Read Hush for Free Online Page A

in hopes of hearing what he wanted to hear, not necessarily looking for my opinion.  I could tell he was leaning, skirting around one answer over another.  He paused, waiting for a reaction.  “And I’m guessing you’d interview and hire all before your retirement?”
    Sladek nodded.  “That would be ideal.  I was lucky when I hired you.  Our relationship outside of the practice was enough of an interview for me.  I’m not really looking forward to going through countless résumés and interviews,” he groaned, rolling his eyes behind his spectacles.  “I’ll probably end up hiring out for that process.  The last thing I need before retiring is a heart attack from stress.  I should have probably gotten this started last year, but I couldn’t have anticipated all the changes we’ve gone through just in the last few months.”
    “Well, I think it’s a good idea,” I said, taking his brief pause to step in.  “Not only will it help with patients, like you said, but without you around, it’d be nice to have another professional to get a second opinion from.”
    Dr. Sladek nodded.  “Those were my thoughts exactly.”
    “So when will you start?  How do you even go about that?” I asked.
    A pruned hand rubbed the balding top of his head.   “I’ll probably reach out to a few of my colleagues, see if they have any recommendations for the positions before I take this news to the presses,” Dr. Sladek smirked.  “If I can find someone based on a recommendation without having to put out a damned want-ad, life will be simple.  You know, these days they use the Facebook and those websites to search for people and put out ads.  It’s insane.  I can’t keep up with it all.  I’m getting worn out just thinking about it.”
    I nodded with a faint smile, not really knowing what else to say.  “Are you feeling okay?  You don’t look as bright and cheery as usual,” Dr. Sladek pointed out.
     “Oh, I didn’t sleep well last night.  I don’t know what it was.  I think I need to flip my mattress,” I rambled quickly.  The truth was I couldn’t sleep well because of last night’s events bouncing around aimlessly in my head all night.
    Dr. Sladek nodded. “It’s amazing how much that can help, isn’t it.  I sleep like a baby the night mine gets rotated.  I’m sure that’s the cure.”  He smiled.  “Well, I better get to work.  I think the doors are probably open by now.”
    He stood from the chair when Carla appeared in the doorway.  “Doctors, you each have your first patients here,” she said.
    “Right on time,” Dr. Sladek cackled as he headed for the door, following Carla out.
    My days, as they have been since starting at the practice, were ten-plus hours of a big blur.  Everything moved so fast.  Before I knew it, the sun was setting on beautiful Huntington Beach and I was still elbow deep in work.  I was just wrapping up some last minute paperwork when a face appeared around the corner from the nurse’s station where I was currently sitting.
    “Dr. Reinbeck, sorry to bother you,” Amanda poked her head in.  “There’s someone here to see you.  He doesn’t have an appointment, but he insisted you’d see him.”
    I frowned a little.  “Who is it?”
    “Mr. Tate.”
    I sucked in a deep breath.  I had only recalled last night’s events one time today and that was right when I woke up.  “Thank you.  He’s right.  I will see him.  Could you please let him know I’ll be out in a moment?”
    Amanda smiled and agreed before disappearing around the corner.   A minute later, I stepped out into the lobby of the clinic to find the dashing Mr. Tate waiting for me with a wide smile.  “So we meet again,” he started.  Callem was donning yet another tailored suit.  I’m sure his closet was filled with suits just like this one.
    “Callem.  Nice to see you.  I feel silly,” I confessed.  “I should be the one seeking you out, thanking you for last