Page 9 (1/2)

Author: Robyn Carr

It was tio back She turned and went back across the beach to town She peeked in the diner and when she saw Sarah and Lou sitting there with another woman, she went in She was introduced to Ray Anne, a se as Lou but so different in appearance--bleached hair, sexy clothes and flashy, while Lou was attractive in a much more sedate and conservative way

"Sarah, I want to talk with the doctor for a second before we leave I’ll be right back"

"Sure, Devon," Sarah said, looking a little bewildered

Taking a couple of deep breaths as she crossed the street, she went back into the open house The crowd had thinned a little Dr Grant was talking to Mac, Lou’s nephew Dr Grant held his daughter on his hip She stood back a bit, a little nervous, until bothand turned her way, their brows raised in question

"Dr Grant, I’ve been looking for openings, for work, and as it happens I’ve worked in a doctor’s office It’s been a long time, just over five years, and I was only part-tis a medical secretary does I answered the phones, I’ulation, have filed insurance claims, scheduled appointood job, but she closed her practice It was just less than a year of experience but it was an ob-gyn practice and there are hardly any crazier, ets called out a lot for deliveries, leaving people waiting So, if you’re looking for someone I mean, would you consider me? If there’s no one else? I heard you say you didn’t have anyone and"

He smiled at her "I’d love to talk about it," he said "Can you co?"

She let out her breath Even though she ell aware he h she’d just shed thirty pounds! "Yes," she said "If you’re sure"

"I’d love to hear more about your short career in obstetrics," he said with a laugh "I’ll be here by eight and stay till five or so Anytime you’re free"

"Thank you," she said in a breath "I’ll, ah, see you Monday Yes And thanks for letting lad you stopped in"

After better than a year of pounding the pave for work in Seattle, followed by four years in a cos of vulnerability and fear rose to the surface once again

She had worried all weekend about what to say, how to say it, how to talk about her work history with that long five-year gap and not co like sole to find eht the poor, jobless, homeless citizens were all drunks, addicts, lazy or lunatics They didn’t recognize how many of them were senior citizens, war veterans and other victih rate of business closures and escalating uneh for anyone to find work Many of the jobless ell educated and hardworking, just like herself

Though she was very nervous about herwith Dr Grant, she was also detere to see it through He said, "Listen here, miss If you find yourself a job, it’s a start And if you don’t get the job, it don’t ain"

"I just don’t knohy you’re so kind to er," she said

"Like I told you before, I been on your end of things and I have a lot to pay back And two, you ain’t hardly a stranger anyave her a lift across the beach to town first thing in thewhen Dr Grant unlocked his office door He was surprised and seemed pleased to see her While he brewed soeneral things--how she liked the beach, the town, the people she’dhe’d been in Thunder Point and was very surprised to learn he’d only been in Oregon for about a year, working in Bandon, and had found a house to rent in Thunder Point only a inally frorew up"

When the coffee was brewed they sat down at the small table and Dr Grant explained that he needed so a wide variety of tasks He was looking for soe the office; field phone calls; keep ahead of the paperwork; schedule patients; call in prescriptions and keep the office open six days a week, even though he would only be in for four of those days

"I have two small children, my wife is deceased and I have another part-tiement skills to help me make the best use of my time, so that I can take care ofI need soht your children to the open house--I thought she must be your wife?" Devon asked

"My babysitter," he said with a laugh "I’d be lost without her Her na ti you think you can do?"

Devon stood and pulled a piece of paper from her back pocket

"Resume?" he asked

She shook her head "Ifor Dr Stadler Iene Stadler, if you want to try to locate her She closed her office and joined an OB group, which left several of us out of work" Then Devon detailed for Dr Grant her extensive list of experience--filing; transcribing; writing prescriptions for the doctor to sign; taking patient histories; processing referrals; answering phones, to name a few "There were times I was needed in the exam room as a chaperone and I learned to hand instruh lab tests, put results in charts and generally made sure Dr Stadler had what she needed Then there were things that just happened unexpectedly--the doctor’s seven-year-old threw up at school and I went to get her We had an elderly patient suffer a stroke in the waiting roo I did! I called ood number of OB patients want to see the doctor to ask if they’re really in labor Never a good idea If you have to ask" She shrugged Then she handed hi I can relanced at it "Great You appear to be well qualified"

"I have a degree froton--early childhood developarten very briefly It was a private school and it closed when funding ran out"

"Is that your goal? To teach again?"

"I did love it, but these days any job is a good job And I also liked working in the doctor’s office veryfor," he said with a s herself She sat straighter in her chair and lifted her chin "I have a three-year-old and no babysitter Yet, that is--I decided to find work before I looked for a sitter"