Epilogue
Regan
Is the chief of pediatrics treating more than just patients these days?
If you’ve been on the ward lately, you might have noticed Dr. Regan Thomas is back at Pulse Point, and she’s not alone.
Sources confirm she and chief of pediatrics Dr. Brant Harrison are officially an item.
Yes, the mentor and his former resident have apparently decided professional boundaries are overrated.
And that coffee creamer war? They’re now sharing. The same mug. Every morning.
Dr. Whisperer.
I’ve barely stepped back into Pulse Point, and already I’m juggling scrubs, nerves, and coffee trays. I knock, then nudge the door open with my hip, expecting to find Brant buried in paperwork.
Instead, he’s already on his feet, eyes lit up like he’s been waiting for this exact second all day.
“Hey, Chief,” I say, holding up two coffees. “Thought you might need this.”
He laughs. “You know you don’t have to do that anymore. You’re out on your own now.”
“Technically.” I shrug. “I still have to finish my residency. Still need a mentor. And I may have begged my dad to let me keep you.”
He arches an eyebrow. “Isn’t that a conflict of interest?”
I smirk and walk toward his desk. “Please. You’d probably make me do extra rounds just to prove a point. And anyway…” I glance at the calendar behind him. “On days you’re stuck in meetings, I’ll be with Dr. Gould.”
He groans. “Poor girl.”
“Don’t worry,” I say, holding out his coffee. “I’ll think of you the whole time.”
“That’s somehow worse.”
He grabs both cups and puts them down. Then wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me close to kiss me.
I grin against his lips. “Okay, okay. Save this for later.”
He steps back reluctantly. “All right. But only because I have a full board meeting and two consults breathing down my neck.”
“I’ll head to the ward. Anything I should know?”
“Yeah. Sit.” He gestures to the chair opposite his desk. “I’ll give you the update on the roster, calendar stuff, when you’re stuck with Mason, that sort of thing. Promise I won’t touch you while you’re on that side of the desk.”
I sink into the chair, wrapping both hands around the coffee. “Fair enough. But this is very weird. Sitting across from my boyfriend like this and pretending I’m not counting the buttons on his shirt.”
He chuckles and starts tapping through files on his tablet.
I watch him quietly for a moment, his brow furrowed, jaw tense in concentration. It’s surreal, being back. Sitting here. Like the last few weeks never happened, and yet somehow everything’s changed.
After we run through the essentials, I gather our empty cups and take them to the staff break room. The second I step inside, a squeal nearly makes me drop them.
“Oh, my God! You’re back.” Jade and Mira rush toward me like I’ve been resurrected.
“I’m so happy,” Jade says, clapping her hands. “Is it true? You and Chief Harrison?”
I laugh and nod. The words come easier than I expected. “Yes, yes. I’m back. Because I fell in love with him.”
They instantly start squealing and clapping.
“You two are so cute,” Mira says. “And it’s good to have you back. Honestly, the place was a little too serious without the pranks.”
“Just because I’m dating the chief now,” I say, leaning in mischievously, “doesn’t mean I don’t plan to play your games.”
More laughter. It’s good to feel like I belong again.
I spot Mason walking by and wave him over.
“Hey,” he says, offering a small but real grin. “Good to see you.”
“You too. How’s everything been?”
“Same old.” He shrugs. “They heard about you and Harrison.”
“Yeah,” I groan. “Apparently, good news spreads faster than an infection here.”
“The media’s definitely eating it up.” He grins.
“I’m guessing I’ll be old news soon,” I reply. “Honestly? Fine by me.”
But even as I say it, I know I’m lying a little.
Because being back here, being with Brant again, isn’t just news.
It feels like coming back to myself.
I used to care what people thought, especially Dad. His approval felt like everything. And at the beginning, everything felt fragile and new. So in my head, the issue was always about work, his job more than mine. But not anymore.
As I step onto the ward, I hear a low voice behind a privacy curtain.
“He acts like he’s better than everyone,” someone mutters. “I don’t get it. Why does he think he can boss me around when he’s the freaking nurse?”
My eyebrows lift. I pause at the curtain.
“Ordering me around like I’m stupid or something,” she continues. “I hate it.”
Before I can stop myself, I say, “Everything alright in here?”
There’s a sharp inhale. Then the curtain whips open, revealing a young intern… wide-eyed, cheeks already flushing red.
“Oh, my God. Dr. Thomas, I—”
I give her a small grin. “Don’t worry. Secret’s safe with me.”
She laughs awkwardly. “It’s not really a secret. He just gets under my skin.”
“Fair enough,” I say with a small smile. “We’ve all been there.”
As I walk away, I realize that I’ve missed this. The banter, the drama, the not-so-subtle venting between shifts. I’ve missed the people, too… Dad, Scarlet, the other residents. There’s something about being back that feels so different from New York.
Like I’ve come home to a big, nosy, but supportive family.
And that? That’s a pretty good feeling.
Mason catches up with me, and we dive straight into patient rounds. I reintroduce myself like a new face and tell patients I’ll be their doctor during the day shift for the next couple of days. It feels good to say it.
“Tomorrow, I’ll be with Harrison, doing inpatients,” I tell Mason as we move room to room. “He still likes to handle some of them.”
“Not many, though,” Mason replies. “You’ll be taking on most of it soon.”
“Yeah, I heard. Days I’m with you, we’ll split the load, right?”
He nods. “And a couple months from now, you’ll have your own office, your own caseload. Everything.”
That thought makes a mixture of excitement and terror flutter in my chest.
I turn a corner and practically collide with my dad.
“Hey!” I blurt, surprised. “I’ve missed you.”
He gives me one of his classic awkward hugs. The kind that’s more shoulder tap than embrace. Still, I take it.
“Has Brant shown you your office yet?” he asks. “I set one aside for you.”
My heart is beating faster, and it’s not from the collision; it’s from knowing my dad is talking to Brant but also that he has an office already for me. Like he’s excited I’m back. I expected him to be happy, but not this excited.
“No, not yet.”
“Well, come on. You need to order furniture and whatever else. Right now, it’s just… a box.”
I follow him down the corridor. We stop in front of a plain white door. He pushes it open and gestures inside.
The room is empty. A single window looks out over the back parking lot. It smells faintly like antiseptic and dust. But it’s mine. A room with my name on the door.
“Sorry, there’s not much to it,” he says. “We used to use it for overflow storage. I just had them clear it out.”
I step in, imagining a desk in the corner, maybe a couple of chairs, a plant on the windowsill. A space of my own.
“No, it’s perfect,” I say, glancing back at him. “Feels real now.”
He doesn’t say anything, just nods once. That’s my dad trying to show he cares without actually saying it.
“Thanks.”
Dad clears his throat. “Well, this’ll be yours.”
He watches me take it in, hands in his pockets.
“How does that feel?”
I turn to him, smiling. “Really good. I finally feel a bit settled now.”
“New York not your thing?”
“It was… It was great. Definitely the buzz I’m used to. But there’s just something different about being here. It feels… more fitting.”
His gaze softens, and I swear his eyes get misty. He blinks it away quickly, brushing imaginary lint from his sleeve.
“All right. I’ve got a meeting to get to. Leave those papers on my desk. I’ll sort them later.”
“Okay, Dad. I’ll see you later.”
I pause at the door. “Oh, wait. What’s happening with you and Nancy?”
He sighs like he should’ve expected that. “We’ve been seeing each other. Coffee turned into dinner, and well… we’re taking it slow. But it’s good.”
“Good?” I say, unable to hide my smile. “Dad, that’s great. I’m happy for you.”
Dad chuckles under his breath, but his expression turns unreadable.
“We’ll talk about it later.”
I nod slowly, not sure what that means, but I hope it’s something positive.
Later that day, after work, I take the steps, ready for a quiet night with Brant.
But he opens the door before I reach the door handle, freshly showered and looking.
.. unfairly good. Dark jeans, a Henley that fits a little too perfectly, and his hair styled just enough to look like he didn’t. I know something is up.
“What’s this?” I ask, stepping in. “You look nice.”
“Thanks.” He kisses my cheek. “The family’s coming over.”
“Your whole family?”
“Everyone. Friends, too. I wanted them to spend dinner with you. Celebrate you coming back.”
I laugh. “You know it’s midweek, right?”
“That’s what makes it fun,” he says with a grin. “Midweek celebration. I’ve got it catered, so no stress. You’ve got time to shower and get dressed.”
I shake my head, smiling. “You’re too much.” Part of me wanted him all to myself tonight, but the other part is excited to see everyone.
“Oh, and Elvira has been asking about you nonstop.”
I laugh, touched. “She missed me?”
“I told her she’s not allowed to lift a finger tonight. She’s family too.”
“And Scarlet? Dusty? Greer? Dad? Nancy?”
“Already confirmed, including the Kings. My whole family as well.”
“So… I’m meeting the family tonight,” I tease.
He chuckles and grabs my waist. “You already met the family. They all know how much I love you.”
I press a kiss to his jaw. “Lucky me. I love you too.”
I head off to shower, dress in something nice, and rejoin him as the doorbell rings. We open the door together, standing side by side.
Each face that walks through lights up when they see us. “Oh, look at you two,” Scarlet says.
I laugh, cheeks warm, but I love it. I love him and being with everyone, standing beside him like I belong.
It’s more than a welcome home.
It’s the life I didn’t know I would be lucky enough to receive.
The catering team has set up a cocktail bar under the awning with strings of fairy lights looping overhead.
Glassware sparkles in the dusky light, and there’s wine, spirits, mixers…
anything people might want. A tray of canapés floats by.
Another caterer follows with sliders and little tacos.
People are milling around, already laughing, drinks in hand.
Scarlet hooks an arm through mine and pulls me off to the side, where we can see the lawn clearly.
We both watch the kids tear across the grass. Dusty’s chasing Aria while Brant scoops her up, spins her in the air, and makes airplane noises that have her squealing with laughter.
“Look at him,” Scarlet says, smiling. “You and Brant… I can see it.”
“See what?”
“You know. A little one of your own.”
I follow her gaze. Brant is crouched now, letting Dusty “tackle” him. His face is lit up with a full dad-energy glow, and it tugs something in me I hadn’t expected to feel so soon. Something like… readiness.
I smile. “Yeah. I can see it too.”
Scarlet doesn’t look surprised. “He’s just so natural with them.”
“Isn’t he,” I say softly.
“And it doesn’t mean”—she turns to me a little more seriously— “that your kids would have the same heart defect.”
Her words catch me off guard, but they’re said so gently I don’t flinch. It’s something I haven’t thought about, but I’m not concerned about it. When the time comes, Brant and I will handle it together.
“I know.” I smile softly, hoping to ease some of the worry from her eyes.
She smiles back. “I’m glad you’re back. It feels like old times, when we were kids.”
“I’ve missed this too,” I say honestly. “Missed you.”
Scarlet shrugs one shoulder. “It’ll be nice to have a friend again, not just ‘Dusty’s mom or Greer's wife.’ Don’t get me wrong, I love the guy. But a girl needs her best friend.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
She nudges me. “Good. Because I plan on reclaiming some ‘mom time.’ I’ve been overdue for years.”
We laugh, and I lean my head on her shoulder for a moment.
Back at the tables, Brant’s dad, Milton, is deep in conversation with my dad, the two of them both holding glasses with something dark. They’re talking work. My dad even claps Milton on the back at one point and says something that makes Greer roar with laughter.
It’s like watching two old friends instead of two career-obsessed men.
I see Nancy chatting with Brant’s mom and Scarlet’s mother-in-law. They’re all sipping wine and commenting on the food, or maybe me… I can’t tell. But their smiles are genuine.
I walk over to the grill area, where Brant is playing with Dusty and Aria near the patio’s edge. Dusty’s showing him a dance while Aria tugs on his shirt.
“You’re doing it wrong,” Dusty protests, showing the moves again.
“I’m trying,” Brant laughs, attempting to keep up. “Your hands are too fast.”
Greer appears with a drink, watching us. “You’re getting schooled by a five-year-old.”
“My turn,” Aria pleads, now climbing Brant’s back.
“Hey,” Brant laughs some more, reaching around to steady her. “I’m not a tree.”
“You are a tall one,” she chirps.
“That makes you a monkey.”
Everyone laughs.
I glance around again at all the familiar faces, the sound of home surrounding me.
My dad catches my eye across the patio. He lifts his glass and gives me a quiet smile. There’s no lecture behind it, no unreadable caution. Just… happiness.
Aria climbs down off Brant’s back to dance with Dusty. Brant walks over, wrapping his arms around me from behind, pulling me close against his chest.
“You okay?” he asks softly, like he already knows the answer.
“More than okay.” I lean into him, brushing his fingers with mine. “I think I finally found where I’m supposed to be.”
He kisses the top of my head. “You always belonged here.”
Brant’s arm stays wrapped around me the whole time, like he’s anchoring me here, in this moment, in this home we’re building.
I don’t want to be anywhere else.
The End.