Page 40 of Hot Doctor & Secret Baby

"Okay. Let's go. If you're sure that's how you want to spend your Saturday."

"I can't think of anything I'd rather do more," he smiles.

I ignore how weird it is to see him act like this. He wasn't even this sweet back in college. He was always more of a smart ass back then, even if I knew all of his teasing was just his way of flirting.

I also have to ignore the nagging feeling that he just feels sorry for me, and that he'd riddled with guilt over the truth of what happened back then.

I ignore all of that and decide that at least for today - I don't care. Having a little fun with Addy is more important than all of that, just for a little while.

Addy isn't too thrilled about the amusement park at first, and she's definitely not thrilled about Ashford, of all people, coming with us. But once we're there, she relaxes in no time. It's good to see her smiling and laughing again.

After a few rollercoasters and pitiful attempts at both ring toss and the shooting range, we decide to indulge in all of the horribly splendid foods that can only be found at places like these.

Ashford and Addy settle into one of the picnic tables with some funnel cake and hot dogs. I finish my hot dog first and decide to go for some ice cream. As I'm coming back to the table, I hear the two of them talking and hang back within earshot for a minute to give them some privacy.

"How old were you?" Addy asks him.

"Nine," he replies. "What about you?"

"I was only three when my mom died," she answers with her bottom lip trembling. "Sometimes it's hard to talk to Aunt Vanessa about it. I know she tries really hard. It's not her fault. But she has a whole life of memories of my mom. I can barely remember anything, and the things I do remember… I don't know."

"It's not enough," he finishes the thought for her with a knowing nod. "But I'll let you in on a secret…it's never enough. You can have three minutes, three years, or three decades with someone you love, and it will never feel like enough after they're gone."

"Do you still talk to your dad?" Addy asks, studying him carefully.

Ashford shakes his head. "No, sadly he's gone now too."

"Do you have any brothers or sisters?"

"Nope. What about you?"

"No," she says. "We're all alone."

"What?"

"We're all orphans. You, me, and Aunt Vanessa. We're all orphans. We don't have any parents or siblings. We're all alone."

"Huh…you know, I guess you're right about us being orphans, but…we're not alone. We have each other. And good thing too. Us orphans have to stick together."

20

Vanessa

Idon't know what to think of this new version of Joshua.

Maybe he was right. Maybe the real reason I didn't confront him ten years ago was that I was more afraid of what could happen if I did find it in myself to forgive him. And now…I know what that possibility looks like. More importantly, I know what it feels like. And truthfully, it comes to me a lot easier than I ever thought it could.

We have an amazing time at the amusement park until it starts to rain. Somehow, even getting rained on is fun with him around. We have a great time running back to the car, laughing the whole way. Actually, I laugh harder than I have in...I can't remember how long. We pile into the car soaking wet and breathless with giant smiles plastered on our faces.

I've been so busy with work...I forgot how to do this. I forgot how to have fun.

We head back to my place where Addy instantly retreats to her room.

"Don't mind her," I tell him, waving it off. "These days she has a very small threshold for how long she can stand to be around her lame aunt."

"She'll change her mind when the pizza gets here," he winks.

Pizza? He wants to hang around and order pizza?

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