I knew a few of the older doctors in the department, but not the younger ones or the interns. Leo had become very sensitive later in our marriage, desperate to shed the image of being the former Dean's son-in-law who got ahead through connections, so he stopped introducing me to his colleagues.

A young male intern was sitting next to me. He eagerly tried to impress me, wiping down my table and rinsing my utensils. I said, "Thank you," and his face turned red with excitement.

"Are you a new intern in our department?" he asked.

Did I really look like I was in my early twenties?

I gave him a polite smile but didn't answer. An older doctor from across the table chimed in, "Kid, this is Dr. Warner. She's also Dr. Preston's wife."

"Oh…"

The intern dropped his chopsticks. A few young women nearby gasped and covered their mouths, their eyes darting toward Nina.

I could hear them whispering. "Isn't Nina Dr. Preston's girlfriend?"

"I thought so. They even shared a room on that conference trip."

The air went still.

Their "whispers" were only quiet in their own minds. Everyone at the table had heard them.

Leo walked over with a bottle of red wine. "Talia, you should have some of this."

He leaned in as he poured, whispering an excuse. "Nina fainted in the bath that day. I was just helping her. Don't overthink it."

"I'm not."

"I know you are, but the truth is—"

"I said, I'm not overthinking it."

I cut him off, tired of his flimsy explanations. "I'm hungry. Let's just order."

I wanted to get this over with so I could drag him home to sign the papers.

This was taking too long.

The Dean chimed in at the right moment. "Yes, yes, let's get some food on the table! I'm starving. These old bones can't handle hunger like they used to. Back in my day, I could stand in the OR for three days and three nights straight."

As the Dean told his old stories, a wave of flattery went around the table.

After a few rounds of drinks, Leo raised his glass to the Dean. "Dean, I'll drink to that. You can just have a sip."

Leo, who never touched alcohol because he knew it could cause his hands to tremble, downed the entire glass in one go.

The Dean, being a good sport, finished his glass too.

Leo spoke again. "Dean, as you know, our department is always the busiest, and we're constantly short-staffed. I have a small favor to ask."

He paused. He'd never been one to ask for favors, and he hesitated at the last moment.

Of course he wasn't. That was always my job. I was the one who did the asking, so he could stand tall and proud.

The Dean set down his glass and patted Leo's shoulder. "I know, Leo. You don't have to say it. I approve."

Leo froze. He hadn't even said what it was yet.

Nina's face lit up with surprise. "Really?" she blurted out.

The Dean sighed and patted Leo's shoulder again. "No matter how busy your department gets, I have to approve this leave for you."

Leo was stunned. He wasn't asking for leave. He was asking for a position for Nina.

"Saving lives is important, but your son just passed away. I understand. And I have to say, I'm a bit disappointed in you, Leo. For something this huge, you should have at least come home."

The Dean looked at me with pity.

Leo gripped his wine glass, his voice trembling. "Dean… what did you just say about my son? That he passed away?"

The air in the room instantly went silent.

"You didn't know? Your son had acute meningitis. He's gone."