Page 10 of Baby Maker

“I’m not seeing Megan if that’s what you’re asking.”

“Keegan, what do you see in her?”

“There’s plenty to see in her, Alice. You’ve got eyes.”

“Don’t be a heathen. You need a nice woman. An intelligent woman. Someone you’ll actually want to spend time with.”

I raise my hand, slowing her roll. “That’s the whole point with Megan. She doesn’t require the work of a regular relationship.”

“She doesn’t have enough brain cells to spell the word relationship.”

“She graduated college.”

“With a degree in interpretive dance. There are monkeys with higher IQs.”

Settling back against the chair, I meet my manager’s gaze. “I know you’re not Megan’s biggest fan, but you’re especially harsh today.”

“Might have some to do with the fact that she called a total of twenty times. Twenty, Keegan. The last five, she demanded that I burst into your patient appointment so you could provide your opinion on her choice of footwear. She has no concept of reality, and never will, so long as you don’t force her to behave like an adult.”

I cringe at the knowledge that my fuck buddy has driven my office manager to distraction. “I’ll speak with her and tell her she can’t continue in this vein. I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry for you. A good woman—a real woman—would do wonders for you. Forget the floozies. They’re not worth the energy.”

“You know I’m not relationship material. I have no desire to bind myself to one person for the rest of my life.”

She leans across the desk, squeezing my arm. “Just because your father let you and your mother down doesn’t mean that you’ll repeat his mistakes. Stop thinking that every woman is out to get the better of you.”

“If I keep them all at arms’ length, I never have to take that chance.”

Alice rolls her eyes, her signal that she’s dropping the topic. For now. “This is Mrs. Webster’s file. Her former physician sent over her health history.”

I glance at the folder. For some reason, that petite woman hasn’t left my mind all afternoon. “I’ll take a look. Thank you.”

“Why can’t you date someone like her?”

“Like who?”

“Mrs. Webster.”

“Because Calliope is unavailable and desperately wanting a child? Those are but two of the roadblocks I see.”

“Heaven forbid you dated a woman who wanted a future.”

“Alice, she’s not single. I’m not sure what her deal is, to be honest. She was quite evasive about her partner.”

“Her paperwork states that she’s a widow.” With a final tap on the folder, she walks to the door. “Have a good evening, Doctor.”

I snatch Calliope’s folder from my desk before the door closes, flipping the pages to her history. Sure enough, she’s a widow. A young widow. Suddenly this case, one that seemed so cut and dried, has taken a turn into interesting territory.

No wonder she didn’t mention a partner. She doesn’t have one.

I’m not sure why my mind is hung up on that fact. It doesn’t change a damn thing.

My phone buzzes, interrupting my reading. It’s Megan. Again. With a grunt, I flip the folder closed before answering her call.

But as I listen to Megan prattle on about some inane topic, Alice’s words hover in the forefront of my mind.

Maybe I should start looking for a woman who’s more than the wrapping paper. Someone who’s the complete package.

Someone like Mrs. Webster. Calliope.

I jerk in my chair as the sentence flashes across my brain.

No. Just no. On so many levels. Don’t even go there, Keegan. She is untouchable.

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