Wash (23 page)

He
nodded and began rummaging through a desk drawer. “Here it is.” He
held an envelope in his hand. “We haven’t discussed your rates or
fees.”

Charity
blinked. She hadn’t come this morning to talk about money, except
maybe the amount she hoped they would raise. “I was only planning
on charging the hospital for my expenses.”

“
No.”

“
Yes.”

“
No. I –”

“
Yes!” She spoke louder. “Look, you can get your accountants to
make up some tax write off for my time, but as long as some of my
expenses are covered, that’s all I want.”

“
Charity.” Her father sighed and shook his head. He handed
her the envelope. “Here’s a credit card in your name. It’s to
cover
all
your expenses and for hall booking, catering, and whatever
else needs to be purchased.”

“
Fine.” She took the envelope and stuffed it in her purse.
“It’s handy to put it in my name. I appreciate that.”

“
When will you be coming up again?”

She
leaned back in the chair. “I need to come again next weekend to
confirm everything with the hall, and I should also start looking
at caterers and a few other things. I know it’s a bit last minute,
but would you be able to get an email or letter out to people at
the hospital who would be interested in volunteering? I can draft
the letter for you and then you send it out?”

“
Sure.”

“
It’ll be informal but if we throw in an open dinner, like
pizza or something, people will come. We’ll do it here at the
hospital on Saturday night. I’ll draft the letter shortly and email
it to you.”

“
For next Saturday?”

“
It’s last minute, I know, but we’re working on a bit of a
tight schedule. We’ll plan another proper one later in a month or
two. From past experience, those who come out next weekend are the
ones that will be the worker bees. It sounds bad the way I said but
it’s the easiest way to explain it. They’ll spread the word because
they are excited about a night out and will want to be part of the
event. These volunteers are the true heart of making a fundraiser a
success.”

“
Really?” Her father looked skeptical.

“
People need to know me. I’m going to be here regularly for the
next six months, asking people for favors and getting organized
like I own the place.” She didn’t miss the spark in her father’s
eye when she said that. “I need to introduce myself and make sure
people will recognize me the next time we meet. If I can find a few
people, a couple of connections, it’ll make a big difference.”
She’d need to remember their faces as well.

Her
father shrugged. “Consider it done.”

“
I’ll take care of the food, drinks, everything. You just get a
conference room reserved here and have the email sent
out.”

“
Sounds go—” He was interrupted by an announcement on the PA
system paging him. “Shoot! I need to go.”

“
No problem. I’m going to head down to the cafeteria and get
the letter written up. It’ll be done before I have to head out to
the airport.”

Her
father was already at the door, slipping his white coat on. He
disappeared down the hall.

“
Bye, Dad,” she said to the empty room. She jumped up and threw
her purse over her shoulder and roughly grabbed her things. Her
phone vibrated, catching her attention. She sighed and forced
herself to relax before checking the message.

I hear you’re here. Come see me! It’s me, your BFF in case
you forgot about me, Juls

“
Julie!” Charity slapped her forehead. Julie had been her first
and only roommate in university. They had been great buds ever
since and she worked at her dad’s hospital. She was a doctor and
had married a doctor. Shoot, Charity had been in their wedding
party. Julie would never forgive her if she didn’t stop
by.

She
checked her watch. It’d be tight, but it could be done. She jogged
down the hall and dialed Julie’s number. She slowed to a walk and
paused by the nurses’ station when she got Julie’s
voicemail.

“
Juls! I’m at the hospital now, about to head down to the
cafeteria. Come meet me.” She hung up and started to pin Julie the
same message. That would be quicker.

“
Have you met Dr. Bennet?” One of the nurses spoke to another
behind where Charity stood. Charity didn’t mean to eavesdrop but
she couldn’t resist.

A young
nurse giggled. “Mr. Hotness? Did you know he has a
tattoo?”

The
other nurse let out a silly, excited laugh. “The medical symbol?
I’ve seen it.”

Another
nurse walked by Charity, ignoring her and heading straight over to
the other nurses. “Most of us have seen it, newbie.”

Charity rolled her eyes and walked to the elevator. She
pressed the button.
Dr. Elijah Bennet.
Couldn’t say she was completely
surprised.

Chapter 8

Stripes
of bright light shone on Charity’s face. She tried leaning her head
back and then dropping her chin down but the lines wouldn’t leave
her be. Her eyes fluttered open and closed again as she rolled to
her other side. Her apartment. She’d made it back late last night
and only half closed the blinds before dropping onto her
bed.

Rays of
sunshine reminded her the day had already begun. She rolled onto
her back, grabbed her phone off the nightstand and scrolled through
her messages.

Julie
had sent her a selfie shot of the two of them. Her dark brown
curls, hazel eyes and tanned skin made Charity look like she lived
in New York and Julie lived in Atlanta. Both of them were smiling
and for a selfie, the picture had turned out really
good.

She
scrolled down the picture and read the message:

Great catching up yesterday. Let’s plan on going out at
night next time you are here. So glad you took the job. It’ll be
good for you… and for Dr. Thompson. See you next weekend. Simon’ll
be there too.

Charity
laughed at the last line. Simon would use every excuse in the book
to avoid going. Julie would have to drag him there. Free beer might
tempt him to stay a tad longer.

She
checked her watch. Quick shower, breakfast on the way to her office
and she’d have the whole day to work.

Forty
minutes later she stepped off the elevator and headed to her
office. This floor at Forever Hope had a number of doctors’ offices
set on it. Malcolm’s office was further down the hall, hers right
by the elevator. It was quiet for a Sunday morning.

She set
the large box she carried on the floor and unlocked the door. The
room had been completely transformed from the first time she’d seen
it just a few days ago. The polished wood floor now gleamed, the
one large wall had been painted with chalk paint, and she’d set up
a shelf on the far side now stocked with chalk, erasers, pens,
paper, and anything else brainstorming meetings might require. A
large round table with comfy office chairs surrounded it. The mini
food bar was stocked with little snacks to tempt anyone who looked
at it. The place looked… perfect.

The box.
She turned around to grab it and nearly collided with
Malcolm. He stood at the doorway, holding the box she’d left
outside. He looked every inch the doctor, dress pants and button up
under a lab coat.

“
Hi, stranger.” He smiled. “I stepped off the elevator and
heard noise coming from this direction. The…” His eyes drifted past
her to the room. “Wow! This looks awesome.”

Charity
stepped to the side. “You really think so? I mean, I love it, but
it’s good to get an outsider’s opinion.”

Malcolm
set the box on the table and pointed to the painted chalk wall. “I
love this. I could use it in my room.”

Charity
smiled. “I’m not sure the chief of Forever Hope needs a scribble
wall. Might not match the professional look of your
room.”

“
Who cares? It’s super cool.” He walked over and took a piece
of chalk out, drawing a little square house and the sun.

“
That’s quite the drawing.”

Malcolm
stepped back and pretended to admire it. “I like to get in touch
with my inner self and basic shapes.”

“
Looks like a Picasso.” She had to press her lips tight
together to hold in the laughter.

“
You’ve got a very good eye for exquisite art.” He chuckled
before grabbing an eraser and wiping the drawing away. “Need to
keep my secret talent under wraps.”

“
Gotchya.”

“
So what are you doing here on a weekend? I thought you were in
New York?”

“
I got back last night and wanted to get some work done here.
I’m almost finished with the first press release.”

“
Did you settle on a catch phrase?”

She
pulled the file out of the box and set it on the table. “I actually
have a few ideas. No major tongue twisters, but I do like the idea
of something people can easily remember. It’s going to end up being
the theme for the next two years.”

Malcolm
sat in one of the leather chairs and leaned back. He tested the
rollers on the seat. “I may be stealing one of these and leaving my
office chair in its place.”

“
Artist and thief? That’s a deadly combination.” Charity sat
down across from him. “What do you think of Fixing Hope? Or Hope
Reborn?”

“
Hope Reborn sounds interesting.”

“
I have a few more. I started with finishing a catchy phrase
with the word hope. Except hope is used everywhere. So I came up
with a few phrases using forever. Forever Hopeful, and a bunch more
like that. Nothing puts the hospital as the focus. You guys perform
miracles here, you save people’s lives.” She snapped her fingers.
“That’s it!”

Malcolm
glanced around. “What’s it?”

“
Saving Forever. We’re saving the hospital and fixing it just
like the doctors here save patients.” She scribbled it down on the
top of the first page. “Simple, relatable and
remember-able.”

“
It’s perfect.” He grinned, his eyes bright with mischief. “If
people will remember it, why are you writing it down?”

“
I don’t know. Force of habit probably.” She set the pen down.
“So why are you in today?”

“
I’m on call and I also scheduled a surgery for a patient who
can’t wait.”

She
didn’t want to be curious but she couldn’t help. She hadn’t quit
med school because she didn’t love what it was about. “Can’t
wait?”

He
pointed at her. “Dr. Thompson’s daughter is a chip off the old
block, I believe.” He leaned forward, excited. “She’s thirteen and
is about to regain her sight.”

“
No freakin’ way!? Very cool.”

“
I know! I love this job. She lost it from an accident about
eight months ago and the swelling has finally gone done enough to
remove the scar tissue. She has minimal blurry vision, but after
today… well let’s just say she’ll be able to see her date for
prom.” He stood. “Unfortunately, I need to get ready. I don’t want
to make her wait any longer.” He paused by the door. “I got the
message regarding you helping your father with a charity night for
his birthday. I’m sure it’ll be a big success. When you’re here on
a weekend let me know, there are some local restaurants you need to
try out.”

Still
thinking about the girl about to go in surgery, Charity nodded her
head. “Sure. I’ll be up in New York next weekend, but if everything
goes well, I should be around the following one.”

“
Let me know. Have a great day.” He smiled and closed the door
as he left.

She sat
up quickly. Had Malcolm just asked her out?

Chapter 9

I’ll drive, Dad.
Why had she offered? Her flight had arrived about
an hour and a half ago. Since then she’d basically run a whirlwind
marathon. She’d checked into her hotel, met with the owner of the
heritage building, gone over dates, and promised she would give the
guy a definite location and deposit by the end of the evening. So
she had to rush to the hospital and convince her father to see the
location. Her gut told her this was the place; now she had to get
her father to agree.

Charity
parallel parked the car and reached for her purse to get change for
the parking meter. They had just spent the last fifteen minutes in
silence. She had pretended to focus on the roads; her dad appeared
busy on his phone.

She
tightened her jacket belt and walked around the car to the parking
meter. As her father got out, he slipped his phone into his breast
pocket.

“
The parking garage is less than a block away.” She pointed in
the south east direction. “People will be able to park there. From
previous experience, I’ve dealt with a taxi service and have been
able to hire two or three drivers for an evening. We pay the taxi a
flat fee for the evening. It’s only for driving people home.” They
began walking to the old theatre, passing beautiful, old heritage
houses and offices as they made their way. “It’s a bit of a cost
but a big win in the end. People who have been drinking don’t risk
driving, those who took a taxi down get the benefit of not having
to pay for one home – which tends to get them spending more at the
benefit and it gives them something to talk about. It sounds silly,
I know, but it works.”