Poised to begin rounds, an anxious group of residents and students congregated in front of the nursing station. As a frequent visiting professor, Jack had seen the same scene play out at a dozen different medical schools. While some of the aspiring doctors feverishly paged through pocket-size manuals, others shuffled index cards packed with medical information, preparing to present their assigned patients to the group.
Marc raised his hand, signaling to a petite-framed woman in a knee-length white coat who was talking on her cell phone. She gestured back and a few seconds later, she slipped her phone into her coat and walked over.
“Dr. Wyatt. This is Madison Shaw.”
“Dr. Wyatt,” she said.
“Please call me Jack.” He smiled, extending his hand. Even though his social life was in the doldrums, it would have been difficult for him not to notice she was an attractive woman. She had willowy fingers, a thinly pointed nose and the neck of a ballet dancer. “It’s nice to meet you. Dr. Morales had a lot of nice things to say about you.”
“That was kind of her,” she responded, stone-faced with a clipped handshake. “If you need anything, please let Marc know.” She looked at the assembled group and then motioned to one of the residents who walked over. “Go ahead and get started with rounds. Have J. C. present the first case. I’ll join you in a couple of minutes.” Madison turned back to Jack. “As I said, if there’s anything you need, just let Marc know. Please excuse me. I have to get back to rounds.”
“Of…Of course,” he answered.
With a stiffened posture, he watched Madison start to walk away. Just at that moment, Helen Morales approached. She motioned for Madison to return.
“I’m glad to see you two have had a chance to meet. I just got off the phone with the Office of the Surgeon General. There’s an emergency meeting tomorrow in Atlanta at the CDC. I think it would be an excellent idea for the both of you to attend.” Her gaze turned to Jack. “Do you think you can make the trip?”
“Of course.”
“It’s a three-hour meeting. It’s scheduled to begin at eleven. I’ll have my assistant make the travel arrangements and e-mail you the information. You should make it back in plenty of time for our dinner.” She looked down at her watch. “Just once I’d like to be on time for a meeting. I’ll speak with you both later.”
“Will you be attending the dinner tomorrow evening?” Jack asked Madison.
“It’s not voluntary, Dr. Wyatt. Dean Morales expects all of us to be there.”
Madison returned to the group, leaving Jack’s head nodding like the Woody Hayes bobblehead doll that sat on his desk in Columbus. After an awkward few seconds, he had the sudden urge to feel his checks to make sure the flesh hadn’t completely melted from his face. So much for the warm greeting and heartfelt expression of gratitude for agreeing to serve as a guest professor, he thought to himself. He chanced a look in Marc’s direction.
“Did I miss something here?” he inquired, scratching the back of his head, unable to remember the last time somebody had taken such an instant disliking to him.
“I’m not sure. Do you frequently have this effect on women?”
“From time to time, but it usually takes a little longer. Is she always like that?”
Marc couldn’t contain a short laugh. “Actually, she’s one of the most easygoing, pleasant people I’ve ever worked with.”
“All evidence to the contrary,” Jack said with a huff.
“You probably just caught her at a bad moment. Things have been pretty tense around here the past couple of days. I’m sure she’ll be in a better mood the next time you meet.”
“Well, you’ve certainly honed your diplomatic skills,” Jack responded as if Marc were somebody trying to sell him enough life insurance for three people. Jack was still wondering what he’d done to deserve such an ungracious welcome when one of the interns rushed up.
Between clipped breaths, she said, “Marc, Dr. Shaw wants you stat. Tess Ryan’s crashing.”