Galilee Rising(92)

As with the opening of all new wings, there must be a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by various contributors, the hospital board and chronicled by the press where we congratulate ourselves on being so selfless and charitable. Danforth Mills stands beside me in the kitchen with the rest of the board and selected families already milling around the living room. In the next room, on the other side of the red ribbon, are a handful of reporters and doctors and nurses who have come to see the show. Shannon, who really deserves the credit for this project, stands off in the corner working her Blackberry as always. Thank God Jem isn't here. Just get through the speech, and get the fuck out of here, Jo.

"Good turnout," Danforth says.

"I suppose." No rest for the wicked. I raise my voice so the whole room can hear, saying "Did you look over the reports I sent you?"

"Which one? The one about the aneurysms where Dr. Ambrose was one of ten doctors on the project? Or the one from the society pages about his inappropriate behavior with staff, which as far as I know has no substantiation? I checked, there hasn't been a single complaint against him in his entire work history."

"People are probably too afraid to make an official complaint against your newest golden boy. Wouldn't be the first time."

Danforth rolls his brown eyes. "Where is this coming from, Joanna? A few weeks ago you were gung ho about adding him to staff, now you can't wait to pillory the man."

"Everyone makes mistakes. But when we do, they must be corrected. Dr. Ambrose is definitely one of those mistakes. He needs to go before the entire hospital is dragged through the mud behind him. You just need to trust me on this, alright?"

"Absolutely not. Short of the man embezzling from the hospital or murdering someone, he stays. His drug will earn billions." He leans in and hisses in a low voice, "You do realize all this muckraking you've been doing is only making yourself look bad and tarnishing the reputation of the hospital."

"I'm not a moron, Dan," I say through gritted teeth. "I know that. You think I wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't necessary? Him being here puts us all in danger." I glance around the room at the staring others, meeting a few eyes. "He needs to go."

"Then give us something better than gossip and an old report," Danforth says.

"I--" The words won't come out, and my mouth snaps shut. I gaze around the room again at the concerned yet titillated board members. Not a one is on my side. They all think I'm crazy. Let them as long as this story makes the rounds around town tonight. "I will. But not today. Today's about this wing. But when I do, you're all going to wish you'd fired his ass sooner." I snatch up the big scissors from the counter. "Let's get this over with." I step toward the door, stop to plaster a smile on my face and lead the procession out.

The audience perks up when we walk out, but my smile falters when I spot my glowering speckled new enemy by the entrance. He seems none too pleased to see me. I meet his eyes and match his glare for a moment before flipping my frown upside down for the crowd. I stop in front of the ribbon and keep my gaze focused on the reporters. When everyone's in position behind me, I start. "Thank you all for coming today to the opening of the Dr. Rebecca Thornton Pediatric Recovery Wing. I'll keep this short as I'm sure the children and their families are itching to settle into to their state-of-the-art home away from home.

"Dr. Rebecca Thornton, for whom this wing is dedicated to, graced this hospital for far too short a time before her life was cut unnecessarily short by violence. Most of you didn't know her, didn't…know her heart." I glance at Jem whose eyes are glued to the floor. "It was the fullest of anyone's I have ever met. Full of her friends, her family, her patients. She and Justin Pendergast had that in common. And this wing is the physical manifestation of that fact. They wanted to heal the world one person at a time, and though they are not here in body, I am positive they are in spirit. And with every child whose both body and soul are renewed within these walls, may they and what they stood for live on. Strength. Compassion." I stop speaking and Jem stares up. My hard eyes bore into his. "And above all, doing the right thing even when it hurts." I look back at the cameras and hold up the scissors. "To Dr. Rebecca Thornton, Justin Pendergast, Daisy Thornton, Marnie Beesley, and anyone else whose life has been touched by darkness. May this wing tip the scales in favor of the light." I snip the ribbon. Everyone claps. I'm getting better at this speech thing.

I pose for photos with board members and patients, but my mind is elsewhere. I watch as Jem examines the painting he knocked down the second time we met. He was so bumbling and nervous, I almost OD'd on cuteness. The memory brings a small smile to my face. Feels like we've had a lifetime since then. He must feel me staring because he peers my way. I wipe the smile off my face and return my attention to the reporter.