Read Online Heart Like Mine by Maggie McGinnis - Free Book Online Page B

if it was awful that she was enjoying his momentary discomfort as he wondered just what she’d put on the list this time. “I’d like to do some observing first, to see if my ideas hold water. Then we can talk.”
    He nodded slowly, sipping his coffee. “I guess that’s the best I can ask, given the situation.”
    â€œAgreed. And in the future, I’d really like to be involved in any conversation about what I will or won’t be doing on your floor. I’m not sure me mucking in is an approach that will help us meet our goals here.”
    She hid her hands under the desk as she realized they’d started shaking. What did mucking in mean, exactly? She was completely unqualified to do anything medical—they knew that, right? She was okay with interacting with patients—in a quiet, nonmedical, just-observational way—but that was it.
    Her goal for the week was to study their staffing models up close, examine their training programs, and conduct as many interviews as possible so she could make her recommendations with as clear a conscience as possible.
    She didn’t do anything halfway, and she hoped Dr. Mackenzie realized that.
    â€œTrust me. It’s the only way you’re going to really understand.” He sipped the coffee in his hand. “And no offense, but having my staff see somebody care enough to spend a week on the floor will be a refreshing change for them. I’m sure you realize there’s a certain level of distrust between patient floors and the executive suite here.”
    She tried not to bristle at his words. Distrust? Really? Did anyone on pediatrics have any idea how much money she’d helped bring to that floor over the past five years? Any idea how many grants she’d researched, proposed, and spent countless hours attaining? Any idea how many hours she’d sat in this office-with-a-view trying to figure out how to keep a pediatric department that ran on a razor’s-edge budget from going under?
    She didn’t think so. Even Dr. Mackenzie seemed unaware of just how hard she’d been working behind the scenes. To him, she was a signature on paperwork, and looking at his desk last week, it was pretty clear the man never had a chance to read said paperwork.
    Delaney took a steadying breath. “Dr. Mackenzie, no offense right back at you, but I think you—and your staff—need to be careful of your assumptions. There are a lot of people in this hospital who care about pediatrics. I can assure you you’re not the only one trying to make things work here.”
    â€œI know.” He put up a defensive hand. “I do.”
    She raised her eyebrows. “I can’t say I’ve ever agreed to move into anyone else’s closet, after all.”
    â€œOffice.”
    She tipped her chin down and raised her eyebrows. “That is a closet.”
    â€œFine. It’s a closet. In my defense, though, it is the only empty four-by-four space on the entire floor. And in my further defense, if you’re going to be down there anyway, we don’t want you hiding in an office.”
    Delaney sat back in her chair. “What is it, exactly, that you think I should do?”
    â€œGlad you asked.” He smiled, and her bristly feeling faded quickly. “We discussed a number of possibilities. I think today we’ll let you just observe at will. Tomorrow I’ll probably assign you to a staff member to shadow.”
    â€œYou’ll assign me? Really?”
    â€œDoes that bother you?” He raised his eyebrows. “Not used to being directed, Delaney?”
    She felt her eyes narrow. “How about we keep firmly in mind that I agreed to spend a week down there of my own volition?”
    He sighed, putting his head back. “Listen, let’s just see if we can make this work, okay? It’s way too early in the morning to do the verbal-sparring thing.”
    She felt a smile poking at the