Beginning Family Integration

Scott looked at his watch as he headed for his consulting room. He was pleased with the meeting and after sitting down facing the computer he spied a fat package on his table so turned to check which patient results this may be. Usually, required test results came to his computer these days. Glancing at the senders address he smiled. The sender was Dr. Carmen Garcia, and he knew this would be details of her university results in the US long ago and details of her experience in the US and Venezuela. He had a sudden urge to put her needs on his priority list. Happy memories of their time together on the recent vacation flooded his mind. Then he suddenly felt guilty having found pleasure in those moments remembering the happy years with his wife Amelia. But he’d promised to help Carmen he rationalized and there was no more than that to the interest. He quickly scanned the documents and noted they looked impressive. Then checking his watch again, he phoned the university and spoke to Malcom Owens secretary asking that Malcom contact him when he had a spare moment. He also made a note to contact medical accrediting to investigate how Carmen could re-enter practice in the US. Then went to call his first patient of the day for a consultation. On the way he remembered the promise to pass on the university link address so Carmen could include that in her search for an appropriate place to continue her daughter’s education and stored that in his mind for attention in the evening.

That evening Scott returned home to his teenagers at war. Brett had discovered his sister had accessed his phone and passed information on to Cousin Rita Daniela and Brett were corresponding. Daniela after a thorough teasing from Rita had scolded Brett for sharing that information and there was a decidedly cool change between them all. Scott sought to defuse the situation by sitting down over supper to discuss their plans for the coming semester at college. Brett was taking foundational subjects in electrical engineering and intended to pursue that as he anticipated undergraduate work. Gina was deciding between several majors but had a developing interest in communications. This diverted the teenagers from their war while they ate together and shared their interests, and Scott complemented his daughter on her culinary skills as they finished the meal. They were heading for their usual appointment to watch a movie when Scott’s phone chimed, and he excused himself and headed for his office. It was Malcolm.

“Hi, I’m returning your call Scott. How can I be of help? Please don’t tell me you are considering dropping your demonstration surgeries to advanced students at the University this year we need all the help we can get.”

“No Mal I am considering winding back some of my workload at the office but will continue to help at the university. My relatives in Washington have put me in contact with a US trained female doctor who was recently rescued in Venezuela by the US Embassy when the husband was assassinated. She wants to practice in the US and my relatives have asked me to see what is required in that she interned in the US but practiced in her country. I have her documents and they look good but of course there are procedures, and you are more experienced in this than me now. Would you be able to check her documents and interview her and advise her how to approach her re-entry to the US medical profession?”

“What’s her specialty Scott?”

“She’s a GP.”

“Not our area is it Scott, but I could interview her as a favor to you along with Miriam Clark who deals with that area of our profession at the university. What’s her name?”

“Dr. Carmen Garcia.”

“My first guess is that to be medically accredited here again she may need to take some additional courses and work under supervision to gauge her experience and competency. Records and recommendations are one thing, but the ultimate test is in service delivery to satisfy accreditation requirements. Give her my secretaries telephone number and I’ll alert her to the call. They can make an appointment for her when Miriam and I are available. See you soon at the university.”

Scott went back to inform the teenagers he wouldn’t be able to join them for the movie and they nodded. It was quite common for this to happen in the line of work their father did. Scott returned to the office and closed the door then took out the contact details for Carmen and punched in numbers as recorded. An accented voice responded.

“This is Carmen Garcia”

Scott related the conversation he’d just had with Malcolm and Carmen listened carefully occasionally interjecting to ask questions. Scott then reflected on their time together on vacation and said he was looking forward to further contacts with her. He also disclosed his plan to wind back on some of the high pressure work he did with patient referrals and the complicated surgeries he was noted for. Then he ran out of words and waited for her to respond.

“That was really kind of you Scott and I will contact Malcolm’s office tomorrow to work out a time for that interview. I will need to retrieve my papers from you to show them when the interview is conducted. Can you recommend a good motel near the university for Daniela and I to stay in?”

“Yes of course Carmen. It’s called the Scott Fischer motel and there is no charge. Plenty of room and the kids would love to have you stay with us.”

There was a moment of silence as Carmen considered how this could be interpreted. It would not be considered appropriate in her country with this man not having a wife but here in the US as she recalled no one would consider that inappropriate and she realized she would like to stay with the Fischer’s.

“That is very generous of you Scott. Perhaps after contacting Malcom’s secretary tomorrow, we will pack and drive to your place. It will probably be evening before we can make it there from the long journey. Will anyone be home when we arrive? I know you have a busy program but at least the children may be there. Please give me your residential address so I can find my way there with my GPS.”

“I’ll alert the kids you are coming, and I know they will be here, and I’ll see I make it home earlier so we can greet you and get you settled in the guest rooms my in-laws use when they visit frequently. They’ve had their family visit fix during the recent vacation time so we will not see them for a while, and you can have free use of the home and come and go as you please with the guest set of keys. If this works out, you may want to look at career course offerings for Daniela to see if there is anything of interest for her here.”

Carmen laughed pleasantly.

“I think there is something of interest for Daniela there Scott, but we will see when we get there.”

There was an explosion of Spanish in the background from Daniela who’d been listening to her mother’s conversation and Carmen laughed and responded in Spanish. Then said goodbye in English.

Next evening at the Fischer residence three people constantly checked the window overlooking the driveway trying to look disinterested but there was an atmosphere of excitement. Gina would have another woman in the home to share with and hoped Daniela would agree to share her bedroom. Brett was filled with excitement but trying to look as if he was not. Scott was looking forward to sharing with his new friend as he’d sorely missed his sharing of confidences with Amelia in the evenings when they were all at home as a family. At last, a set of lights paused at the entrance to the driveway as the home number by the gate was checked. Then the car turned and headed slowly up the driveway seeking an appropriate place to park.

Pretense was dropped as the three Fischer’s hastened downstairs to the home entrance and were there as an excited welcoming committee as car doors opened and the two visitors emerged tired but excited. There were hugs and kisses as Gina flew to Daniela’s side of the car and asked if she’d stay in her room with her with Daniela gratefully accepting. Brett hung back trying to pluck up courage to greet his new inspiration Daniela and she soon extricated herself from Gina and beckoned to Brett.

“Aren’t you going to greet me too Brett?”

Brett moved over and stood there wondering what the appropriate way was to greet his inspiration. Carmen watching it laughed and pushed Daniela toward him.

“This boy has not one ounce of Latino in him Daniela, so you’ll have to show him how we greet each other in Venezuela.”

Carmen turned to Scott and kissed him on both cheeks, and he returned the greeting in kind. He felt a little uncomfortable but enjoyed the sensation and turned to collect the visitor’s luggage nudging his son to follow him. He was amazed at the amount of luggage they’d bought and both father and son had to make two trips to transfer that luggage to the guest rooms marveling at what could possibly be inside those suitcases.

Gina showed the visitors around the home feeling she was the one in charge and explained what their usual home program was. Daniela inspected Gina’s room with all the space and trimming of an affluent family and declared it worthy of her presence retrieving her luggage from the second guest room and moving in. She loved Gina’s king size bed and space for her own things in the closet with storage for the suitcases to be put out of sight. Brett watched them enviously.

Meanwhile Scott and Carmen sat on the lounge catching up on what had transpired since they were last together several days earlier. Carmen complemented Scott on his beautiful home and was particularly impressed with the way Gina at age eighteen was so competent as the woman of the home. Gina and Daniela emerged from their initial excitement settling in and headed for the lounge. Gina spoke.

I’ve prepared the meal for the evening and hope it’s not spoiled. She indicated the table already set up in the dining room and beckoned to Daniela to help her with things to be retrieved from ovens and cooking range. Carmen went to join the girls and helped set things in place. She gave Gina another hug and complimented her on her cooking skills. Gina responded by hugging her back and whispering in Carmen’s ear. Carmen laughed and gave her a playful slap. Then turned to head for the table and wait for Gina to tell them of the seating arrangements. Scott watched his daughter in action with pride. He wished his son was as outgoing as his daughter. Each of his children had compensated for the loss of their mother at an early age in different ways. Gina had thrown herself into taking over her mother’s role and Brett had continued to nurse his grief at the loss silently and become introverted. Scott had watched the interaction between his son and Daniela with interest hoping her extravert personality would rub off on his son. It was time for him to come to terms with his mother’s absence and move on. Then the thought flashed into Scott’s mind. Perhaps it was time for him to move on too.

Scott studied Carmen as the meal progressed and everyone joined in the conversation. Every now and then she’d look his way and pause as she studied his face. He could tell she was deep in thought and assumed she was considering how she’d approach her forthcoming interview and her single responsibility now to guide her daughter as she chose her career options. But Carmen was thinking about something much different. She’d felt comfortable with the Parks family they were almost like relatives to her after all the years of their friendship, but this evening bought back memories of the happy times Jose and she had shared with Luis and Daniela in their evening family circle. She was both sad at that memory and happy in this natural family situation this evening. She missed Jose and was thinking Scott would be missing his wife Amelia too. But that was then, and those moments would never return, and this was now, and it felt good for them to all be together tonight. She remembered what Gina had whispered in her ear before the meal and how she’d responded with a laugh and playful slap. Gina had asked her if she’d be her new mother as she needed one. She was almost tempted to say yes to that question. She must talk with that girl and tell her to be careful as this could be hurtful and an embarrassment to her father.

To be continued.

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