Practice Makes Perfect Read Online Free Page B

and be a little man.”
    Paige shook her head. If that was Rob’s idea of coaxing…The kid was four. “Can I help?” she asked, purposely easing herself between Jimmy and the resident.
    Rob said from behind, “No need. Jimmy here just needs a shot.”
    Jimmy wailed. The shrill probably could be heard downtown.
    Paige kicked off her shoes and knelt down. The space under the examining table was about four by five, and Jimmy was huddled inside. “Hey, buddy, what’s going on?”
    Hiccups. A tearstained face. His blond curls were damp. “No shot.”
    “Scoot over.”
    Jimmy complied.
    Folding up as small as she could, she crawled into his cocoon. “You know, my sister and I used to hide in cupboards at our house like this.”
    “Make a tent,” Jimmy said.
    “Uh-huh. It’s like making a tent.”
    She talked some more about tents, remembering how she and Jade had always felt safer tucked away like this, particularly when their parents had been on one of their binges. When Jimmy calmed, she asked, “Remember the last time you had a shot, Jimmy?”
    Tears again. She drew him closer, put her arm around him.
    “I know it hurt. But you were so good.” She stroked his hair, kissed the top of his head. “I gave you an ‘I’m Brave’ sticker.”
    From beneath the table, she could see Kari’s sneakered feet under the chair, hear her calming the baby. She could also see Rob’s wingtips tapping impatiently. “I’ve got a new sticker. It’s says ‘Shots Make You Feel Good’.”
    Still Jimmy shook his head.
    “They do, buddy. Later on, shots keep you from getting sick. Remember, we talked about that.”
    It took her a few more minutes to coax Jimmy out from under the table. Five more minutes were needed to talk him into letting her give him the injection. By the time she was done, she was running half an hour behind schedule. But she made the time to find Rob before she tended to her next patient. She counted to ten as she approached the office where he was tackling paperwork. “I’d like to talk to you.”
    He glanced at his watch. “Sure.”
    “You didn’t handle Jimmy very well.”
    He arched a brow. “You don’t think so?”
    “No, I don’t.”
    “It seems to me Jimmy’s a troublemaker. Most kids from the projects are. It might be best to curb their tendencies now before they get into school.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Save his teachers a lot of grief.”
    “It’s not the job of a pediatrician to save the teachers grief. Our job is to give the best care we can to young children.”
    “Look, Dr. Kendrick, I know I’m not a people person. But I’m working on it.”
    “You need to work harder.”
    He stiffened a bit. “One of the reasons I asked to do this rotation with you was because I was aware of your no-nonsense, all-business reputation in medicine. That and the nature of the clientele you deal with.” He grinned. “Along with the hefty fees you charge.”
    “Is that why you chose medicine?”
    “No, I like medicine, though I might go into research eventually. Besides, the HMOs have pretty much stopped us from becoming millionaires. I do think you’re savvy to charge fees above and beyond regular medical coverage.”
    Paige ignored the sting of his assessment. She’d deliberately joined a practice that charged more than most insurance coverage so she could avoid women—and their babies—who’d grown up like her. The memories they evoked were too painful.
    “I have to admit, I’m surprised you accept patients like the Linstroms.”
    She closed her eyes, mentally working out his evaluation. Lacks sensitivity in dealing with children
and
is a snob.
    “It’s okay to be no-nonsense and all-business sometimes,” she finally said. “But when it comes to the kids, you have to be human, Rob.”
    His back became even more rigid. But he tried to hide his displeasure from her.
    “We’ve discussed this before,” she said. “You lack sensitivity.”
    “All right. I’ll