Chapter 43
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
rowan
“Good morning,” Tenley says when we reach the back door of the clinic at the same time. “Someone’s a little later than usual today.”
I struggle to keep a straight face. “You sure you’re not just early for once?”
“Since I know for a fact that I spent the past twenty minutes hooked up to a breast pump, just like I have every morning for the past six months, yes, I’m sure,” she replies dryly.
“Oh, right,” I say and gesture for her to go first.
“Don’t you wanna give me an explanation before we walk inside? You know, in case you-know-who might be listening?”
I chuckle at her. “Why? I’m sure we’ll both hear about my whereabouts from Mackenzie before I even know what’s going on.”
“Well, if you won’t tell me, then perhaps Claire’s charts will,” Tenley purses her lips. “That was a joke, by the way. I’d never …”
I let out another soft laugh. “I know you were only kidding, Ten. But for the record, you won’t find any evidence of our relationship status in her charts.”
Her brow lifts. “You have a relationship status?”
“Not officially,” I admit. “But I was late because I stopped by the flower shop for a delivery your husband will no doubt hear of before the end of the day.”
“Really?” she asks, a hint of excitement in her voice. “You know what? I think we need to talk.” She glances around before she pulls me into her office and locks the door behind her.
“What’s on your mind?” I ask hesitantly.
“So this is going to sound super corny, but I feel like you need to hear it.” She pauses to sit on the edge of her desk and crosses her legs beneath herself.
“When I first moved back to Camellia, I had no intention of staying here forever. But then I became Ethan’s guardian and started falling for JD, and I realized pretty quickly that this is where God was calling me to be. ”
I furrow my brow. “Are you trying to use my crush on Claire to convince me to buy out Dr. Simms?”
“Maybe,” she admits. “But more importantly, I want you to ask yourself where the Holy Spirit is leading you.”
My expression softens. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but I understand discernment.
And I can’t imagine God would want me to waste my time gaining all that specialized knowledge to work as a regular OB-GYN.
No offense, but I was certain of His plan for me before, and I feel like I’ve been pretty obedient since then. ”
“And you don’t think He could be calling you in a different direction now?” she asks, pausing before she adds, “You know He doesn’t care about the same worldly constraints we do, right?”
I huff out a laugh. “Well, yeah, but … I’m doing this to help people.”
“Oh, so I’m not?” she replies with a taunting smile.
“You know that’s not what I mean, Tenley.”
“I once told myself I couldn’t leave my patients behind in Texas because they needed me. Turns out, plenty of women have benefitted from my help in Camellia, and there were a few people I needed here, as well.”
“Come on, I can’t leave—”
“What are you really leaving behind, though? A medical practice with policies you don’t always agree with? An empty townhouse and a lonely life? We both know you don’t care about the money and the job title, and you still enjoy delivering babies.”
I swallow hard and drop my eyes to the floor. “Things are finally leaning in the right direction. She’ll panic and push me away if she hears I’m even considering something this big and permanent.”
Tenley shrugs. “She might. But if she’s the one, she’ll get over it pretty quickly and want to make out with you as soon as she realizes what it signifies.”
“I don’t know,” I say, scratching the back of my head.
“I know you won’t get any closer by living two hours away,” she continues. “Do me a favor, would you?”
“What’s that?” I ask cautiously.
“Sometime later, I want you to imagine what your life would be like if you made the decision to stay. Then ask yourself which version of your future brings your heart a sense of consolation.”
“I’ve already done that, and you’re right, I could be perfectly happy taking over for Doc Simms. I enjoy working with you and the patients, I think the hospital’s great, and I love the people in this town.
But it’s not my decision that makes all the difference in the end, and I can’t risk scaring her off,” I blurt out.
“I’m sorry,” Tenley says softly, hopping down from the desk and placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. “I didn’t mean to pressure you. Let’s give it some time, hmm?”
I clench my jaw muscles and nod. “Thanks.”
She pats my arm before she leaves me in the room, and my phone vibrates with a text message.
Blake
Just a head’s up, but word around the courthouse is that someone’s doing a title search for the plot of land on the other side of you, Lan.
Landry
Well, shit. Do you know who it is?
Actually, it doesn’t matter who it is. Just help me put in an offer for the rest of it.
Blake
You’ll be stuck with an assload of property taxes, man. Idk if it’s worth it.
Maybe you should find someone else to buy it first …
JD
I know a guy who might be shopping for a place around here soon, especially if my wife has anything to say about it.
Rowan
Nice try, guys.
But we all know Claire would murder me if I bought a medical practice and a parcel of land in the same day.
Landry
You’re buying into the clinic? Why would you want to stay in Baton Rouge?
Oh, wait, I get it now. Ignore that.
So you’re buying into the clinic here?
Rowan
I guess it’s okay for me to mention this if it stays between us, but Dr. Simms asked me to buy him out. Tenley and I would essentially become business partners and eventually look for a third partner to join the team.
Landry
So you’d be working as a regular OB-GYN?
Rowan
Yes, but I’d still be seeing high-risk patients, too.
Landry
But that’s dumb. You’re already a specialist.
JD
It’s not dumb if that’s what he wants to do. That’s like saying I’m stupid for coming home to coach high school football instead of playing in the NFL.
Landry
And that’s not dumb?
Blake
Not when we have a family history of early-onset Alzheimer’s. I mean, those kids are probably rotting his brain faster than the CTE would have, but still. He wouldn’t have been around to help Tenley get custody of Ethan if he’d have listened to me and became a free agent.
Landry
All right, fine.
Wait, is this the group with Ethan in it?
JD
Why? Are you scared he’ll call you out, Doc?
Landry
Damn right I am.
But he’d also have made a decently objective third party for this debate.
JD
He’d probably vote for Rowan to stay if it means Tenley wouldn’t have to worry about someone dependable taking Dr. Simms’s place.
Blake
I guess I’m also biased. I’d certainly feel better about trying again if Dr. Red Flag was local.
Landry
Wait, what?
Blake
Calm your tits, Lando. It’s a generalization.
Landry
You can’t blame me for questioning you.
Blake
No, I guess I can’t argue with that assumption.
In fact, I’m certain I’ll be knocking up your sister again at some point.
It’ll likely be planned next time, but still a relatively safe bet.
And you have to admit, she’s awfully cute when she’s pregnant.
JD
*he says, though he can’t remember the last time he slept more than four hours in one stretch*
Blake
*gif of “He’s right You know”*
I frown as I think about that last part—well, not the bit about Blake and Landry bickering, but that women like Loren and Daisy might be safer with a specialist close by.
Rowan
Tell me more about the land.
I put my phone away for a while after that, though it buzzes every so often with a text from the group. I also get a message from Loren about the plans for Daisy’s surprise birthday party this weekend, so I pause to answer her between seeing patients.
Loren
So, just for headcount purposes, will you be bringing a plus one?
Rowan
We both know this question isn’t for planning purposes, because if I were, she’d already be on the guest list.
Loren
Fair enough.
Is that your way of confirming the rumors?
Rowan
Depends … What exactly are the good people of Camellia saying about my love life?
Loren
That you’re practically shacking up with a sexy ag teacher …
Rowan
Sorry, cannot confirm.
Loren
Can’t deny, either?
I blow out a frustrated exhale, not because I’m concerned about people linking me to Claire, but because they’re already making the wrong assumptions about us. But I guess the only way to fix that would be to give them the truth.
Rowan
It’s more like crushing really hard on the beautiful ag teacher and following her around like a puppy until she eventually caves and realizes we’re meant to live happily ever after together …
Loren
Oh, I love it when we switch to his POV and he’s already down bad!
Is this your way of asking me to put in a good word for you?
Rowan
I don’t know exactly what that means, but I’m pretty sure I am in fact “down bad.”
And, yes, please, I’ll take all the help I can get.
Loren
*gif of man rubbing hands together*
This time I can’t help smiling when I slip my phone into my pocket and walk into my next appointment, nor can I stop myself from checking every so often and hoping for a text from Claire. Shortly after lunch, I get a message that makes my heart quicken.
Claire
You’re the worst.
Rowan
Aw. I love you, too.
Claire
Thank you for the flowers and candy.
Rowan
You’re welcome. How are you feeling?
Claire
Crampy but less weepy, thanks to you.
Actually, scratch that, since you made me cry in the teachers’ lounge today.
Are you planning on stopping by before you drive back to br?
Rowan
Are you … asking me to stop by?
Claire
I mean, Frankie and Oscar will probably be expecting you …
(Don’t tell them I said this, but I’m afraid they’re a little obsessed with you.)
Rowan
… and I haven’t even gotten any wiener selfies lately.
Claire
*selfie with the daphne plant*
Hope you don’t mind unsolicited bush pics …
An obnoxious guffaw bursts out of me, one so loud that it prompts Tenley and one of the medical assistants to peek around the corner and investigate.
“Sorry,” I say sheepishly. “I was just laughing at a funny text.”
Tenley purses her lips shrewdly as Mackenzie flutters her eyelashes at me. “From your lady friend, Dr. Cutie Pie?” Mackenzie drawls.
I clear my throat. “Maybe.”
“She looks good on you, Doc,” Mackenzie declares, and my cheeks flush as I thank her.
By the time I leave the office later that afternoon, my entire body is humming with anticipation, just at the thought of seeing Claire.
I’m afraid Tenley’s right. There’s nothing left for me in Baton Rouge, not so long as Claire is in Camellia.
And maybe it’s foolish of me to toss all my eggs into this basket, but I can’t imagine this isn’t where the Holy Spirit is leading me, especially not when a regular weekday fills me with the same joy and exhilaration I could only get from envisioning my future before.
I know the road isn’t guaranteed to be an easy one, because if there’s anything I’ve learned from the lives of the saints, it’s that making the decision to trust in God and follow His will is only the beginning.
But there’s no doubt in my mind that this is what He’s been preparing me for all this time.
My heart skips a beat when I pull up at Claire’s house and see her standing in the doorway in her robe, watching as Frankie and Oscar scurry over to the driver’s side and wait for me to step out of my truck.
“Hey, guys. Miss me?” I ask, reaching down to pet them both before I turn my gaze back to Claire.
She’s so beautiful that she literally takes my breath away, with her long, chestnut hair pulled back in a loose braid, her amber eyes framed by her dark lashes, and her robe falling open just enough for me to see my boxer shorts hugging her hips.
I can’t look away from her as I close in the distance between us, and her lips tilt up when I trip over the dogs circling at my feet.
By the time I stop a few inches in front of her, my chest is already heaving with the effort it takes to stabilize my heart.
But it’s all in vain, because the second she latches onto my shirt and drags me in for a kiss, I know this is the way I want to go out.
My hands curl around her jaw as I savor her warmth, her woodsy scent, her smooth skin beneath my palms. I don’t think I could ever grow tired of this, but she pulls away much too soon.
I watch as she licks her swollen lips and twists the cord of my scapular around her finger. She smiles again when a growl rumbles within my chest.
“Hi,” she breathes, still close enough for it to ghost over my face.
“Hi,” I say on an exhale.
“I guess I missed you, too,” she admits, prompting a silly grin.
“I missed you more,” I say, blinking lazily and staring at her mouth.
“Rowan?”
“Hmm?” I’m not sure what she’s going to ask of me, but whatever it is, the answer is going to be a resounding and enthusiastic yes.
“I think I might be in love with you.”
My stomach dips low, and I struggle to regulate my heart again.
“Hmm?”
A lovely flush spreads over her cheeks. “I said I love you,” she repeats, tugging on the cord around my neck. I groan and move my hands to cup her backside, scooping her up and guiding her legs to wrap around my waist.
“And I love you more,” I rasp before I stagger inside and wait for the dogs to follow before shutting the door behind us.