Yours to Keep by Claudia Burgoa

Chapter Five

Darren

One day,I wonder what would happen if I took a break from my life, including my family. The next, I get a call from a friend and former colleague from John Hopkins, Hayes Aldridge, at five in the morning asking if I could assist him with a major surgery.

After I agree, he says I need to fly to San Diego. He provides a private jet. During the flight, I’m on a videoconference with him and seven more doctors. Our patient is a thirty-year-old male who fell from a rooftop. According to the X-rays we received from the hospital, he broke his back. He also has a knife wound on the right side of his torso.

There are many components as we analyze and formulate a plan on how to operate. We not only have to save his life but also ensure he can walk again. According to the team that flew him to San Diego, he couldn’t feel his body, and he wasn’t in pain. We use an experimental software where we can virtually operate on the patient to see the outcome. When I land, we have a solid plan on how we’re going to execute the surgery. We believe it’s going to take us at least twelve hours.

When I arrive at the hospital, I go directly to the operating room. I don’t ask many questions about the patient, but that doesn’t mean I’m not curious about him. He has a deep wound and many bruises that could’ve only happened during a fight. They dragged the best doctors in their fields in for this surgery. I don’t even know who “they” is. Is it a person, an organization? Seriously, who the fuck is paying for this? Even though Hayes contacted me, he said a third party was offering a high six-figure number to not only perform the surgery but stay until the patient has a recovery plan.

I’m not here for the money, but because Hayes asked for this as a personal favor. It’d be nice to learn that I’m not working for some drug lord, terrorist cell, or the government.

The surgery is a success, but I never doubted it. I suggest we keep the patient in a medically induced coma until the swelling in his spine and head are gone. I can’t tell how severe the nerve damage is. I did a few repairs, but only time will tell if I need to perform a second surgery. There’s always the chance the guy will remain a quadriplegic for the rest of his life, but I don’t say that out loud.

After the surgery, I discover we operated on Hayes Aldridge’s baby brother. Hayes and his brothers are paying our salaries. Who knew the guy was as wealthy as Midas? I’ve known him for years. I know his mother lives in Europe with her second husband, and he had a younger brother who died at the age of twenty-one. In a matter of hours, I find out that he has five more brothers, and his father died last year.

What’s next?

After the surgery, my life feels completely different. Since I have to stick around for at least three weeks, I find something to do. I run every morning by the ocean and donate my time to the free clinic next to the hospital.

Every day is different from my life in San Francisco. I treat all kinds of cases. There are times when I have to send the patients to the hospital, and I pay for their stay because they don’t have insurance, or their insurance doesn’t cover it. I’m reminded of why I studied medicine: To save lives.

Do I make a difference as a neurosurgeon?

Of course, I do, but I don’t do as much as I could since I have to be selective about who I treat. The contract I signed when I bought into the practice where I work says we can’t accept all the cases. Our prices are stratospheric, and not everyone can afford us. I should quit and start my practice. After all, I’m Dr. Darren J. Russell.

I don’t know how I’m going to change the way I operate. There has to be an alternative. I just need to find it soon. Maybe I need to move to a different city or state. I could charge depending on how much the patient can pay. That could be possible.

While I’m in San Diego, I don’t take any calls from my family. By the third week, I have a new routine, and I love it. Unfortunately, it happens when the patient is about to wake up, and I might need to leave the comfort of my new-temporary-comfortable life.

After running several tests on the patient, I confirm the swelling is gone. His brain function is normal. If I didn’t know he was in an induced coma, I’d believe he was awake and chatting with someone else. He’s not.

I follow most of my routine the following day, except I head to the hospital instead of the free clinic. It’s my turn to wean the patient off the medications keeping him in a coma. This is when we find out if everything we did three weeks ago worked in our favor. Well, our patient’s favor.

When I arrive at the conference room, the only person there is Hayes Aldridge.

“Where’s everyone else?” I ask as I arrive at the conference room.

“I want to talk to you before we start the team meeting.”

I arch an eyebrow and grab one of the lattes set up on the side of the room. As I take a seat, I say, “Go ahead.”

“You seem to be working at the free clinic while there’s not much to do.”

I try not to glare at him, but seriously, is he checking up on me and what I do in my free time? He should be talking to the others. What are they doing? I seriously don’t know, and honestly, I don’t give a fuck.

“Is there a problem?”

“Not at all. I’m curious as to why you’re not taking the rest of the day off like everyone else.”

I frown. He’s not making sense. “You don’t take the day off.”

“It’s different.”

“No, it’s not. You’re around because you care.”

“That’s what I’m wondering.” He shrugs a shoulder. “If your family weren’t in San Francisco, I’d offer you a job. We could use you in Baker’s Creek.”

I cock an eyebrow because this sounds interesting. I could use a change of scenery. “Where did you say?”

“Baker’s Creek,” he repeats and explains further. “It’s a small town two hours east of Portland.”

I discreetly cover my mouth, disguising the laughter with a cough. Once I control myself, I clear my throat and ask, “You need a neurosurgeon in a small town?” Unfortunately, I can’t mask the amusement in my voice.

He gives me a glare and answers, “We’re building a hospital. There’s a ski resort. A lot of tourists visit every weekend. And then, there’s also the factory located in Happy Springs. The clinic in Happy Springs and our practice are always busy, and some days, we need to turn away some patients. My wife, who is a nurse practitioner, is about to have our baby. She won’t be able to work for a few months. I need some time off too. We’d love to have someone like you who cares about the patients. We have a shelter, a dispensary, and plenty of people who will pay you with casseroles.”

“Casseroles? As in food?”

He nods and grins. “Exactly. I spoke with my wife and Leyla, she’s my sister-in-law and the one financing the construction of the hospital. We want to offer you a position as the head of neurology. You can work with us in our practice. The pay won’t be as much as what you receive in San Francisco, but we can provide housing.”

He’s serving me everything I’ve thought about for the past three weeks on a silver platter. Well, more like a carton tray because it sounds like he’s going to cut my salary by a lot. However, I won’t have to worry about housing or my family badgering me every three fucking seconds. That increases my quality of life.

Is it crazy that I want to say yes?

I don’t, though because what if I hate the town?

“Can I think about it?”

He nods. “Of course, we have a lot to do here. You can always visit first, or I can get one of my brothers to give you a virtual tour.” He smirks. “That would annoy them.”

“Sounds like something I’d do to my sisters. Sure, make them give me a virtual tour. I want to see every corner of the town. Can they show me the factory?”

“I might even ask them to take you to the convenience store in Happy Springs.” He chuckles, firing a text. “Now, let’s get ready to wake up Beacon.”

I’ve heardabout love at first sight, but I’m a brain guy. I don’t believe in it. However, I have to admit that after taking a tour around Baker’s Creek, I’m in blissful love with the town.

Henry Aldridge, who I learned is the oldest of the brothers and the owner of the luxury hotel chain Merkel Hotels and Spas, gave me the tour. A hot, wealthy CEO carried his tablet all around town, trying to sell me on the place. I met almost all the Aldridge family. His wife, Sophia, is a charming woman who promised to take me to her parents’ house to try the best Mexican food in the Northwest. Like Hayes’s wife, she’s pregnant. However, she’s expecting twins.

I met Pierce, the lawyer, and his wife, Leyla. She’s a veterinarian. She dragged Henry to the barn, where I met all her animals. She also showed me her practice. I met Blaire, Hayes’s wife. I didn’t get to meet the hockey player, Mills Aldridge, or his son. There’s the mention of a sixth brother, Vance. The army guy.

The family could easily make a video advertising the town. Come and Fall in Love with Baker’s Creek. The house they offered me is small but a lot bigger than my apartment in San Francisco.

Though I want to say yes to this offer, I ask for a couple more days to decide.

What if I’m just captivated by this new life I’ve discovered? It wouldn’t be fair to them or myself if I quit and moved back home after a few months.

That afternoon, and as predicted by Hayes Aldridge, Beacon wakes up from the coma. That kid’s metabolism is so fast, I wouldn’t be surprised if he heals faster than we predicted. I’m the first one who runs tests on him.

During one of the evaluations, Beacon asks, “Why can’t we start rehab now? When I broke my arm, I was as good as new after the doctor took off my cast.”

This kid is in a hurry. Hayes has to find a way to slow him down, or he’s going to hurt himself. Though I should break the news and tell him how things are, I don’t. I just laugh. “This is more than breaking one bone.”

“Do. Not. Engage,” Hayes advises. When I turn to look at him confused, he adds, “He’ll continue saying nonsense until he convinces you that he can walk. Just avoid eye contact and keep working.”

“I could if you let me show you.” Beacon dares to challenge us.

“You’re not making sense, kid,” Hayes says. “I’m about to ask for another round of sedatives. Maybe we’ll wake you up in a couple of years.”

He glares at his brother. “Do you have any idea of how many BC festivals I’m missing because you won’t let me go home?”

“BC Festivals?” I frown.

“Baker’s Creek has festivals almost every weekend,” Hayes explains.

Henry said that during the tour. “I thought that was a joke.”

“Nope, it’s real. You should go this weekend and check it out.”

“I should be leaving in a couple of days,” I say. “Maybe I could schedule something for the weekend.”

“What about me?” Beacon protests. “When am I going home?”

“Not today.” I laugh. “I might send you a few pictures of the festival, but only if you follow the doctor’s instructions.”

Beacon glances at me. “Why are you going there?”

“We could use another doctor. The hospital needs a neurosurgeon,” Hayes responds.

“I could use my home and my bed. Take me with you, doc. I promise to behave.”

“If you didn’t have a cute girlfriend, I might take you with me.”

He grins. “Has he met Vance?”

Hayes shakes his head. “Don’t get any ideas, Beacon. Now, shut up. We need to work.”

I wonder why Beacon asked that question, but I focus on my work instead of continuing the conversation. I’m interested in visiting the town. Who knows, maybe that’s exactly what I need in my life.