Page 83 of Doctorshipped
I’m sequestered in my office with the doors shut while Fiona has a playdate with a child she met in her class. It’s the prime opportunity to review confidential files without compromising any sensitive details to prying eyes. In other words, I’m reading one of Jayme’s books.
In the interest of understanding the tutor who has almost daily access to my child’s mind, it seemed prudent.
The story centers around a vampire, apparently it’s the first in a series. And I’ll admit she’s got me sneaking back to read more. I won’t admit it to her, of course.
I’m so swept up into the dynamics between this vampire and the female of his obsession that I fail to hear the door to my office slide open.
“What’cha reading?” Fiona asks.
I drop the book into my lap as if it could burn me.
“Uh. What can I do for you? Where’s your friend?”
“What were you reading, Daddy? It was a book.”
“It was. Did you need something?”
“Yeah. Maisie and I want popcorn. Can I make some, and then can we make lemonade from scratch?”
“You can.”
I almost breathe a sigh of relief at the change in subject and the distraction a snack provides from the fact that I had been nose deep and fully immersed in fantasy romance, of all things. But, that sigh of relief would have been premature.
Fiona turns to leave my office, but before she steps out she looks over her shoulder and asks. “Was that one of Miss Jayme’s books? I thought I saw a vampire on the front.”
I’ll do many things to avoid humiliation. Lying to my daughter isn’t one of them.
“It was one of Miss Jayme’s books. Can we please not mention this to her? It can be our little secret.”
“Why wouldn’t you tell Miss Jayme. She’d be so happy to know you’re reading her books.”
“She’d be something, alright.”
I picture the self-satisfied smirk on her face.
“Please, trust me, Fee. I need to keep my reading habits private for now.”
“If you say so.”
“I say so.”
I look down in my lap after Fiona shuts my office door. A vampire stares back at me, a mocking expression on his face. He knows he has me in his grip.
Tucking my bookmark into the appropriate page, I open the bottom desk drawer, move all the files forward, and stash the book flat on the bottom at the very back. Even if I were to die tonight, it would take some time for anyone to find the evidence of my tryst with fictional romance.
I make a quick call to the school before all the office staff leave for the day to remind them I’m pulling Fiona from class tomorrow so she can drive with me to pick my dad up from the airport.
* * *
Dad stands in the foyer,his eyes cataloging all the details of this old home. He strolls into my office, looking around again without saying a word. Fiona trails behind him, sidling up and slipping her hand in his.
“What do you think? Do you want to see my room? And the back yard? We had a pet there. I named him Chuck. He was a whistle pig. You probably say groundhog. It’s also woodchuck like that thing we used to say about how much wood could a woodchuck chuck. Remember that?”
Fiona barely takes a breath and then her excited rambling continues.
“Daddy drove Chuck off with stinky soap. Did I tell you about that yet? I think I did. Then we had the guinea pig from my class here. But only for a weekend, and we had to go to a wedding, so we really didn’t get the full experience of being the babysitter for him. Don’t you think I need a pet? I am an only child, after all. I should at least have a pet.”
My dad turns to Fiona and wraps both arms around her. She nestles her head on his chest and loops her arms around his back.
