Free This is Living (Living #1.5) by Melody Dawn Page B

him what he thinks, he says, “I think you should do it. You’re great with kids. And it’s a lot less demanding than Emergency Medicine. Will you still work in the hospital or do you want to have a practice?”
    “I’m not sure. I haven’t thought that far. I need to talk to Chloe and see what she thinks.”
    “You know she will support you…she always does…no matter what it is.”
    I agree with him and then say, “I also don’t want to miss the important things with the new baby. I feel bad enough that I wasn’t always there for Brendon and Braxton.”
    “Well, you have my vote and I know Maddie will agree. As soon as you can, get your ass up and go and talk to the Chief, then book a trip somewhere for you and Chloe, and keep her tied to the bed for a week. You know if you need any pointers, I can help out with that.”
    “No thanks, dude, I think I’ve got it covered in that department.”
    We both laugh, but then he says in a serious tone. “J, you need to do what is going to make the both of you happy and what will allow you to be there for your wife and kids. If you’re already burnt out, then that should tell you something.”
    “I know. And that’s why I’m going to make a change. I just needed to talk to someone about it and hear that I’m not crazy for changing specialties this far in the game.”
    “You know I’m always here for you as well as my wisdom…after all I’m older and wiser.”
    “Ok, Yoda, I’ll remember that.”
    Switching to a more serious tone, I thank him for the talk and tell him I’ll let him know what happens. We hang up and I contemplate Connor’s advice.
    With his words ringing in my mind, I dial a familiar number...Methodist Hospital's Chief of Residents.
    His secretary patches me through to him and when he hears it’s me, what he says floors me. “I’ve been waiting to hear from you, Jayson. I trust you have something important to tell me.”
    Why would he be expecting to hear something important from me? As far as he knows, I’m calling about being sick.
    When I ask him, he says, “Son, I’ve been a doctor longer than you’ve been alive. I know the signs of burnout and you’ve got them. Now, I’m not saying it’s affecting your job…in fact it’s the opposite. I’m known for being a hardass, but I watch out for my residents. You don’t call and complain like some of the others in your program and you always work extra, so for you to call me it has to be important. And let’s just say that I have eyes and ears all over the hospital…one of them being Susan.”
    Thinking of Susan making me call my mother causes me to grit my teeth in frustration. I still can’t believe she did that to me. And the Chief knows about it…I feel like a fucking idiot. I start to say something and then decide to let it go; what good will it do to rehash it?
    For the next several minutes, we discuss the ramifications of changing from the ER to Peds, how much longer I will have to remain a resident, and the biggest thing: taking a leave of absence.
    After I have the information I need, I tell him that I will let him know as soon as Chloe and I reach a decision. He also gives me two more days off due to me having the flu. I don’t argue; I know my body is run down and I need the time to recuperate and for Chloe and I to make some life-altering decisions.
    Trying to decide when I’m going to talk to her about it, the door opens and when I see her loving smile, I know there’s no time like the present.
    Although I’ve got something else planned for her first.

D riving up to Ava and Phillip’s house, I’ve got butterflies in my stomach. Jayson thinks that I went with his mom to take the twins to the park to play, but I’ve actually been out getting “the works” as I like to call them. You know: a mani/pedi, stone massage, and waxing.
    I helped Ava put the boys into their car seats and as I was about to get in the car myself, she stopped me and said, “No, you’re