Chapter 21

"I got called to defend," Cassie said as she walked through the nurse's station.

Maggie and April looked up from their computers. "Congratulations!" they exclaimed.

"So, when's the big moment?" April asked.

"Noon."

Maggie stood up from her seat. "Girl, what are you doing here? You need to go home and get your act together."

"No, I'm too nervous. Let me work off my nerves."

"Morning," Connor greeted as he entered the nurse's station and set down his carrier containing four cups of coffee.

April, Maggie, and Cassie helped themselves while Connor lifted the last one from the container.

"Thank you for the coffee, Dr. Rhodes."

"You're welcome, ladies." He looked at the computers. "What have we got?"

An hour later, Cassie was looking at films with Connor.

"It's a bad break," she observed.

"Gonna need surgery," he said.

She stared at it the film again. The break was very unusual. "Connor, did you see this?" she asked.

"What?"

She pointed to an area. "This isn't consistent with a fall. If it was-"

"-It would have broken straight through."

She nodded.

"Good call," he said as he walked over to her.

He learned close and lowered his voice. "I heard you got called to defend."

"At noon. I'm leaving in ten minutes."

"You'd better go now before something comes in and takes up your time. You can't miss this, Cass."

"I know. Especially if I want to graduate next Saturday."

"Keep your phone off, but when you're done, turn it back on. We can have dinner after."

"Sounds good."

He gave her a pat on the shoulder. "Get out of here and go knock them out."

Cassie stood in front of the panel and took a deep breath. She didn't know what to expect. She had heard that defending was a breeze from several people, but she had also heard that it was so horrible that others had left in tears. Her stomach turned and flipped over. She wished she had taken something to settle her nerves, but she didn't like taking meds. Tums would have to do for the nausea. Her advisor gave her thumbs up. She walked over to her presentation easel and flipped the top cover over.

"You may begin, Cassandra," her advisor said.

Cassie greeted each panel member. At one time or another, she had taken at least one class from them. She had 45 minutes to present her research. The panel would then ask her questions. That was the part she was nervous about. Since she had no idea what questions would be asked of her, she couldn't prepare answers in advance.

Forty five minutes later, she finished her presentation, there was a fifteen minute break. After a bathroom run, she returned to the room and opened up her backpack. She took a bottle of water from it. After opening it, she took a long drink. She really wanted coffee, but she didn't want to have to stop the panel to make a bathroom run.

Her advisor walked up to her, offered words of encouragement, and returned to her seat. Once the rest of the panel had taken their seats, the first question was asked. Cassie answered it, and waited for the next question. The questions kept coming. For an hour and a half, she answered questions and backed it up with her research. She was starting to get tired when her advisor announced they were going to decide on her defense. She was asked to leave the room while they discussed. She left and paced in the hallway. She wanted to check her phone. She wanted to call Connor and tell him that she had finished defending, but she couldn't bring herself to take her phone out of her pocket and turn it on. She jumped when she heard the door opening.

Her advisor waved for her to come inside. She followed her advisor in, and took her place in front of the panel. She looked the panel over, looking for signs of approval. She found nothing. No one was giving anything away.

Her advisor cleared her throat.

"Cassandra, your research was impeccable and solid. You did an excellent job presenting and defending. Congratulations on your successful defense. Your degree is awarded as of 2:00."

Cassie's heart slammed up into her throat. Her lungs cut off her breathing. "Thank you," she finally managed to get out.

"Your welcome. Congratulations. We'll see you on Saturday at graduation."

Cassie walked toward the panel. She thanked them individually and shook their hands. She gathered up her presentation materials and left the room.

Once she was in her car, she turned on her phone. She saw a text had come in from Connor.

Go home and take a long hot shower. I will be there at 5.