Page 120 of Hello Doctor

Maya was going home with her after the party, and it would just be Liv and me and the chasm my past had created between us.

I carefully folded some of Maya’s favorite dresses, setting them in the suitcase. Her clothes with the eight on the tag were just a reminder of her growth. I remembered packing up her infant clothes and wondering how so many of them still had brand-new tags. Then boxing up her toddler clothes and not believing that she’d ever been so small. Before I knew it, she’d be ten, then a teenager, and moving on to live a life of her own.

My little girl.

The doorbell echoed through the house, and Graham yapped loudly, his claws scrabbling over the hardwood toward the foyer.

“Oh hush,” I told him, following him to the front door.

When I opened it, I saw Regina in a flowy white shirt and denim shorts beside my old colleague, Ben. He wore swim trunks and a T-shirt, different from the business clothing I’d always seen him in.

“Fletcher,” he said, extending his hand.

I nodded, wishing I could say it was good to see him. “Come on in.”

They followed me inside, and Regina said, “Wow, I didn’t know they made houses like this in the boonies.”

I tried to ignore the jab at small-town living and said, “It’s a nice place for Maya and me to call home.”

She didn’t reply, looking around.

“Maya should be back soon,” I said. “Why don’t you two sit in the living room. Can I get you a drink?”

“I’d love a beer,” Ben said.

You and me both, I thought.

“Just water,” Regina replied, following Ben to the couch. “Where’s Liv?”

Going to the fridge, I said, “She’s prepping for the party. She’s been so good to Maya today.”

I’d brought them both drinks when my brother’s loud truck came roaring into the driveway.

“Hayes?” Regina asked knowingly.

I chuckled. “Some things never change.”

Soon, Maya came running into the house, a ring of chocolate around her lips. “MOMMY!” She ran to Regina, leaping into her arms.

To her credit, Regina didn’t pull away from all the chocolate, instead circling her arms around our daughter. With Maya still on her lap, Regina said, “Maya, this is my boyfriend, Ben. Phoebe’s dad.”

“Hi,” Maya said shyly.

“Nice to meet you,” Ben said with a smile. “I heard you met Phoebe at Sugar Rush.”

Maya nodded. “Did she come for the party?”

Ben shook his head. “She’s with her mom this weekend.”

Hayes and Knox came into the house in their swim trunks and cut-off T-shirts. They were nice enough to Regina and Ben, saying hi before Knox said, “Should we head out to the river, Fletch?”

I nodded. “It’s about that time.”

Maya asked, “Can I ride with Mommy and Ben?”

The fact that she didn’t want to ride with me hit me in the gut. I knew I shouldn’t be jealous, but some things didn’t come so naturally. “If it’s okay with your mom, it’s okay with me,” I finally said.

Regina smiled. “Of course it is. Ben, can you carry her bag to the trunk?”

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