Chapter 53

• Charlotte got into the car. Joseph glanced at her and said, “Seatbelt,” his tone crisp and authoritative. She quietly fastened her seatbelt, settling into her seat as Joseph started the engine.
• There was an uneasy silence before Joseph spoke, formally but not without feeling. “Dr. Valco, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have talked to you the way I did earlier.”
• Charlotte was surprised; she wasn’t expecting an apology after all that had happened. She answered honestly, “No, Dr. Carman, it was my fault. I didn’t realize you were the senior surgeon on our team, and I even doubted your ability. It’s on me that I couldn’t handle such a critical situation. You were right—I do need to learn how to control my emotions.”