Chapter 42
Claire
Millie and Joey’s surprise visit was the morale boost I needed to get my butt into action.
Although “action” is a generous term. More like I’m finally getting my ass up off the couch and getting out of the apartment regularly.
Baby steps. Thankfully, my parents have not been pressuring me about my job hunt.
It’s completely unlike them, but I won’t question it.
I suspect Cam may have had something to do with that.
As far as the job search goes, the geographic radius has somehow expanded to include Upstate New York. And there is one private practice job posting that has caught my eye in particular.
Job description: Private practice is seeking a board-certified family medicine physician.
The ideal candidate will have a strong passion for infants and postpartum, preferably with a holistic approach.
Physician may be required to mentor and teach medical students or residents.
Opportunity offers competitive salary and relocation allowance.
Quaint area near many lakes, with scenic views and outdoor recreational activities.
Also included in the advertisement is information regarding salary, retirement, continuing education allowance, and vacation days, but it’s the part about infants and postpartum care that tugs at my heartstrings.
It’s what I’ve been seeking since long before I even started medical school.
I laugh aloud because I can hear my brother now. “This is what I’d call serendipity,” he’d say.
Pouring myself a large cup of coffee, I peruse their website.
It appears to be a small practice, with three female physicians and one male physician.
After reading patient reviews and nearly getting lost down a Reddit rabbit hole about what it’s like working as a doctor in the area, I make some phone calls.
With a renewed sense of optimism and energy, I walk to spin class, appreciating the cool air and the warmth of the sun shining down from the clear sky.
Millie’s birthday is next weekend, but there’s a chance I won’t be in town, so after showering at the gym, I pop into Bubbe’s Nosh Pit, her favorite Jewish deli.
The owner, who adores Millie, throws in extra black-and-white cookies when I mention the order is for her.
I probably should have called ahead, but it’s too late now. Kane answers when I knock.
“Hey, Claire. Come on in.” He hugs me. “My brother and Millie should be back shortly. They took Bea to the park.”
I’ve already kicked off my shoes in the entryway when my heart plummets into my stomach. “Bea? What’s she doing here? And, um, is Asher here too?” I look around the corner, sweat breaking out at my hairline.
Kane’s a senior in high school this year, and I doubt he knows much about my complicated relationship with Asher, but I need all the information I can get.
He shrugs. “I don’t know. I wasn’t home when he dropped her off yesterday.”
A million scenarios zip through my mind at full speed. And disappointment snarls its way through my veins. He’s been here since yesterday and hasn’t contacted me. Didn’t he promise Bea they’d visit me when they were in the city?
What the fuck?
Millie and I texted earlier and she never mentioned a thing.
Schooling my expression and compartmentalizing my emotions until I can extract an explanation from her ASAP, I change the subject by asking Kane about school.
“Any idea what you want to do after graduation?”
“I’m looking at schools in Southern California, actually,” he replies.
“Oh?” I follow him into the kitchen and set the bag of food on the counter.
“As cool and entertaining as New York is, I miss being by the ocean. Plus, the winters here are brutal.” He laughs. “I’m more of a board shorts kind of guy. And I really miss surfing.”
“That’s fair.” I nod once. “You wouldn’t want to go back to Hawaii?”
Kane grew up on Maui before his mother passed away and Ezra took custody of him, so it would make sense if he wanted to.
“Nah. That feels a little too far from family. But a direct flight from San Diego to JFK isn’t bad.”
“Not bad at all. Do you have any idea what you want to study?”
His eyes sparkle when he says, “I’m thinking either teaching or social work.”
I can’t help but smile. “Looks like caretaking runs in the family. You’d be perfect for either.”
“Thanks,” he replies, his cheeks turning crimson.
The doorknob jingles and the acai bowl I scarfed down after spin class threatens to come back up.
A moment later, Bea’s mousy voice echoes through the hall. “I beat you!”
“I don’t think so, missy. Seems like it was a tie to me.”
“Nuh-uh,” she argues. “I beat you fair and square, Uncle Ezra.”
“Kane?” Millie calls. “You here? Something smells good.”
“Yeah, we’re in here,” he shouts back.
“We?” Ezra says, his voice taking on a deep, fatherly tone. As his footsteps get closer, my heart rate takes off at a gallop. “You better not have a boy—” He cuts himself off when he spots me standing in his kitchen. “Claire,” he says, a confused smile on his face.
“Claire?” Millie exclaims as she and Bea appear around the corner.
“Claire!” My favorite five-year-old runs across the kitchen and leaps into my arms.
When she buries her perfect little head in my shoulder, I catch a whiff of my shampoo. She pulls back, her legs tightly wrapped around my waist, and examines my face like she can’t believe I’m here.
“Why are you crying?” she asks, brushing away a tear I hadn’t even felt roll down my cheek.
I sniffle, hugging her again. “I’m just so happy to see you. I’ve missed you so much.”
She doesn’t wiggle out of my embrace, so I prop her on one hip.
“What are you doing here?” Millie asks in a tone that suggests this drop-by may not be as welcomed as I’d hoped. “When we texted earlier, you said you were in for the day.”
I shrug. “I was itching to get out of the house, so I went to the gym. Then I thought I’d surprise you with food from Bubbe’s since I was nearby.”
She glances over at the takeout bags and grins. “That was very thoughtful of you, but…”
“What’s going on?” I take a step closer. “Why didn’t you tell me you had visitors?”
Kane, who’s been watching this encounter awkwardly unfold, takes Bea from me. “Hey Dolly, let’s go finish that puzzle we started earlier.”
As much as I want to stay with her now that we’ve finally been reunited, it’s probably for the best, and fortunately she goes with him willingly.
“You have to get out of here,” Millie whisper-shouts.
My stomach drops. “Excuse me? What the hell is going on?”
“You were supposed to be home. I told him you were going to be home.”
“Told who?” I ask.
She smacks a hand to her forehead. “For a doctor, you’re not very smart.”
Hands on my hips, I hit her with a glare.
“Okay, okay.” She holds up her hands in defense. “Asher’s at your apartment… right now.”
Ezra steps up behind her, practically bouncing on his toes. “Well. What are you waiting for?”
With the quickest hugs in history, and a promise to Bea that I’ll see her later—I hope—I slip my shoes on, grab my bag, and hightail it out of their building.
Too anxious to make the long walk back to my apartment, I bring up my ride share app.
Just as I choose a car that’s five minutes away, the first fat raindrops fall from the sky.
My driver looks pissed when I slide into his car completely drenched, but all I can do is apologize and maybe give him a bigger tip.
The ten-minute ride turns into nearly twenty because of the weather, but it feels like an eternity.
I don’t know which is racing faster, my heart or my thoughts.
The driver offers to go around the block so he can drop me off on the correct side of the road, but I’m too keyed up to wait any longer.
My legs are bouncing so furiously, I think I might smash a hole through the bottom of his car and take off like Fred Flintstone.
I ask him to let me out now instead, then weave through cars and leap over puddles as water pelts me.
I’m shielding my eyes from the rain when I run smack into someone under the awning.
“I’m so sorry—” My lungs seize up as I stare at the man I bumped into. “Ash?”
His lips are moving, but with my adrenaline pumping like this, all I can hear is the pounding in my ears. Grasping my wrist, he leads me inside.
My hands are wet and cold now from the air conditioning, so they don’t want to cooperate, and it takes me a moment to pull my key card from my wallet.
We ride the elevator in silence, my hair and clothes dripping onto the tile.
Thank goodness I didn’t put on makeup this morning.
If I had, it would be smeared down my face.
Only when we walk through my front door and I drop my gym bag and kick off my shoes, do I finally focus on him.
“Can I get you a towel?” he asks.
At the same time, I say, “What are you doing here?”
Rather than answer, he meanders down the hall and retrieves a towel from the linen closet.
When he returns, I remove my jacket and hang it up by the door, then dry my face and hands with the towel.
The whole time, I can’t look away. I’m too busy taking in his lovely features.
He’s lost a little weight since I last saw him, but his jaw is freshly shaved and his mustache perfectly groomed.
He must have arrived before the rain because his hair is dry, though it looks like he’s been running his fingers through it.
His long-sleeve dark purple Henley clings to his chest and biceps, and when he pivots to remove his shoes, I admire the way his jeans hug his ass. Oh how I’ve missed that ass.
“Surprise,” he finally says.
“Hi.”
“I—” He snaps his mouth shut and motions toward the main living space. “Can we sit?”
I abandon the towel on the floor and we take a seat in the corner of the L-shaped sectional, facing one another. My knee brushes his as I settle on the cushion, but neither of us pulls away.
“What are you doing here?” I ask again.