19. Win #2
Once we’re in Rose’s car, it’s a short drive down the road to Murph’s office. He’s waiting outside, leaning against the wall with his arms folded. The deep furrows in his brow smooth when he sees us, and he straightens and walks to the curb as Rose pulls up.
As Rose moves to get out, Murph shakes his head. “I’ve got him.” He opens Ben’s door and helps him out of his car seat, telling him. “Everyone’s excited to see you, little man. How about we do some drawing of all the houses we’re going to be building soon?”
Clutching the remains of his chocolate shake in his takeout cup, Ben beams and nods his head vigorously.
Murph turns to Rose. “He’ll be fine with me. Take as long as you need, okay?”
She smiles at him. “I’ll see you in a little bit, Ben.”
“Bye, Mommy.” Ben pulls at Murph’s hand, eager to get into the office.
Murph hesitates outside Rose’s open window, eyes dropping to Ben, whose hand he’s holding.
If Ben weren’t there, he’d have kissed her goodbye, but we’ve been leaving physical displays of affection around Ben for Rose to initiate.
None of us wants him—or Rose—to feel like we’re taking his dad’s place.
But as Murph turns to lead Ben inside, Rose catches his wrist and tugs him back to her window before touching her lips to his. “Thanks.”
He returns her smile and steps back. I glance at Ben to gauge his reaction to the kiss, but he’s too busy pulling on Murph’s hand to get started on the drawing he was promised.
We wait until Ben has gone inside the building with Murph, then I direct Rose to the doctor’s office, which is a short drive down the road.
As soon as she’s parked, I hop out, rounding the front of the car to get her door. “Ready?”
Rose gets out with her purse, and as I shut her door, she looks up at me, her chocolate-brown eyes swimming with anxiety. “I guess so.”
Wrapping my arms around her, I press a kiss to her temple. I don’t know what to say, but some moments don’t need words. I just hold her, letting my touch reassure her that she isn’t alone.
After a few beats, she steps back and smiles up at me. “I think I’m ready now.”
And I can see that she is. Lacing my fingers with hers, I lead her to the small white building with the frosted glass windows.
As I’d expected, it’s quiet and we’re the only people waiting in the doctor’s office, feet away from the front desk, where Wendy is busy typing on her computer.
The practice is owned by the Hoffmans, a father and son.
Jonathan took over from his dad. His son, Carson, practiced in Boston after medical school before coming home to Rios.
Carson is visiting patients who can't come to town, and Nurse Rachel Briggs is busy with a patient.
Her door has been closed since we walked in, grabbed a clipboard, and took a seat in one of the five hard plastic chairs in front of a small table littered with magazines that I swear are older than I am.
“Would a joke help?” I ask Rose after she’s filled out her medical details and handed the clipboard to Wendy, the auburn-haired, longtime receptionist.
A smile softens Rose’s anxious expression. “Probably not.”
“Just thought I would ask before I start throwing knock-knock jokes at you that have you shoving me off my chair to shut me up.”
Her smile widens. “I would never shove you to the floor, Win.”
I gently bump my shoulder against hers. “You haven’t heard the jokes yet.”
“Thanks, Win.”
“For not ambushing you with my terrible sense of humor?” I waggle my eyebrows. I’d get up from this chair and do cartwheels across this waiting room if it would distract her from the terror I can’t even begin to imagine she’s going through.
“For being you,” she says softly. “This would have been really, really scary without you. I’d have still been back at the diner, quietly panicking instead of making this appointment I needed if you hadn’t noticed something was wrong.”
She rests her head on my shoulder and takes my hand.
I lean my head against hers, and as we wait, I squeeze her palm, hoping she feels how much I want everything to be okay. That she won’t lose more than she has already.
A door opens, and a gray-haired woman in a floral dress steps out, smiling at Wendy. “See you next month, Wendy.”
Wendy calls out, “Bye, Bridget,” before she leaves.
Dr. Hoffman’s door closes.
A few more minutes pass, and Rose’s hand tightens around mine. She’s next; she knows it, and she’s terrified. The door swings open again. I stop feeling my fingers, but I don’t complain. I just let her squeeze as hard as she needs to.
“Rose Hayes?” Dr. Hoffman appears at his door, wearing a light blue shirt, a navy tie, black slacks, and an open white coat. He has the amiable smile that everyone in Rios grew up seeing at doctor’s visits or out and about town.
Rose scrambles to her feet, clutching her purse so tightly her fingers are white. She turns to me. “I, um, should probably go in there alone, in case he needs to… look.”
“Okay.” I give her another reassuring smile, wishing I could go in there and hold her hand for a little longer. “If you need me to come in, just let me know. I’m not going anywhere.”
Her smile is strained, but she nods and walks into the doctor's office.
The second Dr. Hoffman closes the door behind her, I drop my smile, and all the fear I’ve been holding back spills out.
Rose was scared enough. She needed hope that things would work out, not to look at me and assume the worst. Needing something to do, I pull my phone from my pocket and text Joel to fill him in on what’s happening with Rose.
Murph probably already did it, but in case he’s busy keeping Ben distracted, I give Joel a quick summary, then tuck my phone away and start biting my nails.
“She’ll be okay, Win,” Wendy says, startling me.