I gather my purse and slip it over my shoulder casually. “I appreciate the opportunity to interview. Weill Cornell has always been my first choice.”
“We’re happy to hear that.”
Dr. Atlee clears her throat politely as she stands up. “Let me walk you out the door.”
“Thank you, Dr. Atlee.”
Is it strange to have my own ob/gyn accompany me into the hallway? Totally. But it’s nice to have her by my side. It’s nice to have someone supporting me outside the usual buzz of drama.
She holds open the door for me and ushers me into the hallway. Once we’re clear of the other two women, she beams and elbows me lightly. “I think that went very well.”
I exhale loudly. “You think so?” I cradle my stomach, hollowing my cheeks with a sigh. “Wow, I’m nauseous.”
“Want some ginger crackers?”
I laugh. “Do you just carry ginger crackers around for pregnant people?”
“It’s my job.” She grins while reaching into her pocket. “I would be a lousy doctor if I didn’t offer my patients some comfort, right?”
“I suppose that’s true.”
She gestures to the end of the hallway, where a private lobby expands toward a set of double doors. Damask-style carpet rolls ahead in rich crimson and green, complementing the beige walls. Portraits hang on either side of me and grow in size in the lobby.
“Would you like to stay a while?” she asks. “Our next interview isn’t for another hour.”
I smile. “Sure. I’d love to relax for a minute. That interview was pretty intense.”
She gestures to one of the nearby chairs. “Take a load off.”
I sigh into one of the cushioned seats. These are more my style, cradling my spine and making it easier to slouch. In that huge boardroom, it felt like I had to be a statue. Now, I can just be a puddle.
I accept the pack of ginger crackers from Dr. Atlee and nibble on a few. My stomach grumbles the moment the food settles in, causing me to flush.
She waves away my embarrassment. “It’s normal, Liya. Don’t even worry about it.”
“All I want is burgers and fries.”
“No harm in indulging here and there.”
I laughed. “Are you sure you’re a medical doctor?”
“As long as your burgers aren’t raw, you’ll be fine.”
“And the fries?”
She shrugs. “Calorie-dense foods are best, but you can always add some fruit with your fries if you want.”
I smile. “I might grab some on the way home.”
“Like I said. No harm in indulging here and there.”
“I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“I wanted to personally see you succeed.”
“But why?” I ask. “We’re complete strangers. And you’re my doctor. You’ve seen my…” I blanch and then let the sentence fade. “Anyway, you’re mydoctor. Isn’t there some conflict of interest happening here?”
“I guess I…” She starts and then shrugs. “I can see you struggling with who you married and who you are. I think I empathize with that a lot.”