Page 59 of Hello Doctor

I walked back to the kitchen at the back of the house-turned-office and poured myself a cup of coffee while looking over my schedule for the day.

Doctor Deb had the first appointment for a checkup on her shingles. My chest tightened because I still didn’t have an answer for her. I knew Maya was settling in and doing well here. Plus having Liv made me feel like I could handle something this big. But after I almost crossed a line this morning, I worried I’d mess it up and be on my own with Maya again… I only had a couple weeks left to make a huge decision.

I let out a sigh, scanning the rest of my schedule. There were few back-to-school physicals, and... I rubbed my jaw. Rhett Griffen was coming in for his yearly checkup.

We hadn’t talked much lately because this was rodeo season for him, but I knew he’d see right through me if he asked about Liv. I couldn’t keep my feelings a secret in high school, and they were so much stronger now.

When I saw her protecting my daughter, saw her in danger, all I wanted to do was keep her safe and never let her walk away from my side. Thoughts a boss shouldn’t be having about his nanny, the only person who’d been able to stick it out with Maya and see the amazing little girl she really was.

I let out a silent groan and went to my office, filing paperwork until Doctor Deb came in.

“You look a helluva lot better than the last time I saw you,” I said.

She smirked at me, her papery skin wrinkling deeply. “You look a lot more comfortable at my desk.”

I chuckled, leading her back to the exam room. “How’s your nerve pain?” I asked her.

“Comes and goes,” she said.

“I’ll prescribe you a painkiller to use as needed, but I think you’re out of the woods on this one.”

She nodded happily, standing from the exam table after I looked her over. “Have you given any thought to purchasing the practice?”

I stood from my rolling chair. “I’ve given it a lot of thought but haven’t found any answers.”

She studied me for a moment, her sharp brown eyes seeing too much. “How do you like being back in Cottonwood Falls?”

“Maya is doing great here,” I said.

She studied me for a moment. “And you?”

“Why do I feel like I’m not the one doing the examining anymore?”

“You can sit on the table if you’d rather,” she said with a wink.

I chuckled, folding my arms across my chest.

“Can you humor an old woman by letting her give you some advice?”

I nodded. “But I’d hardly call you an old woman.”

She pinched my cheek. “You charmer.” She looked at me closely before saying, “This job is different than being a city doctor. You’re this town’s lifeline, and that means you see it all, the good and the horribly, terribly bad... Make sure you’re doing things that make you happy and fill your soul outside of work as well.”

I nodded, feeling understood. There weren’t a lot of people who got what this job was like or even really wanted to talk about it. But she did.

“Thanks, Doctor Deb, for everything.”

She gave me a wink. “It’s just Deb now.”

I walked her out of the office, but I thought about her words long after she left. By the time Rhett came in for his appointment, I was ready to talk to him about Liv. Because of all the things that filled my soul since I’d been home? It had been moments spent with her and Maya. Watching movies together, seeing her braid Maya’s hair, teasing each other, walking down memory lane.

And with Liv’s promise to Maya this morning, I knew she wouldn’t break it.

29

Fletcher

Rhett sauntered into the office, still wearing his jeans and boots from work. He looked so out of place sitting on the exam table, boot-clad feet dangling over the edge.

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