Page 2 of Picking Pismo

Holding up a single finger, Sarah said, “Let me go check with Dr. Clark.” Abruptly, Sarah stood. “I’ll be right back.” She wandered into the exam room filled with dental chairs.

When Sarah didn’t return immediately, Claire opted to sit down and wait. Every inch of the coffee table was covered with random magazines. Mindlessly, she selected a magazine on top to occupy herself. Flipping through the home reno magazine, she closely examined a before and after photo.

“Are you Alexis’s sister?” a man’s voice out of nowhere asked.

Startled, Claire dropped the magazine right out of her hands. Bending down to pick it up, Claire slowly took in the darked haired man with dimples. He wore scrubs with a white lab coat over them. Unconsciously, Claire smoothed out her own dark brown hair thrown up into an untamable bun. If Claire knew Alexis’s orthodontist’s office had hotties walking around, she’d at least have combed her hair. Wondering if she had lip gloss on, Claire almost moved her hand to her lips to double check, but she stopped herself in time.

“Yes. I’m Claire.” Tossing the magazine back onto the coffee table, Claire stood. She even remembered to straighten her shoulders.

He offered a hand. “I’m Dr. Clark.” A smile spread across his face, making her middle do a weird flip-turn. “Alexis’s orthodontist. It’s nice to meet you.” His blue eyes dazzled back at her.

Zero chance this guy was single. Claire wanted to do a ring check, but she forced herself to keep her eyes on his face. “Likewise. I’m Claire…” she stammered then waved a hand. “I mean I already told you that.”

Fiddling with her purse strap, Claire waited for him to continue the conversation. She clearly forgot how to speak normally.

Dr. Clark glanced over his shoulder toward Sarah. Claire caught the look they exchanged with one another. He wrung his hands together, shifting back to Claire. “I understand you lost your mom recently.”

“Yes,” Claire paused, glancing in the direction of Sarah. “I did. I mean, we did, Alexis and I.”

Sarah shrank into herself, darting her gaze away and to her computer screen. Quickly, she moved her mouse around and started typing.

“I’m very sorry for your loss,” said Dr. Clark. “Sarah said you were asking about the remaining balance for your sister’s braces?”

Claire managed a nod.

“Please, don’t worry about what you owe.” Dr. Clark waved a hand. “I’d like to drop the remaining balance.”

“Oh…” Her gaze darted between Sarah and Dr. Clark. Claire glanced at her feet then back at him. “I mean, I can’t let you do that. Just tell me the amount, and I’ll figure something out.”

A trickle of sweat dripped down her temple. Why was she sweating so much? It wasn’t even hot.

“No. I insist.” Dr. Clark’s gaze skidded across her face. The worry lines on his brow deepened. Lowering his voice, he continued, “I read what happened in the newspaper. I’m sorry. It’s all so… tragic. It’s the least I can do to help.”

Claire sucked in the air. Her temples rang, while sweat pooled at the small of her back. So, he saw the article in the newspaper and made the connection. In a small town, nothing remained private. Even the parts of life you didn’t want to share.

For the past month, Claire desperately tried to make sense of everything. Losing Mom, wrapping her head around mortality. One minute you’re living your life, then bam everything crashes down on you. Mom, her bedrock, her solid foundation, was gone.

With shaky hands, Claire forced them into the pockets of her jeans. Her eyes burned, a lump forming in her throat. “Thank you then…” Her voice cracked. She averted her gaze, unable to look Dr. Clark in the eye for one more second. The emotions within her danced too close to the surface, trying to break free. Four weeks in, Claire found ways to push them back down. Exhaling, she pleaded with herself to hold it together and not lose it in an orthodontist’s office, with a kind and unassuming man. “We appreciate it.”

Dr. Clark gave a small nod. “Okay then, I’m finishing up with Alexis.” His lips formed a crooked tight smile. “I’ll come get you when she’s ready.” Then he left, returning to the exam room with its half a dozen dental chairs.

Stunned, Claire stumbled back a few steps until she found her seat again. Slumping into a seat, she practiced her breathing method she learned in yoga. Mindlessly, she counted, waiting until her rapid heartrate returned to normal. Eventually, the tremor in her hands subsided too. She managed to remove her hands from her pockets and tightly grip them together on her lap.

A few other patients came and went, giving Claire time to move her thoughts from grief to the kindness of strangers. If she learned anything through this experience, there was no shortage of goodness. Even with the unspeakable bad, the good far outweighed it. Goodness prevailed, and her little community in Pismo Beach overwhelmed her with their generosity. She whispered a silent prayer. Deep in thought, someone calling her name, broke her trance.

“Claire,” Dr. Clark appeared in the threshold between the waiting room and exam room.

“Yes,” Claire stumbled to her feet, eventually finding her footing.

“Why don’t you follow me back?” Dr. Clark motioned for her to follow him. “Alexis’s adjustment is completed.”

Claire wandered behind Dr. Clark into the communal exam room. Alexis was reclined in one of the dental chairs. Dr. Clark sat down on the swivel stool next to her. Grabbing some gloves off the side table, Dr. Clark put them on. Claire remained standing on the other side of Alexis.

Dr. Clark asked Alexis to open her mouth, and Alexis complied.

With his hands in her mouth, Dr. Clark pointed to a few teeth. “I wanted to show you the progress.”

Taking a step closer, Claire leaned in to get a better view of Alexis’s mouth. Her nostrils flared, catching a whiff of his cologne. Mind elsewhere, Claire didn’t listen as Dr. Clark pointed and prodded at her sister’s mouth. Claire wondered how long it took him to get his perfect five o’clock shadow. When Dr. Clark paused, looking over at her, Claire realized her error.

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