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She shrugged and then tossed her blonde hair over her shoulder. “I kept busy.”
So like his mother. She didn’t admit to caring. It infuriated him.
“What’re you doing here, Mother?”
“Saving a life?”
Sam glanced around at the boxes. “Dr. Walker requested your presence? I thought she only just discovered the issue with Baby C in the last week.”
“No Dr. Walker did not request my presence. Gareth did.”
Sam cringed inwardly at his mother’s familiarity with Langley. It was another kick in the pants to him. A reminder about how she and Langley had broken his family apart.
“Again. Why?”
“There’s a patient here in your pediatric ward. One with an inoperable brain tumor.”
“Janie?” Sam asked.
His mother nodded. “Her parents have agreed to allow me to try and resect it using a new technique. That’s why I’m here for some time. If the surgery is successful then I’ll publish a paper and credit Gareth and West Manhattan Saints.”
“How generous of you.” Sam was very familiar with Janie and her family. Janie was one of his special patients and it broke his heart that she had a tumor that was ending her life. He didn’t particularly like the fact that his mother was here and was planning on using poor Janie as a guinea pig to further her research.
“You’re mad that I requested you,” his mother said.
“I don’t want anyone to know that you’re my mother. You know that and you agreed to those conditions if you were to ever come here.”
His mother snorted. “I really don’t know why.”
“I want to earn this fellowship on my own.”
His mother snorted again and moved to sit behind her desk. “Really a waste.”
“Pediatrics is a waste?”
“No.”
“Then a waste of my talent?”
His mother shrugged. “I wouldn’t know. I’ve never seen you operate, but given that you’re my child I would assume that you have decent surgical abilities.”
Sam rolled his eyes. “How generous of you to compliment me.”
“You’re being immature.”
“Why did you request me?”
“To test your surgical abilities. Chief Langley speaks very highly of you and I want to see if you live up to his praise.”
“I don’t need to live up to anyone’s expectations. I came here to learn under Dr. Chang.”
His mother snorted. “You could be extraordinary. Brain surgery is cutting edge. If your abilities are as good as Gareth says they are then you’re just wasting your talent in pediatrics. Do you want to settle for the ordinary?”
“Aye. I do.”
His mother shook her head and then picked up a file, effectively dismissing him as she opened it up and began to read. “You’re on my service. There’s no point in arguing about it.”
“I would rather not be.”
“If you raise a stink don’t you think people will question why you don’t want to work with me?”
She had a point.
“Fine,” he agreed grudgingly, but he was not happy. Not that she cared. His mother only cared about herself.
“Good. Well, if we’re done talking I’d rather like to get to work.”
“Of course, Mother.” Sam opened the door and barged out, slamming it behind him. As he turned around he crashed right into Mindy.
“Dr. Napier!” She gasped in surprise.
“I’m sorry, Dr. Walker. What’re you doing here?”
“Bringing Dr. Hanley the information she requested on Baby C. Is she busy?”
“Yes, but I’m sure she’ll want to see the file.”
Mindy glanced up at him and frowned. “Are you okay, Sam?”
He frowned. “Perfectly.”
He wanted to tell her he wasn’t fine. That he was annoyed, but if he did then he would have to tell her that Dr. Hanley was his mother and then the whole story about his mother and Langley would come out.
The only people at West Manhattan Saints that knew about his situation were Langley and Dr. Chang. Sam knew that Dr. Chang wouldn’t say anything and he thought Langley had enough couth not to say anything either.
After all, his mother had eventually made him a cuckold as well. Still, there was no reason to take it out on Mindy, but he really didn’t want to get into it right now. He just had to go somewhere and calm down. Maybe do some charting in a broom closet.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine. Good day, Dr. Walker.” He walked away from her, brushing her off. It hurt him to do it, but it was for the best.
This kind of situation was why he didn’t want to get involved with anyone he worked with. Messes like this. Rumors and secrets. He was here to practice medicine, not fall in love.
Who said anything about love?
Sam cursed under his breath.
He knew he had to get out of there and put some distance between him and his mother.
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