Page 113 of Doctorshipped
Grant doesn’t look at me again. His eyes remain fixed on Fiona, and I have this sinking feeling in my stomach that this is the end of what only just started between us.
“Waaaiitt a minute,” Fiona says, tapping her chin like Enola Holmes. “Are you two … ?” She points her finger at us and alternates pointing at Grant and then me and back and forth again.
My face starts to heat and I wish there were a way to hide my blushing.
“You are!” Fiona shouts.
She pauses for the briefest moment, nods her head and says, “Wow! Cool.”
Then, she turns and walks out of the office, leaving us staring at one another. My mouth is slightly agape. Grant’s brow is drawn in.
When Fiona doesn’t come back right away, Grant asks. “Could it just have been that easy?”
“It can’t be, can it?”
Children don’t just put two and two together that their single parent is romantically involved with their tutor and presto-whamo they move on. A child needs compassionate talks and assurance at the least. Therapy. A new puppy. Something.
Grant and I look at one another and we must have the same thought at the same time. We head in the direction Fiona just walked out of the office.
She’s in the kitchen getting herself an afterschool snack.
“Do we need to talk about this?” Grant asks, all clinical and doctor-y, but also with that sweet, thoughtful tone he always takes with his daughter.
“No, but can we go get ice cream? The new seasonal flavors are out, and I want to try pumpkin spice,” Fiona answers.
“Yeah we can get ice cream. But, are you sure you don’t need to talk about me and Jayme?”
“Are you dating now?” Fiona asks, looking at both of us in turn.
“Well, we’d like to be,” Grant answers.
The knot in my chest loosens. He still wants to date me. Even after the furry pen debacle.
“Well then, do it. I think it’s awesome,” Fiona says easily.
“You’re not bothered?” he double checks.
“Why would I be? Jayme’s the coolest person I know. I mean, she’s even an author! And you’re my dad. I love you. This is awesome.”
We’re still staring at her, looks of concern on our faces. Fiona looks back and forth between us.
Then she says, “Grownups. I swear. Why do you have to make things so awkward?”
“Okay. So. Okay. Well then.” Grant mutters, obviously trying to reconcile what we expected with Fiona’s actual reaction.
Fiona looks at us and purses her lips. “See? Awkward.”
Grant and I look at one another. He’s still concerned, but I can see relief just behind the layer that’s ruffled. And beneath that, there aren’t even words for what I see. Or at least there aren’t words I want to dare say yet.
Grant smiles and says, “Well, let’s go have ice cream then. But then it’s straight to tutoring when we get home.”
35
GRANT
Never would I have guessed Fiona would react so blasé to the news that Jayme and I are romantically interested in one another. Fiona’s already being more affectionate with Jayme, grabbing her hand to drag her down to see other ice cream flavor options, and leaning on her shoulder while we wait for the kid behind the counter to scoop up our cones.
Dad finished his “tour” of Bordeaux with Esther, whatever that entailed, and he’s with us now, waiting for his scoop of sugar-free mint chocolate chip.
