Sophie needed some air. She called Kate and asked her if she
had time to join her for a walk. Kate promised to be there as
soon as she could break away from her Skype meeting.
Forty-five minutes later, Sophie met Kate in the lobby.
Sophie wanted to explore the whole hospital, or at least the first
floor. The entire complex ran the length of five city blocks.
“Like we did when we were kids. Remember playing Harriet
the Spy and running reconnaissance of the neighborhood?” The
sisters laughed together.
They began in the lobby of the Metro Women’s and Chil
dren’s Hospital, the northernmost building. Turning in a
southward direction, they walked down a long hallway that
opened into a large, ornate, older lobby. It was filled with people
hurrying about—hospital staff, visitors, patients, pizza delivery
men, flower deliveries. It was like a small city within the hospital.
“Looks like this is the main Metro General Hospital.” They
stopped to read the directory, which listed fifteen floors of inpa
tient units and medical offices.
They continued through another hallway that led them to a
large atrium-type building with an auditorium and an extensive
medical library attached.
The hallway that stretched in front of them led to another
building farther to the south. Looking down the crowded hall
way, Sophie thought she saw Dr. Sheldon. Before she got a good
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THE VERY BEST OF CARE
look at him, he disappeared through a doorway with an emer
gency exit sign overhead.
“Was that Dr. Sheldon?” Kate asked.
“I think it was. I guess the NICU isn’t the only place he spends
his time. I’m sure he’s got other responsibilities in the hospital.”
“Really? Like where? He’s the chief of the NICU, Soph.”
Sophie shrugged.
Kate added, “I wonder what the cute doctor is up to over here
by family planning.”
They kept walking and finally reached the last building,
five blocks away from where they had started. It was a four-story
building that held the family planning clinic on the main floor
and offices on the three floors above. All the buildings were
connected by the interior hallways that Kate and Sophie had
just walked, and by outside walkways that people used in nice
weather.
The two sisters went outside to return by way of the street.
“Hey, let’s grab a bite. I’m not ready to go back yet,” Sophie
said.
They crossed the street to a small sandwich shop. After they
ordered, they sat down with their coffees. Waiting for their food,
Sophie and Kate watched the people walking by—some rushing
at a fast clip, dodging the people in their way, others casually
stopping to window-shop. Across the street she saw Dr. Wagner.
“Kate, look!”
Kate turned. “Looks like the good Dr. Wagner to me. He’s
probably out getting some lunch too.” She turned back.
“No, look closer.”
Kate turned again. They watched Dr. Wagner pull out some
keys and unlock a door to the family planning clinic building.
“What’s he doing in the family planning building?” Kate said.
Sophie kept her eyes on that side of the street. A minute
later, she said, “What the heck?”
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“What is it?”
JULIE HATCH
“There’s the chapel guy. Back a little way behind Dr. Wagner.”
Kate looked. “Who’s the chapel guy?”
“He’s a guy I’ve seen in the hospital chapel a couple of times.
And other random places too.”
“Funny, isn’t it? How, on this busy street, we see Dr. Wagner
and the chapel guy practically at the same time. Who’s next, Dr.
Morrison?” Kate joked.
“Actually, here’s Adam.” Sophie laughed. “I texted him we
were here, in case he had time for lunch.”
Adam joined them and guzzled a Red Bull.
“Is that your lunch?”
“Yeah, today it is. What are you guys up to? Sisterly
shenanigans?”
“Hardly,” said Sophie. “I needed a break from the unit. We
just walked the length of the whole hospital, all four buildings
and five blocks of it.”
Kate spoke up. “Speaking of sisterly shenanigans, Sophie, I’m
going to have to get back to Boston soon.”
Sophie put her coffee down. “I knew this was coming.”
“Sorry, sis.” Kate put her coffee down too. “But hey, I’m not
leaving yet. I’m still here for another few days.”
“Okay, good.” Sophie laid her hand on top of Kate’s.
