“I can appreciate that,” Noah said. “Let me ask you a question about my part in this fiasco. After going over this case as you have, do you think I was right when I went ahead and put the patient on emergency cardiac bypass?”
“I do,” Ava said. “No question. Had you not done so, the patient absolutely would have died before we could have bronchoscoped him and got oxygen into his lungs. His oxygen saturation was awful. He was in cardiac arrest. Putting him on cardiac bypass was a necessary and heroic decision, and you should be commended for it even if ultimately it was unsuccessful.”
“Dr. Mason threatened to suggest I was the one who killed the patient,” Noah said, with his own touch of emotion.
“Nonsense,” Ava snapped. “That’s because he was embarrassed he didn’t or couldn’t do it. He was just standing there wringing his hands as the patient’s oxygen level was plummeting.”
“Thank you,” Noah said. “I appreciate your opinion. It is reassuring.”
“So when are you going to talk with Dr. Mason?”
Noah shrugged. “I guess as soon as I can. He has patients in the hospital right now, and when he does, he usually comes in on Saturday. I’ll try to work up my courage and talk to him tomorrow.”
“Tread lightly, my friend,” Ava said with obvious empathy.
A wry smile appeared on Noah’s face. “Tread lightly! Those were the same words Dr. Mason used when he warned me about my presentation.”
“Sorry,” Ava said. “Let me change that to: ‘Prepare well’! To help you, we should get together again after you speak with Dr. Mason. I am here this weekend, so let me know if you get to speak with him. Meanwhile, I will give the whole mess more thought. I’m certain you will, too. The more prepared you are, the better. Agreed?”
“Absolutely,” Noah said.
“This case is disturbing for both of us,” Ava said. “Nonetheless, it’s been great talking with you. Thank you for being willing to come over here to my home. I’m really glad you approached me. I had thought about approaching you but felt reluctant. I’m not sure why.” She shrugged. “Let’s stay in touch. I’ve given you my mobile number. How about texting me so I have yours? Do you use Facebook or Snapchat?”
“I use Facebook a bit more than Snapchat,” Noah said. “Mostly FaceTime, to be honest.”
“We can use Facebook. The name I use is Gail Shafter.” Ava gestured for Noah to precede her out of the room. They started down the main stairs.
“You don’t use your real name?”
“I don’t,” Ava admitted. “On LinkedIn I do, but on the other social-media sites I don’t. I’ll explain it more to you sometime if you are interested.”
“I’m interested,” Noah said.
“I don’t think we should be seen talking together in the hospital come Monday, when I will be back for my next shift. It would surely start the gossip mill we both can’t stand. We also don’t want Dr. Mason to get wind that we have been talking. Agreed?”
“Absolutely,” Noah said. “One last thing: Assuming I am successful in corralling Dr. Mason tomorrow, what time would you like to get together?”
“How about tomorrow night at the same time, at eight,” Ava said. “We could even get take-out again if you are up for it.”
“That would be terrific,” Noah said. “Apart from an unexpected disaster at the hospital, I will be here.”
They had reached the front door, and being the social nerd he knew he was, he felt suddenly flustered and self-conscious about how to end this pleasant evening. He hadn’t expected to like her as much as he did. Should he shake hands, give her a hug, or what? Luckily, Ava came to his rescue. She leaned forward and pressed her cheeks one after the other against his and made a hushed kissing sound, making him realize how much more cosmopolitan she was than he.
“Thank you again for coming over,” Ava said, straightening back. “You have made my evening.”
Noah could feel himself blush. “And you mine,” he managed. “It’s been a delight.” Then, gathering up his courage, he said, “One last question: You have a charming accent, but I just can’t place it. Where are you from?”
“You’re too kind,” Ava said with a laugh. “Lubbock, Texas. And you?”
“Scarsdale, New York,” Noah said. “Westchester County.”
Fearing he was acting like a smitten teenager, Noah mumbled a good night. Halfway down the front steps he turned and waved. Ava waved back and closed the door.
“What a jerk,” Noah mumbled, castigating himself for his social awkwardness. Yet he felt great. As he walked back toward his apartment in the soft summer night, he felt an excitement he’d not felt since high school with his very first love, Liz Nelson. Right under his nose had been a person with whom he now felt a strong connection of mutual interests, particularly a 100 percent commitment to medicine, not just as a career but as a way of life. He had been impressed when he overheard her give her mobile number to the nurse in the PACU and when he learned she religiously worked on her anesthesia recertification every day. He was also impressed that she had rescued cats from the animal shelter. And on top of all that, Noah had to admit that she was a pleasure to look at, even seductive. Noah had no idea if their friendship would continue and maybe even grow after the M&M, but if it did, he was confident he would never have to explain to Ava why he had to spend as much time at the hospital as he did. In that important way, Ava would be the opposite of Leslie Brooks, who had never understood.
Arriving at his building on Revere Street, Noah hesitated before keying the front door. For a moment he considered dashing over to the hospital just to check on things. But then he admitted he was being far too compulsive. If there was a problem that the chief resident, Tom Bachman, couldn’t handle, he would have called. Noah sensed that his showing up unannounced and unrequested might be interpreted by Tom as a lack of confidence, something Noah did not want to communicate. Once again, Noah was realizing just how much diplomacy and psychology were involved in being the super chief.