“For making your confusion everybody else’s problem.”
“Go.”
Lorraine slowly removed her headset.
She placed it beside the keyboard.
“I’ve worked this desk long enough to know when I’m being blamed for something I didn't do.”
Priya shook her head.
“Don't turn this into a performance.”
“Clear the desk.”
Lorraine stood.
She was five feet three.
Priya was nearly six inches taller.
Yet when Lorraine straightened, something about the balance between them changed.
“I’m not performing.”
“I’m refusing to take your blame.”
Priya stared.
“You don't get to refuse me.”
That was when Talia stepped fully into reception.
“Priya.”
“Lorraine never got the new room list this morning.”
“Talia.”
“I told you before opening.”
Priya’s eyes flashed.
“This does not concern you.”
“It does if she’s being blamed for something she could not know.”
“A missing update doesn't excuse sending people to the wrong rooms.”
Priya said.
“The desk was still her responsibility.”
Lorraine gave a tired laugh.
“Responsible doesn't mean psychic.”
“I can't follow information I never received.”
“Enough.”
Priya pointed toward the employee hallway.
“You will not argue with me in front of clients again.”
Another voice came from behind them.
“Priya.”
Everyone turned.
Dr. Samuel Whitcomb stood near the treatment-room doorway.
Sixty-three.
Gray hair.
Blue scrubs beneath a white clinic jacket.
He had owned Willow Creek since opening it with his late business partner more than two decades earlier.
He rarely raised his voice.
Which meant nobody ignored him when he spoke quietly.
“Why are you disciplining Lorraine in front of a full waiting room?”
Priya’s expression changed.
“Dr. Whitcomb.”
“She sent two clients to incorrect exam rooms.”
“She refused to take responsibility.”
Dr. Whitcomb looked toward Lorraine.
Then the laminated chart.
Then the hallway.
“What happened?”
Priya answered before Lorraine could.
“The schedule clearly says room four.”
Lorraine held up the chart.
“This says room two.”
Dr. Whitcomb took it.
He frowned.
Then looked toward the temporary signs in the hallway.
“When did this chart become outdated?”
Nobody answered immediately.
Talia finally said:
“Before we opened.”
Priya turned sharply.
“Talia.”
Dr. Whitcomb lifted one hand.
“No.”
“Let her finish.”
Talia swallowed.
“The renovation team changed the temporary room assignments at six-twenty this morning.”
“Exam two became four.”
“Four became two.”
“Exam six was moved to the old imaging consult room.”
“Facilities emailed the updated list.”
Dr. Whitcomb looked toward reception.
“Did Lorraine receive it?”
“No.”
Talia answered.
“I told Priya reception still had the old numbers.”
Priya interrupted.
“You mentioned it once.”
“I was handling six things at once.”
“Twice.”
Talia said.
“Before opening.”
“And again at seven-fifty.”
“Both times you told me to leave it until later.”
Dr. Whitcomb turned slowly toward Priya.
“Did you know reception still had the old room numbers before we opened?”
Priya’s mouth tightened.
“I knew the map had not been replaced.”
Silence.
Lorraine looked at her.
“You knew.”
Priya continued quickly.