Tessa's Gift. Cerella Sechrist

of rejection. She had only been trying to build a bridge between them, since they had to work together.

      She made one more effort to get past whatever dislike Dr. Brennan had for her.

      “I’m sorry, did I say something wrong?”

      He tossed his wadded-up napkin onto his tray.

      “No.”

      The denial did nothing to reassure her.

      “Dr. Brennan, I have apologized for yesterday, but if I have done something else to offend you, I would prefer you tell me. Like it or not, we have to work together, and I think it’s best if we make an effort to get along.”

      He fixed her with a cool stare, but she refused to be cowed by him. She stared right back.

      “I’m here to do a job,” he said, “and distractions like marketing are detrimental to the care of my patients. I understand we need to work together, but you and I don’t have to be best friends in order to do that. We’re both professionals, and I expect we can manage just fine on that level.”

      Her cheeks were flaming with embarrassment and anger by the time he was finished. She had never met anyone so presumptive, so arrogant. She stood to her feet, as well, disliking how he still loomed over her.

      “I suppose we can,” she returned, keeping her own tone cool, “but I’ll remind you that the very definition of ‘working together’ implies cooperation. I haven’t been here long enough to see how you run your department, Doctor, but you don’t strike me as much of a team player. So may I remind you that a medical community is just that—a community. We rely on each other, elevate each other and encourage one another. But especially, we work hand in hand to provide the best care possible to our patients. You say marketing is a detriment to your job, but you can’t care for those kids without help from others. You are not their one and only savior. Therefore, I’ll expect you to be an active participant in whatever scenario I present you with.”

      He blinked, looking surprised. She didn’t blame him. She’d shocked herself with that little speech. She wasn’t naturally a forceful person. In her family, that was usually Paige. And, if pressed, maybe Harper. But never Tessa. Apparently, Noah Brennan had brought it out of her.

      “The next time I see you, Dr. Brennan, I hope you have a very different attitude than the one I’ve seen thus far.”

      She picked up her lunch tray, and with one last glance at Noah Brennan’s startled expression, she turned on her heel and left.

       CHAPTER FOUR

      “THANKS, DIANA,” Tessa said as she slipped Rufus’s monthly flea and tick meds into her purse. She’d stopped in at the clinic after work, using the errand as an excuse to check in with her former coworkers. Her week with Dr. Brennan had been rough, making her miss the simple joy, albeit accompanied by hard work, of dealing with four-legged patients.

      Diana came around the counter to kneel down and greet the bulldog. He wiggled his behind in greeting.

      “Sure thing, honey. I’m glad you stopped in. We’ve been wondering how you’re doing at that new job of yours.”

      Diana reached out to drag her famously long nails across Rufus’s spine. He groaned with pleasure.

      Tessa thought about Dr. Brennan and their most recent altercation. She liked her job, but she wasn’t sure about the pediatric oncologist. The man was perplexing, leaving her emotions in a tangle. His self-righteousness was irritating, but she couldn’t shake the feeling there was more to him than that. The way he’d spoken about hope... She’d been unable to get the words out of her head.

       Do you know what hope is? It’s a disease.

      The idea made her shudder. Not only because of the heartbreaking defeat it promoted but also because it made her certain Noah Brennan must have suffered something truly devastating in his life. How was she possibly going to deal with him over the course of the next year? And would she ever be able to win him to her side?

      “Tessa?”

      She snapped to attention.

      “What?”

      Diana frowned at her. “I asked how the new job was going?”

      “Oh. Right.” She cleared her throat. “Um, good. I’m working on a bunch of fund-raising ideas right now to present to the hospital board.”

      Diana beamed. “Good for you, honey. We all knew you’d do all right.” Diana originally hailed from the South, and despite having lived in Findlay Roads for twenty-plus years, she still carried a slight twang when she spoke.

      “Thanks. I appreciate the vote of confidence.”

      Rufus jumped up on Diana, placing his paws on her knees in a bid for attention. She reached down to scratch behind his ears.

      “How are things here at the clinic?” Tessa asked.

      Diana made a face. “Well, we’re understaffed as usual, sugar. Alexis up and quit without notice last week.”

      Tessa furrowed her brow. “Really? I thought she loved working here.”

      Diana waved a hand in dismissal. “She did, but her boyfriend decided he’s moving to New Mexico, so she’s going with him.”

      Diana had a penchant for gossip, and she filled the next twenty minutes with details on Alexis’s sudden departure, along with several other items of interest. Tessa listened politely but didn’t add anything to Diana’s dialogue. She’d learned that it was best to just let Diana talk, and eventually she’d run out of things to say.

      Fortunately, this happened sooner than expected when a mom and her little boy stepped into the clinic, and Diana was forced to assist them.

      The mom began chatting with Diana, but her son honed in on Rufus immediately and asked if he could pet him.

      “Sure,” Tessa agreed. The boy looked to be around ten, and something about him reminded her of Kyle Miller, one of the hospital’s leukemia patients. He had the same smattering of freckles across his nose. “He likes to have his belly rubbed,” Tessa suggested, and hearing these words, Rufus obligingly sprawled out on the clinic floor and rolled over.

      The boy laughed and knelt down to run his palms up and down Rufus’s abdomen.

      “What’s his name?” he asked.

      “Rufus. And I’m Tessa.” She joined him on the floor and ran her own fingers over Rufus’s fur.

      “I’m Jeremy.” He was quiet for a minute, but he kept rubbing his hand up and down Rufus. “I had a dog once,” he finally offered. “She died.”

      Tessa clicked her tongue in disappointment. “I’m sorry, Jeremy. That’s tough, losing a pet. But I bet another animal would love to come and live with you.”

      “Yeah,” he agreed. Rufus seemed to sense the boy’s disappointment. The dog rolled himself back over and stood up on all fours, looking at Jeremy with sad eyes.

      Suddenly, Jeremy reached out and wrapped his arms around the dog’s neck. Rufus just stood there and let himself be squeezed. It seemed to cheer Jeremy up. After a minute, he released her bulldog and stood back up. He was smiling.

      His mother had concluded whatever business she’d come in for and had turned to leave. “Jeremy, are you ready to go?”

      “Yeah.” He stroked Rufus’s back one last time before standing. “See ya later, Rufus.”

      As he faced the door, his mom looked over her shoulder to mouth a “Thank you” to Tessa.

      She nodded and stood. Diana was watching her.

      “That was good for Jeremy. He’s had it rough the last year.”