Page 14 of Lost and Found

“Oh good,” I reply, with a sigh.

“I’m so sorry I made you worry, Paige.” I wave my hand in dismissal, because I really caused my own worry. “I actually had an idea. Music is sometimes a great motivation for a lot of people. So, I brought my iPod for you and I made a playlist that I thought you might like to listen to while doing this physical therapy.”

I’m stunned by his words. I can’t believe he actually took the time out of, what I’m sure is a packed schedule, to make me a playlist as motivation. Annie was right when she said he was a great doctor. He’s going above and beyond. “Dr. Reid, that’s too kind of you. You didn’t have to take the time to do that.”

“It wasn’t a problem. Barely took any time at all,” he says, as he hands me his iPod.

I don’t take the device from him. “I can’t take your iPod from you. It doesn’t seem right.”

“Paige, it's fine. I use music streaming apps from my phone now. It’s much easier for me, plus I’ll still be seeing you. You’re still my patient. I’ll get it back later on,” he tells me, still holding out the iPod to me.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious about this playlist he made, but I still feel guilty taking his iPod. When I meet his eyes, it becomes evident that he is determined for me to take this. I smile and take it from his hand. “Thank you, I really appreciate this.”

“No problem.” He stands up. “I’m going to go start on your release papers now. Arden should be here any minute.” I nod and watch him as he disappears down the hallway, and I slip an earbud into my ear and start the playlist. Instantly, the beat of the music flows through my body and I take a deep breath. I love it. It almost feels like this was a piece of me that was missing. I find myself swaying to the music and humming along. I’ll never be able to repay him for this.

Arden shows up a little bit later with Gideon in tow, and a bag of my things on her other arm. I smile as Dr. Reid takes Gideon, so that Arden can help me get dressed. Something about seeing Reid and Gideon together causes a pain in my head and heart. Why? I don’t know. It doesn’t make any sense, but I feel like something is missing. I just wish I knew what exactly that was.

Once I’m dressed in a medium blue maxi dress with a denim vest over it and a pair of gladiator sandals, Arden offers to do my hair. I accept and she pulls my hair back into a ponytail. Looking in the mirror, I now feel a sense of familiarity. As I step out of the bathroom, Gideon looks up at me. “Auntie Paige,” he says, as he runs over and wraps his tiny arms around one of my legs. “I miss you.”

My heart soars at his words and it’s like I’ve experienced this same moment before. It’s not just familiar, it’s more like déjà vu. I bend down and pat his tiny back. I have to fight the urge to pick him up. I want to, but I worry that with my motor skills being slow, I might drop and hurt him. “I miss you too, sweetheart.” He smiles up at me with his big brown eyes and curly hair.

“You come home with us,” he tells me. I laugh and nod. Gideon jumps up and down then runs back over to Reid. “You come home with us too.”

Reid chuckles, but our eyes meet over the top of Gideon’s head. For a moment, I forget to breathe. There’s something that passes between us, and in that moment, it’s just the two of us, Arden and Gideon disappear. Gideon breaks the moment when he reaches up and runs his tiny hand across Reid’s stubble filled jawline. He looks back down at Gideon and I take a deep breath. “No, I won’t come home with you, but I’ll see you at your mommy’s work like I always do.”

Gideon crosses his arms and pouts. “I want you to come to.”

“Next time little man,” Reid tells him, as he reaches forward and tickles Gideon. His little giggles fill the room. The noise sends another pain through my head and heart. I shake my head and Arden reaches out to me.

“You okay?”

I nod. “Yeah, just having some sharp pains in my head.”

Reid stands up and makes his way over to us. “That’s normal with head trauma. As long as it’s not constant, then it’s okay. If ever becomes constant though, you need to see me immediately.”

I nod and the nurse shows up with a wheelchair to take me downstairs. Gideon asks to ride in my lap and I feel like that’s something I can manage, so Reid picks him up and places him in my lap. Our hands graze against each other and we both freeze for a moment. What the hell is going on with us today? He dismisses the nurse, insisting he pushes us out. I’d argue that we didn’t need the wheelchair at all, except I’m sure we do and it’s a protocol as I’ve already been told.

Arden and Gideon go to collect the car before coming around to pick me up at the entrance. Reid stands behind me, his presence causes the hair on my neck to stand up. I feel like I want to say something, but I don’t know what, so I just stay quiet until Arden arrives. Once I’m in the car, I do tell him thank you and he shakes his head. “You don’t need to thank me.” But I did, or at least I felt I did.

Chapter Thirteen

Reid

It’s been almost a week since I’ve seen Paige. My life feels like there is something missing from it and I know it’s her. It’s silly though. She was just my patient and I’ve never felt this kind of connection to a patient before. I’ll see her Monday for her checkup, but that means today is going to be like the rest of the days since her release from the hospital.

Today, I volunteer at the children’s clinic with Arden, so at least I might get an update about how Paige is doing. I’m assuming she’s been okay, since Arden hasn’t reached out and neither has Raul, Paige’s new physical therapist. Radio silence is usually a good sign.

I park and head inside, however, I freeze as I look at the reception desk. Sitting there with her hair down, falling around her shoulders, is Paige. She looks up and seems slightly surprised by my presence as well. I smile and walk over to the desk. Completely aware that there is a room of patients and their parents are watching us. “Paige, I didn’t know you’d be here.”

She smiles and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “Yeah, Arden gave me a job to help me get a routine. It’s been really good actually. I like not just sitting around in the empty house,” she explains, as she points to her head.

I nod. “That’s great. Getting back into a routine can sometimes be difficult after an injury like yours, so it’s really good that you were willing to jump back into the saddle like this.”

“Thank you. What about you? What are you doing here? Did we have a head trauma patient that I missed?” she asks, looking at the stack of files on her desk.

“No,” I tell her shaking my head. “I volunteer here on Saturdays and after hours if needed.”

She gives me a look of admiration. “Wow, you really are a great doctor. I mean, do you ever do anything aside from work?”

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