His Child Or Hers?

“Oh, there’s no doubt about that. The only question is where we can make the best use of you. Is there anything in particular you see yourself doing?”

“Not really. Since I don’t know how long I’ll be here, I wouldn’t expect—or want—any responsibility. So, just whatever you think.”

“Well, you seem like a people person.”

She smiled. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“That’s how I meant it. And do you enjoy working with children?”

“Absolutely.”

“And you’re fluent in Spanish,” he said, glancing once more at the brief C.V. she’d written out and brought along.

“You know, I think we’ve got a place you’d fit perfectly. The psychologist on Pediatrics left recently, and we haven’t managed to replace her yet. So if you basically filled in for her…

“I’m not talking about the paperwork or anything like that, but we need someone who’s accessible to the patients and their families.

“Our staff members often can’t make time to spend with children who are upset about being here. Or sit down and talk to parents who’ve got questions. Does that sound like something you’d be comfortable doing?”

“Sure. There’d be questions I couldn’t answer, though. Hopefully not medical ones, but when it comes to hospital regulations and such…”

“You’ll be able to check things like that. And we’ll put Visiting Consultant on your ID badge, so that when you don’t know something about the system, nobody will find it strange.”

His gaze flickered to her C.V. again before he said, “Your Spanish is going to be a real bonus. We’ve got a situation at the moment that…

“But it makes more sense to have you meet Dr. Koehler, the chief of Pediatrics, and have her tell you the details. I only know the general story.”

Minutes later the two of them were on the second floor, in Cynthia Koehler’s office. She was forty-something, with a warm smile, and seemed pleased at the prospect of having Natalie on her unit.

“And I thought that since Dr. Lawson speaks Spanish,” Eisenberg continued his explanation, “she’d be a particular help with Señora Perez.”

“A help?” Koehler said. “She’ll be more like a godsend.”

“Good. Then why don’t I leave her with you. She’s here for another hour or two today, and…Well, you can discuss what sort of schedule will work.”

He turned to Natalie, adding, “I’m sure you’ll be just fine. But if you have any problems, feel free to bring them to me.”

As he left the office, Cynthia said, “How about we’re Natalie and Cynthia when we’re alone, doctors Lawson and Koehler on the ward?”

“Sounds fine.”

“And you can use the psychologist’s office whenever you need privacy. A lot of parents have concerns that they don’t want to raise in front of their children.

“I’ll have someone get you an office key later, but first let me tell you about Señora Perez. Because she’s always on the unit, and as soon as she discovers you speak her language…”

Cynthia paused and smiled. “I’m getting ahead of myself. I have a bad habit of doing that.”

“So do I.”

“Ah, good, then we should have an easy time understanding each other. But as for Señora Perez, she’s the grandmother of Emma Perez, who’s a patient here. And I think it’ll be easier if I fill you in on the grandmother first, Emma second.”

Natalie nodded.

“Señora Perez spent most of her life on a farm in Puerto Rico, never learned English. And although we have enough Spanish-speaking staff that it wasn’t hard to get her basic background story, we can’t make a habit of dragging people away from their regular jobs to translate.

“Fortunately, Emma’s bilingual, so that’s a big help. But she’s only seven. And…”

Cynthia paused again, as if organizing her thoughts.

“A couple of years ago,” she said after a moment, “Señora Perez came to live with her daughter, Emma’s mother, who’s been in New Jersey for…I’m not sure exactly how long, but she met Emma’s father after she moved here, so it must be at least eight years.