PROLOGUE: GRACE
Grace Trevelyan-Grey knew she was having a busy morning as she would not only be attending to ten new children from the same incident but also deal with a new assistant, Anastasia Steele, from the Vancouver campus. Grace's work was extensive dealing with children who had either been through horrible events mentally or physically hurt; the last child Grace admitted into overnight observation screamed at the top of their lungs to anyone including staff that opened the door to the visitation room.
She just poured her second cup of coffee to the rim when a brunette young woman in fresh blue scrubs stepped beside her and clumsily fished through the tea bags.
In tossing out the hot teabag so quickly, the woman bumped against Grace's elbow and sloshed burning coffee over her hand. Grace quickly slammed the cup down startling the woman, her name badge around her neck said Anastasia Steele.
"Anastasia, it's a pleasure to meet you, I am Grace Trevelyan." Grace reached out her hand as Anastasia gasped in surprise.
Her hand was clammy as it clasped Grace's.
"Please call me A-Ana."
Grace smiled and retreated to handing her files of simple cases.
"Ana, Complete these and feel free to come to me for any concerns. Around noon, a guest will be in for me and I will need you to make the rounds to the children for me but afterward you will be free for the late afternoon. Anyway, that is all so let's get started." Grace comments with ease and wanders away.
PROLOGUE: ANA
The children's ward of the hospital was close to a beehive on steroids; nurses shifted from behind the large round desk in the center of the area to the doors that lined the walls, children sat around the side wall with the sliding entrance door either fidgeting in their seats or still like stone.
Coffee, coffee will help with the nerves. I breathe slowly.
Shifting through the tea assortment, I finally see my favorite Twinning's English Breakfast tea, and dunk it into the steamy water. My inner goddess settles comfortably into her oversized chair with a book of medical terminology. The older woman next to me tosses her fresh coffee onto the counter and softly yelps. I jump back wondering what happened as my inner goddess looks over the rim of her half-mooned glasses in curiosity, the woman is Grace Trevelyan!
Oh my. As she's talking and handing files over, I am trying to remember the last few years of school when Kate proved to me a Literature major was not my path and I should try something new…I chose Medical of all things.
The burgundy file on top held a case of a 6-year-old boy, suffering PTSD from a fatal car wreck, placed here for fighting injuries.
Blue tabs are Emotional…
Red are Mental with Recorded History…
Green tabs are new patients…
Gold are follow-ups…
Going through the hallways and room numbers, I peered at the tabs by the door.
My first door was the boy that matched the folder but also in the room was a blond doctor leaning against the counter with his index finger brushing across his chin. He looked to me then stood up politely with a smile, Grace announced me as her new assistant.
The blond nicely—no, impeccably—dressed doctor smiled as she said my name and introduced himself as John Flynn. Wow, what would Kate think of him besides that he is gorgeous?!