CHAPTER SEVEN
This morning’s question from Branson - why is an orange called an orange, but a lemon isn’t called a yellow?
~Text from Kimbra to Ben
Kimbra
This last month has been surprisingly good.
Brian’s been taking the kids on his weekends and has been communicating when he’s needed to change things.
He just came by my office and asked if he could come get the kids after dinner tonight because there’s a board meeting he was just informed he needed to attend.
Since I work at the same hospital, I happen to know of that board meeting.
You couldn’t pay me to have to go to that stuffy thing.
It’s so much better he has to go than me, though he didn’t exactly look thrilled.
I’ll happily stick to my neck of the woods.
I love working with my patients, and I really do have the best nurses, though I haven’t figured out how to get Maggie or Carol over to our part of the hospital.
I know I shouldn’t be greedy, but they’re great nurses, and I’d love to have them along with Darius.
Darius has been informed that he’s never leaving me, and since he and Ben have become almost friends, I think he has no plans to move.
Ben drops by at least a couple times a week and brings me a coffee.
Turns out he’s found out Darius’s and my receptionist’s favorite drinks and brings them as well.
Man knows how to get in good with the right people.
I’m ready for this week to be over. I love my patients and working in a smaller county, but we’ve got a big enough caseload that we really do need to hire another doctor.
I know the process has started and that Dr. Ferro drew the short stick, so he gets to conduct the initial interviews, haha, the sucker.
I’m in my office going over charts for my patients for this afternoon, as I just finished updating the ones from this morning.
There’s a knock on my door, and it opens.
Dr. Ferro walks in, falls into the chair across from me, and slouches.
“You want to do these interviews, don’t you?
” He sighs and gives me a pout that rivals my kids.
“I swear some of these young kids…did they even pay attention in medical school? I’m glad the first interviews are on video chat because they can’t see my knees bouncing in frustration.
” I can’t help but laugh at him. He’s just a little dramatic.
“You know you’re only meeting with the top candidates.
Did they make you feel old?” He sighs again.
“Uugghh. Yes, one of them was born when I was in college! I’m old enough to be her dad.
When did we get this old?” Laughing, I don’t help him any.
“Hey, you’re five years older than me.” He glares at me for a moment, then responds like he always does when I throw that at him.
“Yeah, and my wife is four years younger than you.” Why are my work friends such assholes at times?
He couldn’t just let me have that one. How rude.
There’s a knock on my door again, and it opens.
Darius sticks his head in and sees Doctor Ferro slouching in the chair.
“That one sales rep that drives you nuts brought in subs for lunch for the department. I snagged some for both of you and some chips.” He walks into the room with two plates piled high with food.
He is the best ever. “Oh, you are awesome.” Dr. Ferro nods in agreement.
“You are. I’ve had enough of people who grate on my nerves for the day.
You are going to make some man very happy one of these days.
” He flutters around and starts to leave the room.
“Oh, I know. Till then, I’m happy having a revolving door full of men making me happy.
Your next appointment is in twenty minutes.
” I shout my thanks as he closes the door.
We both are quiet for a minute, each taking a bite to eat.
Doctor Ferro looks over at me with a grin.
“You know, I can’t even imagine the man he’s going to end up with.
I just know he’s going to have his hands full.
” I nod. “He definitely will, and I bet you he’s out there somewhere in complete blissful ignorance.
He’s not gonna know what hits him when they cross paths. ” I can’t wait to see that happen.
**********
I hadn’t had anything planned for dinner, so instead of cooking, I picked up our favorite Mexican place.
I mean, who doesn’t love chips and salsa?
Ben’s at the club for church tonight, so the kids have to suffer with just me.
He’s officially moved in, and the kids all seem to have accepted him living with us.
I look at my kids around the table as we eat.
Branson didn’t even try to come to the table with his headphones on, and both Bentley and Bailey have used their napkins as they eat.
I’ve only been trying to get them to do that since they were toddlers, but Ben’s gotten them to do it within a few months.
He and the brothers have told them stories about family dinners, and apparently, since all the brothers have to have manners, then that means it’s okay for them.
Apparently, that’s a much cooler reason than because Mom told you to.