Heart Like Mine Read Free Page B

he’s not intentionally ignoring you. Just saying.”
    â€œI’ll check.” Delaney clicked into the system that listed current inpatient numbers. When she got to the pediatric floor, her eyes widened. “Holy—”
    â€œExactly.” Megan raised her eyebrows.
    â€œWe don’t even have that many pediatric beds.”
    â€œI know. They had to move a couple of the teenagers up to adult floors to make space.”
    Delaney clicked back through the past month, and the patient counts went up and down a little bit, but not much.
    â€œI’m just saying—this could be why Dr. Mackenzie hasn’t called back.” Megan leaned close to Delaney and plucked open her top button. “Which means you, third floor, this afternoon. He’s clearly isn’t coming to you.”
    Delaney felt the chills creep down her spine. She had never actually been on Mercy’s pediatric floor—had never been on any pediatric floor—not since Parker had died.
    â€œDelaney? You okay?” Megan’s brow creased as she studied Delaney’s face. “You are six shades of white, girl. Does talking to non-executive-suite people make you this scared?”
    â€œNo.” Delaney’s voice came out in a whisper.
    â€œOh.” Megan’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, God. I’m sorry.” She squeezed her eyes shut. “I’m so sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”
    Delaney nodded slowly. “It’s okay. It’s been—a long time since he died. Not like you would think of it.”
    â€œBut I should have. I’m really sorry.” Megan tried to look into her eyes, but Delaney’s felt all shifty. “Do you want me to go with you?”
    â€œNo, Meg. I don’t want to go at all.”
    â€œBut—”
    â€œI know. He’s not coming to me.” She took a deep breath, blowing it out slowly. Maybe it wouldn’t be horrible. Maybe she wouldn’t melt into a panic-puddle at the elevator doors. Maybe she wouldn’t see Parker everywhere she looked.
    Maybe pigs flew.
    She looked left, looked right, picked up a pile of papers on her desk, put them back down three inches from their original spot when she noticed her hands were shaking.
    Dammit.
    She had a job to do, and in order to do that job, she needed Dr. Mackenzie’s cooperation. And in order to get his cooperation, apparently she was going to have to hunt the man down on his own turf.
    She took a deep breath. She had to just—go. Get in that elevator, punch the three, and brace herself.
    â€œI’ll be okay. I will.” She stood up.
    â€œYou’re going now ?”
    â€œI have to.” Delaney put a hand on her stomach, trying to hold in the grasshoppers she pictured trying to body-slam their way out. “I’ve got a deadline. Dr. Mackenzie’s not really giving me a choice.”
    â€œYou sure you don’t want me to come?”
    Delaney smiled at her, but it was forced, and she knew Megan could see right through her. “The executive suite already takes enough crap for being disconnected from the realities of everyday life at Mercy. I probably shouldn’t risk people thinking I need an escort to find my way to the third floor.”
    â€œI’m your assistant, though. It would look completely normal for me to come with you—to take notes, or whatever.”
    â€œI appreciate it. Really. But I need to go by myself. I should have done it long ago. I’ll be fine.”
    Megan didn’t comment—just sent her eyebrows upward.
    â€œOkay, I won’t be fine. I’ll survive. Better?”
    â€œMore honest, at least. Yes.” Megan pulled Delaney’s notebook from her desk. “Do you have your list of target cuts?”
    â€œI thought we decided I would play nice for the first meeting.”
    â€œThat was our strategy three days ago, honey. We’re running out of time for nice . You’re