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“Well, if you need anything else, you can always call me,” I pulled my business card out of my coat pocket and handed it to her.  “That’s my cell and I’ve got it on me all the time.”
    Olivia looked up at me with wide, doe-like eyes.  “I’ll keep that in mind.  Thank you again.”
    I nodded before turning to the door and heading out just as quickly as I’d come in.  My phone rang as I climbed back behind the wheel.  “Yeah,” I said, answering the call.  The familiar voice on the other end chirped in my ear for a minute.  “Okay.  I’m on my way,” I said quickly and started the car.  That’s two too many issues with my clients for one night.  I had yet another mess to clean up and the night was still young.  Duty called.

2006 - Olivia
     
     
     
     
    There was a knock at my office door.  “Come on in,” I called.
    “Doctor, how are you this morning?”  Dr. Frank Sladek asked, stepping into my office.  His aged face was bright as usual.  Small square, rimless frames perched on the bridge of his nose and he brought with him the scent of timeless cologne and leather.
    “I’m wonderful, Dr. Sladek.  How are you?”  I asked, turning my attention away from my computer to give the tenured doctor his due diligence.
    Dr. Sladek approached my desk and took a seat in one of the patient chairs before me with a hefty sigh.  His eyes scoped the desolate office space.  “You need more color in here, Olivia.  Got to put a woman’s touch on these walls.” He winked.
    “I know,” I sighed, looking around.  “I don’t spend too much time in here so I don’t even notice how drab it is when I am in here.”
    “Well, I think the girls packed away some older prints and photos in the storage closet that we used to have hanging up in the lobby and the rooms.  I’ll see if one of them can dig them out for you.  Maybe there’s something in there you’d like to use.   That’ll save you some shopping time.”
    “That’d be great.  Thank you.”
    Dr. Sladek didn’t often seek me out like this so early in the day.  I waited patiently for him to work up to his point, which came easier than I thought it would.  “How are things going with you?  I haven’t overloaded you with patients, have I?”
    I shook my head.  “No, not at all.  I’m loving all the work.  It’s a perfect pace I’ve been set up with.”
    Dr. Sladek smiled, revealing his perfectly straight and white teeth.  They may have looked like dentures, but I was sure that man, despite pushing 70 years old, still had each and every one of his own teeth.  “I’m glad to hear that.  What I wanted to talk to you about this morning was something I’ve been thinking about for the past couple of weeks, but couldn’t really make a decision one way or another.  I thought I’d present it to you and see what you have to say about it.”
    “Alright.”  I nodded.
    “Even though I’ve been filtering my patients between you and Dr. Morton, I feel like there is still more that needs to be done, especially given the fact that you’re so fresh out of school.  I’m not questioning your abilities, mind you.  You can understand how my experience gives me an extra perspective.  I remember my first couple of years within a private practice and I had a mentor the entire time.  You’re going to lose me in a matter of months and I’d hate to see you get overwhelmed or overloaded.  So, I’ve been thinking about hiring on another oncologist to have on staff.  We’ve gotten so many new patients just in the last year that we’re anticipating the steady flow to continue, especially with Dr. Paulson transferring to Vegas.  A lot of her patients are now moving over here.”
    I nodded to show him I was listening though I knew my eyes were glazed over thinking through Dr. Sladek’s idea in my mind.  It really didn’t matter what I thought because ultimately the decision was up to him.  I figured he came to me with this