41. Chapter 41
Chapter 41
Caroline
One step closer to MD. Congrats, Caroline!
I read the massive banner hanging in the ortho residency lounge several times as noise erupts around me, trying to sear this moment into my memory. Every sound, every smile, every detail—I want to hold onto it forever.
Cassidy and my brother are proudly standing behind a giant cookie cake with the word “ PASS ” scrawled in black frosting, just like it appeared on the board website. Beau has his arms wrapped around my sister, the two of them cheering louder than anyone in the center of the room. And beside them, Walker and Morgan are each gripping one of Carter’s hands, holding him steady as he stands between them.
My throat tightens, tears pricking at the edges of my eyes as I glance at Weston.
He’s so much more than he let the world see for his entire life—so much more than he let me see until recently. When he came back into my life, I was terrified that he was going to break me. But it turns out that he healed me instead.
He pulled me out of my head and reminded me of the important things in life, even when he knew I wouldn’t listen. He opened my heart and changed my perspective, even when I swore he would never change. He stuck by my side and left the porch light on, even when I wasn’t ready to climb up his steps.
Weston Southerland is my favorite thing to be happy about. He will always be my favorite thing to be happy about.
Weston beams down at me, looking more proud in this moment than he did when we were alone together in his office. He knows how important these people are to me—because they’re just as important to him.
When my mom died, it felt like we were alone. Just three siblings, drifting apart without the one person who had always held us together. But Midtown Memorial Hospital changed everything.
It changed us.
We’ve each found people who have forced us to grow in ways that we never thought we could. And we’ve added a few bonus family members along the way.
I can confidently say that who we were before Cassidy, Beau, Morgan, Walker, and Weston came into our lives, was nothing compared to who we are today. And for that, I am forever grateful.
“Thank you,” I manage, blinking up at the man who continues to surprise me each and every day. “I don’t know how you did this . . . but thank you, Wes.”
Weston squeezes my hand as our friends rush forward. “You deserve it, princess.”
My sister barrels into me first, pulling me into her arms.
“Did you know?” she asks, spinning me in circles until I feel like I’m going to dry heave. “This morning when we saw you, did you know?”
Claire pauses but keeps a firm grip on my arms, her icy-blue eyes sparkling with excitement. “I told BB he was so obvious, and that he was going to ruin the surprise.”
“BB?” I frown, trying to keep up.
She jerks her chin toward the giant brute beside her. “Bologna Beau.”
“Congrats, Sis,” Beau says warmly, wrapping his beefy arms around me in the biggest bear hug I’ve ever received. “I knew you could do it.”
I pull back and shoot him a quick wink. “Thanks, Bro.”
Both Beau and Claire’s faces light up.
“P,” my sister yells excitedly across the room. “See how Carol just called him bro? And then he called her sis? It’s not that hard. Your turn. Say it with me. ‘ Brother Beau. ’”
Parker shakes his head. “If it ever happens, it’ll be when you least expect it.”
Claire sticks her tongue out at him, grabbing Beau’s hand to drag him across the room as Morgan and Cassidy walk up to me.
“How’s the nausea, Morg?” I ask, taking note of the piece of cake already in her hand.
She licks a dollop of white icing off her lips, her emerald-green eyes glimmering with wickedness. “Much better thanks to those ginger candies. I mean, I truly don’t know what I would have done without you.”
I turn to Cassidy. “I can’t believe she roped you into this.”
She laughs and adjusts her blonde ponytail at the top of her head. “You think I had a choice?”
Morgan points to herself innocently.
“I’m just a girl, Cass,” she says, her mouth half-full after taking another bite. “Don’t let little old me boss you around.”
“Yeah, okay,” Cassidy replies dryly. “Though to be fair, Wes was the one who organized everything. All we had to do was show up.”
Morgan lets out a satisfied hum as she glances across the room. “Walkie even picked Carter up from daycare. God, isn’t he going to be the best dad?”
I follow her gaze, focusing on Weston instead of Walker.
He’s holding his son in his arms as he talks to his friend, and I feel something in my chest tighten. The fact that he planned this before he even knew my results makes me want to thank him a million times over—in every way I can think of. Our relationship might be new, but I have no doubt in my mind that it’s going to last—we’re going to last.
I bite my lower lip, thinking about how much planning this must have taken. “What . . . uh . . . did Wes tell you guys?”
“Just that you—”
Morgan presses a frosting-covered finger to Cassidy’s lips, cutting her off.
“Why?” She tilts her head suspiciously. “What was in the backpack, huh? He put some sort of stupid lock on it, so I couldn’t open it. But you sure were gone a long time.”
When I don’t immediately respond, she bounces up and down, letting out a loud squeal.
“Oh. My. God. Did you guys fuck in his office?”
My cheeks flame. “Morgan.”
“Alright,” my brother’s voice cuts through the chaos as he joins us, his jaw flexing like it’s about to come unhinged. “Clearly now is a bad time.”
Morgan grins, unfazed. “It is. Please come back later, Parkwad.”
“Now is perfect,” I counter.
I shoot Cassidy a pleading look to rein Morgan in, then grab Parker’s hand and drag him toward the cake table before things get really awkward.
“So . . . busy caseload today?”I ask, deciding to start off easy.
I pick up a corner piece and place it on a plate, handing it to my brother before taking one for myself.
Parker chuckles. “Not nearly as busy as it was when I was in residency.”
I nod and take a bite of cookie because I don’t know what else to say. My brother and I haven’t spoken since his blowup at family dinner, even though Cassidy has tried to apologize for him about a million times.
“I hope you know that I’m proud of you,” he says, studying me closely with his midnight-blue eyes. “And Mom and Dad would be proud of you too . . . we’re all proud of you, Caroline.”
“Thanks,” I choke out, trying to swallow down the ball of emotion in my throat. “Well, you know, there’s still a long way to go.”I shudder, thinking about the next few years and what they’re going to bring.
“True. But no matter where you end up, you’ll have all of us supporting you through it.” His expression softens as he looks across the room at his best friend. “Especially Wes.”
I follow his gaze and let out an unwilling laugh, thinking about how far we’ve come. I would scoff every time I heard his name, and now the only thing I do when I hear it is smile.
“Who would’ve thought?”
“I should have known.” Parker’s lips tilt into a genuine smile as he turns toward me. “But now that I do, I can’t think of anyone better for you. And I’m sorry if I ever made you doubt that . . . I’m sorry for a lot of things. For—”
I interrupt, pulling him into a tight hug. “I know, P.”
He doesn’t have to say anything else because I don’t want to keep looking back. I want to look forward—to the new beginning for the both of us.
I’ve lived in my brother’s shadow for my entire life, and now that I’ve become more confident in my path—in my voice—he can finally let go. Well . . . as much as a control freak can let go.
“Hey, now,” a familiar southern voice calls as Parker and I step back. “What’s all this about?”
Walker’s face lights up and he laughs, crossing the room to pull the gorgeous man that I met this morning into a hug.
My brother gives me a confused look, and I can only shrug as I move to join them.
Weston shifts Carter to one arm and wraps his free hand around my waist.
“Everyone,” Walker announces, turning back to the group. “This is Dr. Worth Daley. We went to med school together, and he decided to stop by since he’s in town for a plastics conference.”
“Worth.” Walker gestures vaguely to all of us. “This is everyone.”
Worth surveys the group, but his eyes land on us. “Oh, I’m familiar with Wes and Caroline.”
He shoots me a wink that makes my skin tingle as he steps forward, and I notice Walker’s lips twitch like he knows far more about our relationship than he should.
“And who’s this little dude?” Worth asks, crouching down to get a better look at Carter.
“No,” Carter responds, making the whole room burst into laughter at his new favorite word.
“Carter,” Weston corrects, shaking his head with an amused smile. “His name is Carter.”
Morgan steps forward, a wide grin splitting her face. “And I’m Morgan. Walker’s accidental wife, and alleged baby mama.” She bats her thick lashes at him. “I don’t normally like doctors, but you are . . . wow.”
Walker growls under his breath, his dark eyes narrowing as he sweeps Morgan up beneath her arms and deposits her several feet away. “Alright, little devil. That’s enough from you for now.”
“Hang on.” Worth’s forest-green eyes dart between me and my siblings like he’s putting together the pieces of a genetic puzzle. “Are you three related?”
“Duh.” Claire pipes up, deciding to take charge. Her bright-blue eyes shine with pride as she points to herself. “I’m Claire Winters, and I work here for fun—mostly so I can see my boyfriend, Beau.” She jerks her thumb toward the man beside her. “He works in this lounge and fixes bone owies in the OR.”
Beau gives Worth a friendly nod as he grumbles something under his breath about how writing notes should be outlawed.
Claire plows on. “That’s our brother, Parker Winters. He does regular-degular surgery. And Cassidy, his wife, works in the emergency room as a nurse with Morgan.”
“General surgery,” Parker corrects.
“Same thing, P . . . nobody cares about your boring, loser surgeries.”
I press my lips together to stifle a laugh, but Morgan lets hers loose. “I knew I trained her well.”
“It’s nice to meet everyone.” Worth’s mouth widens into a stunning grin that shows off his ridiculously white teeth. “So you all work together?”
“Some of us more than others . . . unfortunately.” Parker shoots a pointed look at Morgan who just sticks her tongue out at him.
Worth runs his hand through his chocolate-brown hair and chuckles.“This place sounds like an HR nightmare.”
As everyone laughs and continues to banter, I pull out my phone and start adding another item to my list of things to be happy about.
Weston squeezes my side, reading the words as I type them. “That’s a good one.”
I smile at him. “It’s the best one.”
My family at Midtown Memorial Hospital.