Mine at Last (18 page)

“Yes, of course you will. I’m on my way home right now. How about us having dinner tomorrow evening?”

“Yes, that’s sounds terrific.”

“Perfect. I’ll call Mae and Wanda and see if they’re available to join us.”

“That sounds great,” Shauna said.

“And maybe you can get the good doctor to come, as well.”

“I don’t know about that. He may have to work. As head of the department, his hours are always unpredictable.”

“Well, ask anyway, just in case.”

“Yes, I will.”

“And speaking of the good doctor, how is he?”

Shauna smiled to herself. “He’s great, amazing, actually.”

“Great, amazing. Wow, it sounds like you two got to know each other just a little.”

“Maybe a bit more than just a little,” Shauna said.

“Does he make you happy?”

“Yes, very much,” Shauna said.

“Shauna...”

“Pearl, I know what you’re gonna say. Yes, I do love him. I always have. I don’t know, maybe I always will. But being with him these last two weeks has been a dream come true for me. I wish what we have right now could last forever, but it can’t, and I can be happy with fond memories.”

“No, you can’t. Sweetheart, I told myself the same thing years ago. I was wrong and I’m not going to lie to you or have you lie to yourself. I can’t have you think that the memory of love will suffice, because it won’t. You need more. You deserve more,” Pearl said, then took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “But we’ll talk when I get home later. I’ll call you.”

“Okay,” Shauna said. “Pearl, are you okay? You sound tired.”

“It’s been a long week and a half. I’ll be fine as soon as I get home. We’ll talk then.”

“Okay, see you tomorrow night.”

Just as she ended her call, there was a knock on the conference room door. “Come in,” she called out.

The door opened and Dominik looked in. “May I come in?”

She smiled. “Sure.”

He closed the door behind him and walked straight to her. She stood smiling. He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her long and lovingly. “Mmm, that was good,” he said. “I’ve been waiting to do that all day.”

She giggled as he caressed her rear. “I saw you in the cafeteria earlier. You had the look in your eyes. If anyone saw the way you were looking at me from across the room...”

“What look?” he asked, still leering.

She smiled at the hunger still in his eyes. “That look.”

“Oh, you mean this look.” He kissed her again. “I can’t wait to get you home tonight,” he whispered close to her ear, then nibbled her lobe.

“Oh,” she said, leaning back but still interested.

He nodded and raked his lower lip with his teeth. “Oh, yeah.”

“What do you have planned?”

“A romantic dinner and then strip poker,” he said. “You won the last game and I want a rematch. So, what time are you gonna be ready?”

“If I remember correctly, we both won that game. But actually, I’m gonna stay a little later tonight to finish up a couple of things.”

“Okay. I’m on my way to Margaret’s office. I’ll see you later. Clothing is optional.”

She laughed. “Go, leave. I have work to do.” He turned to go. “Oh, wait,” she called to him. He turned, smiling.

“Want to play now? I’m sure I can find a deck of cards.”

“You are so bad. No, but I spoke to Pearl earlier and she asked if you’d like to join us for dinner tomorrow night. The Pennington sisters will be there, as well.”

“Yeah, I would. That sounds great.”

She nodded. “Thanks. I’ll tell her and text you the address.”

“Okay, see you later.”

Shauna watched him go and wondered what she was going to do when it was her turn to walk away. Her plans were set. She was leaving in three days. One last weekend was all she had left.

* * *

Dominik headed to Margaret’s office. He was walking on air. Everything was perfect. He waved at the receptionist as he headed back to the administrative offices. He knocked on Dr. Gilman’s door and waited. She called out for him to enter a few seconds later. “Hi, Margaret. You wanted to see me?”

“Dominik, come on in and have a seat.”

He sat down. “So, what’s going on?”

“Two things. One, I recently heard from a contact of mine at the Cura Medical Group. Apparently the review being done here isn’t showing in our favor. Shauna Banks has discussed some preliminary findings with her associate, Simon Patterson. At this point, with this knowledge, we’re assuming the Cura Group will pass on making an offer to purchase this facility,” she said.

Dominik nodded his understanding. He wasn’t surprised by her findings. The medical center had been mismanaged for years. Dr. Bowman was only the tip of the iceberg. And although Margaret, new to her position as director, was steadily cleaning up what had gone on for years, the damage had been done. “I understand.”

“As I’m sure you already know, I’m not at all happy about this and neither is the board. We don’t have the funds to keep this hospital open long if this deal doesn’t go through. If you have any influence on Shauna, like I hear you do, then I suggest you change her mind fast whether you agree with this buyout or not. It needs to happen. This place needs a buyer. We need funding.”

“So, if Cura falls through, can the board get another buyer?”

She shook her head. “No, we’re in too far and we’re on a shoestring budget right now. We don’t have time to start this process all over again. We were lucky to so quickly develop a relationship with Cura and have their interest. I can’t see that happening again, not in our time frame. More than likely the board of directors will just drag this out to the end and let it go. I’m concerned about this community. There’s no other place to go and get good, reliable medical attention.”

“I agree. There’s no other hospital close by to take over the lead.”

“Obviously this is not official, but it’s apparent Shauna will not be recommending us and I think it has something to do with her mother’s death. It has become blatantly clear that she never wanted Cura to buy this medical center and I believe I just found out why. You were right about her mother’s files. And in anticipation of this going south, I have been instructed by the board to file a preemptive report citing emotional and discriminatory practices by Shauna Banks.”

“What?” Dominik asked.

“I had no choice. I turned in my findings to the board and they drafted a response. It will hopefully save the hospital by giving us another chance with Cura, and I assume that’s still what you want.”

Dominik frowned. “Of course I want to save the hospital, but damaging someone’s reputation and possibly their career is a huge price to pay. She’s right, this facility is a huge risk. If Cura buys it just to resell, that’s not going to help us.”

“Still, you were right. This is personal for Shauna. It looks like she’s deliberately closing us down out of revenge for her mother’s death.”

“No, I don’t believe that.”

“Believe it. After her mother died, she filed a wrongful-death suit alleging hospital negligence complicit with her mother’s medical care. In other words, she sued us for malpractice.”

“Why would she file a malpractice suit?”

“It was alleged in transcripts that her mother came to the E.R., waited several hours, was seen and then sent home. She returned an hour later in more pain than earlier. She waited a few more hours in the E.R., which ultimately aided and accelerated her eventual demise.”

“Did she? Were we responsible?” he asked.

“I don’t know. It’s not for us to say or to speculate now. Neither of us knows what happened that night. Triage could have missed the signs. Also, there could have been a number of equally urgent medical emergencies going on at the time. But the bottom line is, the hospital board reviewed and examined the situation and ruled the hospital and doctors faultless.”

“We examined and ruled on ourselves. That’s rich,” he said sarcastically. “No wonder she sued.”

“No judgments. That was a long time ago.”

“Not to a young girl about to start her life with the only parent she had left. No wonder she does what she does. She’s trying to help the next person sitting in the E.R. waiting to die with help in the next room but unable to get it.”

“That’s all well and good, but her intent now seems to be closing down this place. That said, we officially informed the Cura Group of her history with this facility. They assured me that they will look into the situation. We didn’t see any other alternative.”

“What about patient confidentiality?”

“Her mother was our patient. She’s dead. It doesn’t apply.”

Dominik shook his head. “Ethically that’s a thin line. We’re still betraying a medical confidence for gain—even if that gain is to save the hospital.”

“It can’t be helped. We’re talking about the needs of the many here. Can the doctors’ clinic handle this center’s closing?”

Dominik shook his head. “No, we can’t absorb the area’s medical needs. We’re already pushed to an overcapacity situation.”

“Exactly,” she said. “So, imagine this medical center closing.”

“There’s got to be another way.”

“There isn’t. It’s already done. This facility is the cornerstone of this community. We not only supply jobs and health care, but we also provide peace of mind. Imagine losing that peace of mind in closing the E.R. The implications are immeasurable. We’re in a critical condition here. Filing bankruptcy is the next step. No, the Cura Medical Group isn’t the best company to buy this place, but they are the only one offering. And right now we’re beggars and we can’t be choosy.” Margaret paused.

Dominik knew this was going to be a major blow to Shauna. Not only did she still blame this medical center for her mother’s death, but they were now going to be also responsible for ending her career. Cura was her biggest client. If they showed no faith in her, she could lose everything.

“You said two things. What’s the second?” he asked.

“I haven’t told anyone what’s going on. The board of directors knows, of course, but no one outside of this office. I’m depending on your discretion. I told you because of your close relationship with Shauna,” she said. Dominik looked at her curiously.

“To answer the questions you’re not asking, no, I don’t know specifics, but there are rumors, and I’d have to be blind not to see how you look at her.”

He nodded. “I don’t know what the rumors are, but yes, we’re together, and if I had my way, it would be permanent.”

She nodded. “Far be it from me to tell you what to do in your personal life. That’s not my job. And because neither of you are breaking any hospital ethics rules, it’s none of my business. But I wanted you to know this was happening and like everything else, it will come out. If being permanent, as you say, is your goal, you perhaps need to consider her motives in all this. The lawsuit was thrown out. Now I wonder if she’s come back to finish what she started. Blocking Cura could do just that.”

“Whatever her motives, they aren’t to close this facility.”

“Are you sure? I hope you’re right.”

Dominik knew in his heart Shauna held no malice toward the hospital. “I have to get back to the E.R. Thanks, Margaret. I appreciate the heads-up.” He got up and headed to the office door. Then he turned around. “Margaret, one more thing. Who did she cite in the malpractice suit?”

Margaret sighed heavily. “Harris Bowman.”

Dominik nodded and left.

* * *

Shauna’s cell phone rang. She checked the caller ID. It was her contact, the executive director from the Cura Group. She answered. “This is Shauna Banks.”

“Shauna, it’s Simon Patterson. We need to talk.”

“Yes, we do.”

“I read your review, and quite frankly, we’re disturbed about the whole situation.”

“What do you mean?”

“You compromised this review.”

“Excuse me?” she said.

“We understand you have a personal attachment to this medical center. Your mother died there.”

“Yes, she did, but it’s not at all a personal attachment. I haven’t been back here in over fifteen years.”

“Still, you should have told us. Now it looks like the process is tainted. There’s no way we can justify going in there now. Your judgment in this matter has been compromised.”

“My judgment is just fine, Simon. That’s ridiculous. I have always done my reviews based on facts presented. I have never allowed my personal feelings to come into my reviews and certainly not this one.”

“One of the doctors there seems to think otherwise.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean we have been given an official complaint citing your emotional and discriminatory practices. You’ve been distracted and you’re off the case.”

“What? No,” she said and even as the words left her mouth, she knew that only one person knew about her mother and he was the same man distracting her.

“I’m sorry. Pending a formal investigation, we’re removing you from these proceedings.”

“What about the buy? Are you going forward with it?”

“Taking everything into consideration, there’s no way. I can’t see how we can. We’re passing.”

“I understand,” she said, knowing it was definitely for the best.

“I’ll call you in a few days to let you know of our decision regarding the formal investigation of your actions.”

“Goodbye, Simon.” Shauna just sat there. She was stunned. Dominik had betrayed her and he got exactly what he wanted—Cura out of the picture. Her heart trembled. She couldn’t believe he did this to her. But she couldn’t think about that right now. Key West Medical was running out of time and she needed to step up quickly.

The facts remained. Key West Medical Center was still struggling and according to her assessment would close within a year’s time. She couldn’t let that happen. If Cura wouldn’t buy it, she knew someone else who was just as interested. The only thing stopping them before was the Cura Group’s interest.

She called her contact at Relso Health Care and sent him some information about Key West Medical Center. Unlike the Cura Group, made up of businessmen and lawyers, Relso Health Care was mostly doctors and those in the medical profession. They had a long history of working closely with medical facilities to get them back on their feet and turning a profit.