Chapter 3 Noon on the next day—Roxbury, NY
Frank Landers sat on his back porch, looking out onto Long Island Sound and weighing things in his mind. He liked his home, the town and being a part of the practice in the city. His family seemed content at least on the surface.
Still, seeing Dave and Angie again brought the wanderlust to his mind once more. Granted, he hadn't been around his former classmates for years. Still, he did want his kids having closer friends…and with April now married to Garth and settled in Arizona, that left him as the odd man out in a manner of speaking.
"Still thinking about it, Honey?" Jolene asked knowingly.
"Sorry. I can't help it. I wish we could do something for James," he lamented while taking a drink from his coffee cup.
"He'll find a job, Frank. There are plenty of jobs in the Metro area," she assumed.
"Not for oncologists at least not for what he should have," he countered morosely. "It's just not fair."
"You know life's not fair," she reminded him. "Things just have a way of falling into people's laps when they least expect it."
At that moment, the phone rang.
"Who would be calling now?" he wondered while answering it. "Landers' residence."
"Frank, this is Michael Fishburne from Tucson. How are you doing?" the UMC's administrator asked.
"I'm fine, Michael. Thank you. We're just dealing with things here. Has Angie told you about what happened?" Frank replied.
"She let me know about the whole thing with Edward Vogler. Shameful business all of the way around. Anyhow, I also received a call from Lex Luthor concerning the outcome of the Board meeting yesterday. Despite the tainted charges, the firings will stick to the three doctors," Fishburne noted.
"My wife and I were just talking about James Wilson. It's too bad he's tied to the New York area. His wife, Julie, has ties here," Frank reported sadly.
"Yes because we need an oncologist here. I just spoke to Dr. Wilson a few minutes ago. He declined for that reason."
"Is this because of Belinda McDermott? She's doing all right, isn't she?" Frank wondered.
"I promoted her to a full member of my staff just yesterday. And Angela is fine as well. The university just realigned its priorities. For us, that means a team based approach. In Oncology, I'm short one doctor. Would you be interested?" Fishburne assured him.
Frank looked over at Jolene and mouthed, "Opportunity just knocked."
She looked quizzically at him.
"I need to talk to Jolene about it first. If she's okay with it, I want to give my spot at St. Joseph's to James," Frank indicated. "When can I call you back?"
"I'll be here most of the day. If not, you can leave a message with Lori. (520) 621-0000. Thanks, Frank."
After he hung up, she asked, "Who was that?"
"Michael Fishburne. He just offered me a position at the UMC working with Angie and Belinda," he reported.
Although she did like the area, she knew how much he wanted to be with everyone. In addition, they would be closer to her family in San Mateo. The kids will need to readjust but we'll have plenty of friends around us. She smiled at him. "And you're going to take it. Frank, this is what we've been waiting for. Call him back."
"Are you sure?" he asked feeling his own enthusiasm going through the roof.
She picked up the receiver and handed it to him.
He kissed her quickly. "Thanks." Then he dialed the number in question and waited.
"Good morning, Dr. Fishburne's office," Lori Applegate, the receptionist, answered.
"Hi, Lori, this is Frank Landers. Is Dr. Fishburne available? I have an answer for him," he explained.
"Certainly. One minute please." She put him on hold.
About ten seconds later, the administrator picked up. "Frank? Sorry I wasn't expecting an answer so soon. What is your answer?"
"I'd like to accept the offer and come to work for the UMC. Jolene agrees," Frank accepted.
"You'll be a great addition to our facility. Let me speak to your Chief of Staff at St. Joseph's. Perhaps he might be convinced to accept James Wilson as a ready substitute—at least on a temporary basis for you. In any event, I'd like it if you could come out here on Friday so that we can speak and finalize the details. I would ask that you not say anything to David or Angela. I want this to be a surprise," Fishburne proposed.
"Sure. We'll see you first thing on Friday. Take care, sir," Frank concluded before hanging up and turning to his wife once again. "We're going west. It figures that Dave would get us out there too."
"Frank, we've talked about this before. It's time for us to move on. Besides, there are my folks and your friends. Other than your job, what's here for us?" she inquired.
"Not much. After this, I wouldn't have to communicate with Angie across the country on our research. We'd have our friends and maybe James could take my job here," he surmised.
"That's what I thought. The twins can help Bonnie and Joey adjust," she agreed. "You might want to let your boss know."
"There's that. Johannsen's going to have a cow."
"Too bad. After the budget cuts they've hit your department with, how could you turn this down?" she countered. "I know it's not easy, Frank, but it's what we need."
"Yeah." He kissed her again. "I love you, Jo."
"And I love you." She smiled again at him before leaving the porch.
Yeah it's what we need all right…. He exhaled deeply and looked over the Sound again. Time to do this. With that, he headed in to change his clothes.