medical world can be,” she said. “I guess introductions aren’t necessary.”
“Susan and I were residents at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles many moons ago,” Coleman said.
“I was chief resident at the time,” Dr. Hemingway said. Drew wanted to high-five her.
“A very good one,” Coleman said, though his smile was tighter than before. London was right. The man had an issue with women in authority, and now they knew where it stemmed from.
“I thought it was just a rumor when I heard that you were at the hospital,” Coleman continued. “What brings you to Travis County?”
She gestured to London. “I came to speak with Dr. Kelley regarding the new sensory room you all will be adding here at County. I must say, Fred, I am impressed, especially with Dr. Kelley here. You have a fine pediatric surgeon on your hands. Count yourself lucky that we’ve already filled all of our fellowships in Seattle, or I would be giving her the hardest sell of my life to try to lure her away.”
“Yes, Dr. Kelley is very special indeed,” Coleman said. Drew could measure the enthusiasm in his voice using a thimble.
For London’s part, she didn’t so much as flinch. Drew now realized it was because she’d spent so much time dealing with a father who had the same chauvinistic mindset. Coleman was child’s play for her.
Still, Drew felt he needed to set the record straight.
“I’m the one who contacted Dr. Hemingway on Dr. Kelley’s behalf,” Drew said. “I know there is still a lot for the board and hospital administration to discuss as Trident wraps up its audit, but when I learned that Dr. Hemingway was in Austin, I didn’t want to pass up the chance for her to tour County’s pediatric ward. I’m jumping the gun here, but I can tell you that the sensory room will be at the very top of Trident’s list of recommendations when it comes to additions to the hospital.”
“That is jumping the gun,” Coleman said. “But I applaud you for taking the initiative. We’ve looked into Dr. Kelley’s little project on multiple occasions, but if Trident believes it will benefit the hospital, we may reconsider.”
Drew wasn’t sure how London managed to hold it together. He was pissed on her behalf. She’d done her homework on this and had more research to back it up than should have been warranted. Yet Coleman was only willing to consider it now that Trident had put it on the table? This guy really was an asshole.
Coleman turned to Dr. Hemingway. “Let me know if you’ll be around for lunch, Susan. I’d love to catch up.”
“So would I,” she said. “I’ll find you once I’m done speaking with Dr. Kelley. I assume your office is whichever is the largest in the hospital?”
“You assume correctly,” Coleman answered with a laugh. “I’ll see you after you’re done here.” He gave London a pointed look as he exited the room, but she barely paid him notice. Her entire focus was once again on gleaning every drop of information she could from Dr. Hemingway.
By the time they were done, London had secured an invitation to tour the sensory room the other doctor had created at her hospital in Seattle, along with a pledge from Dr. Hemingway to return to County on a subsequent trip to Austin.
“Feel free to pick my brain whenever you need to,” the doctor said. “I wasn’t joking when I told Frederick that I’m tempted to poach you. County is lucky to have you in their residency program.”
“I’m so grateful to the hospital and the physicians here. They’ve taught me so much, and it has been a true honor to serve the people of my hometown,” London said. “I’ll always treasure my time here.”
Drew’s forehead dipped with his frown. There was something odd about both her tone and phrasing.
He took Dr. Hemingway’s proffered hand and thanked her for coming, then followed them both out of the room.
London’s office was across from it. She pulled Drew inside, closed the door behind them, and pinned him against it. The kiss she laid on him was long, slow, and deep, and if they weren’t at this hospital right now, Drew had zero doubts that they would be naked in two minutes flat. It took every ounce of restraint to keep his hand from going to his necktie and ripping it off.
“That was phenomenal,” London said. “Did you see how excited she was when I mentioned the bubble wall?”
Drew could barely recall his own name when she pressed her body against his like this, but he nodded anyway.
“I’ve been struggling with an extremely important decision,” she said. “You pretty much made it for me by bringing Dr. Hemingway here today.”
“What decision?” Drew asked.
“Whether to remain at County,” she answered.
“You considered leaving?”
She held on to his hand as she backed up to her desk and perched against it.
“Remember when I mentioned Chicago?” she asked. He nodded. “I’m coming to the end of my residency. I have offers from hospitals around the country, including a fellowship in one of the most competitive pediatric cardiothoracic surgery programs in the world—that’s the one in Chicago. But if we can make this MSE room happen here at County, I just can’t see myself abandoning it. I want to see it through.”
She cradled his face in her palms. “Thanks for going out of your way to make this meeting happen and for making my decision so much easier than I anticipated.”
“I made a phone call, London. I didn’t—”
“That’s more than I can normally count on. Don’t you understand, Drew? I could never rely on the few men in my life that I should have been able to count on to have my back.” She squeezed his hands and brought them to her lips. The firm kiss she pressed against the backs of his fingers conveyed even more than her words had. “Thank you,” she said again. “Thank you for staying true to your word.”