Impossible Glamour by Maggie Marr Read Free Book Online Page A

skills, whereas your sister certainly knows how to lie nearly naked on a beach for photographers. Perhaps you are better suited for such a career?”
    My cheeks flamed. I ground my teeth together. I would not respond. What my famous family did or didn’t do had no bearing on my career, but Kazowski seemed to think she could toss my family out and shame me. Well, she’d succeeded. Again I wished to fall through the floor and not be seen.
    “Need I remind you that this rotation is just as important as your last three? While you received stellar marks on those, I’m beginning to think your teaching doctors were much more enamored with the surname Legend than I will ever be. Come prepared to round, Miss Legend, or don’t come at all.”
    “Yes, Doctor.” I couldn’t fight her. I had to be stoic and take whatever she delivered. That was just how it worked in third-year rotations. You got what you got, and I’d gotten Kazowski.
    She turned and led the entire group down the hall to the last room. I wanted to run and hide or maybe even find a way to disappear from rounds, but we only had one more patient. Instead, I followed to the next room where Dr. Kazowski stood just outside the door. Her resident handed her his laptop, which contained all the information needed to assess the progress of this patient, Mark Keswick, a kid who was terminal. There was no way to save him. Surgery had gone well, but his cancer had come back with a vengeance. Kazowski had already had the conversation with Mark’s parents and they’d decided he needed to go home. The door to Mark’s room was closed.
    “This will be our final round with Mark,” Kazowski said. “Keep it positive. Upbeat, but not patronizing.” Her gaze scanned the group. “Are we clear?”
    Everyone nodded. A lump lodged in my throat. There was no crying in medicine. Number one rule—no tears from doctors in the hospital. Completely forbidden. Kazowski opened the door and a bark greeted us.
    What the heck?
    My eyes widened.
    Oh. No. I took a long breath. The female residents and third-years in my group were wide-eyed and started doing the female hair-grooming thing that went along with being in close proximity to good-looking actors that had starred in blockbuster films.
    I wasn’t starstruck. I knew this guy really well. He was married to my half sister’s best friend and I spent holidays with the MacAvoy family. I was going to be a bridesmaid this weekend in Dillon’s brother’s wedding. I pushed to the back of the group, hopeful that neither Dillon nor Webzie, who’d accompanied Dillon to the hospital, would see me. With Kazowski, being recognized and called out by a huge celeb was the last thing I needed.
    “Hey, little man, looks like your fan club just arrived.” Dillon shot Mark the smile that graced magazine covers, billboards, and also made women swoon. He turned to Dr. Kazowski and held out his hand. “Dillon MacAvoy.”
    Did Kazowski…blush? She patted her hair and then shook Dillon’s hand.
    “Webber and I just stopped by to ask Mark to take care of this pup for us.” Dillon nodded toward the golden retriever who wore a blue Helper Pet vest and was curled up on the bed beside Mark. This program, as well as Pawtown, were the main charities that Dillon funded and lent his famous face to support. He’d been running the Helper Pet program for going on five years at Cedars-Sinai and had just gotten permission to expand to UCLA Children’s Hospital.
    I glanced at Mark’s parents. They stood beside the bed. His mom looked weary. How did you watch your child die? I couldn’t imagine the pain. Mark’s father had his arm around his wife. There was this tiny glimmer of happiness when they looked at Mark hugging his new dog. Mark wouldn’t have much longer with his parents, but right now he was happy. Thrilled. He threw his arms around the dog’s neck and pulled him close.
    “Look what Dillon brought me!” Mark said.
    I bit my bottom lip. The lump in