Chapter 27 - EMILY LEAVES THE ROOMThree months after the report, Emily received an offer.
Chief of Pediatric Patient Safety.
Not at her hospital.
At another medical system.
A serious job.
Leadership.
Research.
Training.
Authority.
She placed the letter in front of me at breakfast.
Claire Hannah was putting blueberries into Zion’s cereal when he wasn’t looking.
“I want it,” Emily said.
I read the location.
Boston.
My stomach dropped.
“For how long?”
“It’s permanent.”
I stared at her.
Years earlier, Seattle had nearly broken me.
This was different.
We were married.
Two children.
A house.
Schools.
Grandparents.
Lives.
“What do you want me to say?”
“The truth.”
I looked toward Zion and Claire.
Then at her.
“I don’t want to leave Chicago.”
Her eyes filled slightly.
“Okay.”
“And I don’t want you to turn it down.”
“Okay.”
“That is all I have.”
She laughed sadly.
“Useful.”
We spent six weeks discussing it.
Not arguing.
Discussing.
That was almost worse.
No obvious answer existed.
Then Zion solved part of it.
“Why can’t Mommy work in Boston sometimes?”
Emily stared.
“What?”
“And here sometimes.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“Daddy has offices everywhere.”
I pointed at him.
“Do not use my capitalism against me.”
Emily laughed.
The hospital negotiated.
Two weeks per month in Boston.
Two in Chicago.
Remote research oversight.
Not perfect.
But workable.
Emily accepted.
The old Marcus would have solved geography with a private jet and a building purchase.
The current Marcus learned commercial flight schedules.
Mostly.
One night, while packing, Emily said:
“You know what scared me?”
“What?”
“That investigating Claire would make you love her more and me less.”
I stared at her.
“Why didn’t you say that?”
“Because it sounded selfish.”
“No.”
“I know that now.”
I moved closer.
“I did love her more during this.”
Emily’s face changed.
I continued.
“And I loved you more too.”
She started crying.
“Those were terrible first eight words.”
“I’m working on delivery.”
I touched her cheek.
“Claire is part of my life.”
“I know.”
“You are my life.”
May you like
She kissed me before I could ruin it.
Progress.
