Page 46 of The Cannon
As expected, they’ve welcomed him into their homes and hearts. He’s blossomed with the experience. I want to hold back, in an effort to protect him, in case our relationship falls apart. But when I consider the truth of the matter and how good it is for him to be part of a family, hesitation falls away.
Even if we fail, my family will still be friends with Sawyer. That’s just who they are. And it’s who I am too.
“Dr. Swift,” my office manager says, knocking on my open door.
I look up from my patient notes, which I was pretending to read.
“Come in, Paula.”
The tiny five-foot blonde package comes in and sits on the corner of my desk. These final moments in our workday happen on a regular basis.
“I’m taking off. Is there anything you need?”
“No. Thank you though. Oh, wait! Did Fremont School schedule inoculations yet for the next school year?”
“Not yet. I’ll follow up on Monday.”
“That’s fine. My schedule is getting full. Have a good weekend.”
She hesitates as she saunters to the door, picking an imaginary paint chip from the frame. “Are you going to the game tonight?”
I chuckle at her smooth way to get me talking about Sawyer. “No. We’re going out afterwards and I just don’t have the time to fit in everything I have to do.”
“Do you think he’s ever going to visit you here at the office?”
Her eyes widen just a bit with the question.
“Paula, are you hitting on my boyfriend?” I laugh when I say it, but she takes me seriously for a moment.
“What? As if! No, Dr. Swift, I just…”
Holding up my palms, I stop her indignant explanation. “I’m kidding!”
A relieved smile lifts the corners of her mouth and her body relaxes. “Oh! Good.”
“But I don’t see why he couldn’t come for a short visit,” I say.
To say the information is well received is understatement at its finest. Now her face takes on a completely new look. Excitement, anticipation, shock.
“Quit burying the lead, doctor! Really? Don’t tease a girl.”
As I get up to gather my belongings, I formulate an idea.
“Maybe we could have a few of the patients here on a day he’s free. I’m certain there’s some who would like to meet the new player. There’s a handful I’d love to give a lift to. They’re going through some pretty heavy things.”
“That would be so cool, doctor.”
“Tell you what. Make a list of maybe five, six boys and girls. I’ll call their parents and ask if they’d even be interested. Of course it’s predicated on Sawyer agreeing in the first place.”
“He will. He’s one of the good guys.”
I chuckle at her schooling me on my man.
“I’m so excited, doctor! I’ll start thinking about it this weekend.”
“Just don’t go into cardiac arrhythmia while you do it.”
* * *
