Crossed Paths
Chapter 1
"Can you hold that, please?" came a woman's voice from down the hall.
Ethan held the elevator door. A few seconds later, a woman appeared. She slid into the elevator.
"Thanks," she said as she reached to punch the parking garage button, but it had already been punched.
"Not a problem," Ethan said.
She glanced over at him. She noticed the burgundy physician scrubs from Chicago Med.
"I appreciate it, Dr. -"
"Choi. Ethan Choi. Nice to meet you, Dr. Miller."
While she was noticing his burgundy scrubs, he had noticed her navy blue physician scrubs of Rush University Hospital. He also noticed her name badge.
Heidi Miller, MD, Orthopedic Surgery
Heidi turned to face him. He didn't look familiar. She didn't remember meeting him before.
"I'm sorry, I'm trying to place you. Have we met?"
"No, I just read your name badge," he admitted.
"Oh, thank goodness. I couldn't remember meeting you, and I know I would have remembered you."
Ethan smiled. "And I, you. So Rush? Why Rush? Why not Chicago Med?"
"Turned me down. Too many Orthopods on staff."
"We've had some turnover. Two have retired. I know there are openings now."
"I like Rush."
Ethan nodded. "Something to consider. Just saying."
"I appreciate it," she said as she sipped from the commuter cup she was carrying.
"Besides, it's convenient here. I'm only 10 minutes out."
"Same for Med. That's why I like this building," he agreed.
"I really should buy a house, but I don't really know what I want. City, suburbs, yard, no yard, pool, no pool."
Ethan smiled. "There is a lot to consider. When you're ready, the house will appear."
"You sound like my Mother."
"Your mother sounds lied a very wise woman."
"She is. She's also my best friend."
"That's cool."
Heidi glanced down, looking for his name badge. She wondered what his specialty was. She finally located it. She smiled. She could see him working in the Emergency Room. He had that calm and reassuring demeanor. She had only known him for a few minutes, but she had felt very comfortable with him.
"You know, we have openings in our ER," she offered.
"Thanks, but I like Med. I don't plan on leaving any time soon."
"Can't blame a girl for trying."
"Or a guy."
She reached into her pocket, and drew out a pen and a pad of sticky notes. She wrote something on it and handed it to him.
"What's this?" he asked as he took it.
"Something for you to consider," she said as the elevator doors opened. "It was nice to meet you, Ethan."
"You too, Heidi," he said as he watched her walk toward her car.
He glanced down at the paper in his hand. He read it and smiled as he tucked it in the pocket of his scrubs.
An SUV drove past the elevator. The horn beeped and the driver waved at him. He waved back. He had a feeling that Dr. Heidi Miller was going to be an interesting part of his life in the near future. He started for his car, wondering if she had meant what she had said.
