Page 39 of Accidental Doctor Daddy

Dom had sent this.

A lump formed in my throat. I didn’t know what to think. Why would he do this? After our talk in the hospital, I hadn’t seen him again. I was too focused on the babies to think about him, but even more than that, I had to put him out of my mind, or I’d break down and tell him everything.

Why send me an oversized baby basket?

“Who’s name is on the card?” Carrie asked, shaking me from the thought.

“The nurses sent it,” I blurted out the lie. “They doted on the girls the entire time we were there. And me. They said I was one of their best patients, and the girls were even better. I figured they said that to all the patients. But I guess they wanted to spoil them.”

“That’s sweet of them.”

I nodded quickly, heart hammering as I untied the bow, peeling away the wrapping. Inside among the champagne bottles was a collection of baby essentials—organic cottononesies, soft blankets, tiny socks, and plush toys. French-milled chamomile soaps. Two of everything, bare minimum. There were bottles of baby shampoo, delicate lavender-scented lotions, even a small, hand-knitted hat in each of my daughters’ names.

But at the very bottom, buried beneath all the thoughtful gifts, was something that made my breath catch.

A pink plastic mermaid.

The same mermaid that had once hung from the rim of my cocktail on the island.

I had forgotten all about it.

But he hadn’t.

He hadkept it.

My fingers trembled as I closed around the tiny figurine, my chest tightening.

Beneath it was a small card with his number scrawled across it.

His phone number.

I stared at it, unsure what to do.

“What else is in there?” Carrie asked, peering over.

I quickly slid the mermaid and the card into my palm and tucked them into my sweater pocket. I forced a smile. “Just more blankets.” I grabbed one and held it up.

She nodded approvingly. “The nurses went all out. I’ll have to tell my other friends to have babies at Seth’s hospital.”

“Right. Seth’s hospital.” The most dangerous place in the world for me happened to be the place that saved me and my daughters.Conflictedwas not a strong enough word for how I felt about that place.

Later, after Carrie had left and the apartment had gone quiet, I sat alone in the dim light of my living room, staring at the cheap plastic mermaid in my hand.

I was still in contact with some of the restaurants in Chicago to keep my options open. Dom’s number felt like a weight in mypocket. I wanted to dial it. I wanted to tell him everything and let the chips fall where they may. But I also wanted Chicago for my girls.

There was no debating it really. I wanted to be the best mom I could, which meant I couldn’t afford to be hung up on some guy I had one night with almost nine months ago. No matter how he made me feel.

But as I turned the tiny plastic mermaid over between my fingers, my thoughts shifted. Back to the island. Back to who I was that night. Before babies, before knowing who Dom was, before things became real.

That was the odd thing about vacation sex. It was amazing, in part, because you knew it was temporary. Flings had an air of magic to them. This liminal thing barely existed in reality yet gave life so much meaning.

Thoughts of Chicago had faded. I was wondering about Dom.

The one who got away.

I fingered the edge of the card with his number on it. So many possibilities on such a small piece of paper.

A cry broke out in the other room, and I was on my feet before I knew what I was doing. By the time I reached the bassinets, I remembered why I needed Chicago in the first place.

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