Page 8 of Healing Hazel
“I’m afraid I can’t answer that one, but seeing as I didn’t fib, the question has no relevance.” Before she could voice her opinion, I extended my hand to help her off the exam table. “You asked if George is going to get his wish and the answer is indeed yes as his wish is to be a big brother, which will happen regardless of whether it’s to a sister or a brother. And, if that’s not enough, I do seem to remember a certain Little girl askednotto be told Baby B’s sex as she wants to be surprised.”
The mouth that had opened to protest closed and she looked a bit chagrinned. “I did, didn’t I?”
“Yes, little girl, you did.” I flipped the top sheet of her file up and showed her the note I’d recorded for this express purpose. I clicked my pen and held it above the box dealing with gender reveals. “Unless you’ve changed your mind?”
She took a moment to consider. “Have you talked to Brooke?”
“Why does everyone keep asking me that?” I asked, letting the page fall.
Moira looked as surprised as I felt. “Who’s everyone?”
“Never mind, and if you’re asking if Brooke has asked the gender of Baby Bean, the answer is no, at least not yet. Seems you two are not only besties and pregnant at the same time, you both like surprises.”
That earned me another smile. “Doctor, every woman, Big or Little, submissive or Dominant loves surprises. Well, maybe not scary or bad ones, but when they are good, they are just so fabulous! If you don’t believe me, start handing out happy surprises and see how much a simple gesture can brighten up even the darkest day.”
Moira might be a Little, but she had so much depth and understanding, one could learn a lot from just listening. “What flavors of lollipop do you want for being such a good patient?”
“Gloria loves cherry and grape for George, please.”
And did I mention she was one hell of a great mother? Taking her words to heart, I pulled those flavors out of the jar on the counter with the wordsGoodies for the Goodprinted in bright colorful letters across the front. “And how about Baby B, what flavor do they prefer?”
“They? Are you telling me there’s more than one?”
The slight rise in her voice told me that was a surprise she’d most likely consider not so fabulous. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you, though you handle your two better than some manage a single child, but no. I’m just not letting this visit turn into an unexpected gender reveal and am trying to brighten the world by offering Baby B’s momma her very own lolly.”
Her smile was wide and she tapped her finger against her lips as if deciding on the fate of said world. “Well, it seemstheywant a sour apple and a watermelon.”
Chuckling, I pulled those from the jar as well. “Seeing as those are fruits, I see no reason why they can’t have both.”
She was laughing as we entered the hallway and my world was definitely brightened when two tow-headed little kids caught sight of her and raced to show off their very colorful turkeys. If I had any plans on pulling Hazel into the exam room, they were nixed when I saw the people seated in the waiting room. I faced the reality that it was going to be a busy day, but furthered my resolve that it wouldn’t end until Hazel and I completed our appointment as well no matter how many times she busied herself whenever I stepped out of an exam room before stepping into another.
My day ran a half hour late, but finally, the last of the scheduled visits were done and though the clinic remained open24/7 just in case of an emergency, I was off-duty unless someone went into labor. I scrawled my name at the bottom of the last file and flipped it closed. Taking the stack with the intention of returning the files to the front desk, my mouth opened to inform Hazel I’d see her only to realize that was going to be rather difficult when the person seated at the desk wasn’t my girl. In fact, it wasn’t a girl at all.
“Hi, late day?”
“Feels like I’ve been running behind for quite a while now,” I said, realizing that covered far more than his simple question. “How are you doing, David?”
“No complaints. Anything I should know or any one about to pop I should be aware of?”
He was one of the calmest people I’d ever met. From his hair pulled back into a rather messy bun to his Hawaiian button-down shirt featuring tiki torches and thatched-roof huts, it was so easy to picture him riding a surfboard into the white sands of some tropical beach rather than riding the desk at a clinic in the middle of Montana. But looks were so often deceiving. David Braxton was not only certified in physical therapy, he’d earned a list of qualifications longer than my arm. And he was very, very good at his job.
“No babies due for a couple of months still, and then Rawhide will have a bit of a baby boom, but tonight looks like it’ll be calm.”
“Sounds good, I’ll get some reading in.”
I was about to ask what latest bestseller he was reading, when he held up a thick textbook with a title that took up the entire cover. “I’d tell you the butler did it, but don’t want to spoil it for you.”
He chuckled and I accepted the fact that Hazel had indeed escaped. Which left me not only a bit upset, but meant I’d be walking home as well. I was just about to consider it as stockingup expended calories for tomorrow’s breakfast when a shadow shifted against the clinic’s façade. My relief didn’t come from the fact I wouldn’t be walking or that the shadow didn’t have protective instincts flaring. It came in the softly spoken, “Hi.”
I pretended to look around as I walked toward her. “Funny, I don’t remember moving my desk outside.”
She looked from me to the parking lot where just two cars sat side by side and back again. “Really? I must have mistaken David’s Nissan for your desk. I mean, it sort of resembles a cube.”
Chuckling, I felt the tension of the day finally drain out of me as I opened my arms. “I could use a hug, how about you?”
The fact that she practically flew into my arms gave me more hope than any words she could have spoken. And the wrapping of her arms around my waist warmed far more than my body. Lowering my head, I nuzzled the pom-pom of her knitted hat and simply held her. Finally, she made the first move and that was only to tilt her head back to look up at me.
“Why do you think it is that you’ve never spanked me?”
