Page 46 of Maxwell

“What are you having?” her father asked as he continued perusing the options.

“I feel like a roast beef sandwich with a side of potato salad.”

He nodded. “I was looking at that too, but I think I’ll have the BLT with extra bacon.” He closed his menu.

“Extra bacon, Dad?” Jasmine arched an eyebrow.

“Don’t tell your mother and everything should be fine,” he said with a grin.

“You owe me,” Jasmine teased.

The server came by and took their orders, and after he had delivered their iced teas, Dr. Roberson launched into the conversation about work.

“How are things going with Dr. Santana? I know he did an excellent job with the workshop a month ago, but I want to know how he’s doing on the day-to-day tasks. Give me your honest opinion.”

Jasmine appreciated how her father respected her opinion. However, in the case of Maxwell, the situation had turned awkward. For the past two and a half weeks, they had barely spoken. No friendly teasing or joking in the office. They were strictly business. That’s the way it should be—business—but she missed their camaraderie. It didn’t help that she kept comparing Nicholas to him.

She shifted in the chair as she formulated her opinion about Maxwell. “Good so far. He’s following all the office rules and has come up with a few suggestions the medical assistants say they like and plan to implement.”

“Any complaints from the patients?”

“Not at all. As a matter of fact, you know the Smith boy, the four-year-old who hates getting exams?”

“Of course. Every time I examine him, he screams bloody murder,” her father said dryly.

Jasmine rested her chin on her hand. “Well, I have good news. Keisha said his mother called the other day and wanted to know if the new doctor will be there when he comes in for his next well visit.”

Her father’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. “He actually wants to come back?”

Jasmine nodded. “Apparently, Maxwell let him listen to his own heartbeat with the stethoscope, and that impressed the boy. Seems to have taken away some of his fears. When Keisha confirmed that Dr. Santana would be here, Mrs. Smith was very pleased.”

“What I suspected about his bedside manner was correct. The children love him.”

So do the parents, Jasmine thought to herself. Word was getting around. In the short period Maxwell had worked in the office, referrals had increased, and the parents had started asking for him by name. She had noticed a couple of the mothers arriving with a little more makeup and dressing less casually than in the past.

“Our Spanish-speaking patients appreciate having someone they can speak their native language to. You know Mrs. Ochoa? When she was checking out the other day, she told Renee that for the first time she understood everything during the visit.”

“What about the staff? Have they given you feedback?” Dr. Roberson sipped his sweet tea.

“All good there as well. He’s professional and direct, no nonsense, but also fair and not condescending.”

Dr. Robison grimaced. “Unlike someone we knew.”

“Good call to let him go.”

The previous doctor, Dr. Lapkin, had not been so nice to the staff, and after six months her father had asked for his resignation. That had left Bright Futures Pediatrics in a bind and needing someone quickly to replace him to handle the increased number of patients that had accumulated from an aggressive advertising campaign. Without a third physician, her father had worked long hours, and Dr. Park had worked longer hours when she was technically only supposed to be there part-time.

“I have a question for you, Dad,” Jasmine said, as the server placed their plated sandwiches in front of them.

The young man inquired if they needed anything else, and when they said no, he left them alone.

“Go ahead.” Her father spread a large helping of mayonnaise on one slice of bread.

“Why did you wait so long to bring on Dr. Santana when you needed help right away?”

“You mean aside from the fact that he did his residency at Boston Children’s Hospital?” her father asked.

“He came from a prestigious hospital, but there were other qualified candidates. I remember sorting through the applications.”