Chapter 11 #2
“Don’t go gettin’ your hopes up, Gina. You know that’s not likely,” the second woman warned, and as I looked over at the first woman, realization dawned on me that I recognized her. Gina Jeffries always had a thing for Leo in high school. She finally got her wish.
“Order up for Carolina,” I heard, breaking me out of eavesdropping. I dropped my phone in my bag and walked toward the pickup line.
Delilah’s wary smile greeted me from behind the counter.
“Thank you so much. Have an amazing day,” I said as I took the bag with the scone in one hand and the coffee in the other.
“You too.”
People somehow ended up in Haven Valley and found themselves not wanting to leave, and I wondered what Delilah’s reasoning was for taking up roots here.
Part of me wanted to befriend her, as I was sure the girls I was friends with in high school would’ve taken Leo’s side when I left abruptly and broke his heart.
He was popular in school, and everyone loved him.
His family was well respected around here, and the whole town usually treated them like royalty.
With a pep in my step, I exited the coffee shop and walked the short walk across the street to the family practice I enjoyed working at. I loved the people I worked with. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming, and I loved the hours and being home to have dinner with Luke every night.
“Good morning,” I greeted the receptionist with a smile and walked back to where the lockers were so I could put my bag inside and grab my stethoscope.
“You have a patient waiting for you in room one,” one of the other nurses said to me.
I sat my coffee and scone down on the nurses’ station, grabbed the tablet, and walked to room one and gave a light knock on the door.
“Good morning. How are you today?” I said just as I noticed the name on the chart. Olivia Parkhurst.
Looking up, I saw Ainsleigh holding the baby and Gentry sitting beside her.
They both gave nervous glances to each other before they smiled over at me, the smile not meeting their eyes.
“If it’s awkward for you, I can get another nurse,” I told them, not wanting them to feel the slightest bit of unease.
“No, it’s fine. How are you, Carolina?” Ainsleigh asked as she bounced Olivia in her arms.
“I’m good. Thanks for asking. If you don’t mind laying her down on the table, I’ll get her height, and then I’ll put her on the scale to weigh her,” I replied, hoping they weren’t lying to me about this being an awkward moment.
As I took her measurements, I asked Ainsleigh and Gentry how the baby was doing and how her feeds were going.
“She’s eating every two or three hours like clockwork. Ainsleigh will wake her during the night sometimes to feed her. She usually has eight to ten wet diapers a day,” Gentry informed me. I loved it when dads were involved.
“Those are all great signs that she’s getting enough to eat,” I told them as I charted her height.
After I weighed her and listened to her heart, I gave the baby back to Ainsleigh, and she wrapped her back in the swaddle to keep her warm.
I couldn’t believe that I’d held Luke’s adorable baby cousin.
I didn’t say anything about Luke, though, because Leo hadn’t gotten the chance to tell Ainsleigh that he had a son.
“The doctor will be right in to check on her,” I told them as I updated the chart and walked out of the room.
I let out a sigh of relief the moment the door closed. That was the most awkward situation I’d been in with a patient. I’d better get used to it since I was back in the small town I’d grown up in. This likely wouldn’t be the last time I’d have awkward moments with people I used to know.
I made my rounds to the next two patients. As I left the patient room, I saw Ainsleigh and Gentry heading in my direction.
I walked up to them and stopped. “The exit is back down the hall to the left,” I told them. They weren’t the only ones who’d got turned around with how to get back to the waiting area and the front door.
“I wanted to speak with you first if you have a second,” Ainsleigh requested.
It really wasn’t the time or the place, but I held out my hand to guide her to the small breakroom we had, making sure to grab my cup of coffee from the nurses’ station on the way.
I’d likely need caffeine after this conversation.
Once we were inside the room, I leaned against the table and waited for Ainsleigh to speak.
“Leo told me you needed to talk with him about somethin’,” she started, and I nodded in agreement, not sure where this conversation was going.
“Have you had that discussion?” she pried. I didn’t owe her anything, but I’d appease her for now.
“We have,” I told her, not going into detail. Those were for Leo to share with her.
“Please don’t break his heart again, Carolina. I’m not sure if he’d make it a second time around,” she pleaded before she turned and walked out of the breakroom carrying baby Olivia in her arms.
Gentry gave a tight smile and tipped his hat before he followed her out.
“Our discussion had nothing to do with me breaking his heart. It had everything to do with the nephew you know nothing about,” I mumbled to myself before taking a long sip of coffee.
I let the warm liquid soothe some of the nervousness over mine and Ainsleigh’s encounter before I got back to seeing the patients who were waiting on me.
The day was long and my neck and shoulders ached by the time it was time to leave for today.
Tonight was going to be a pizza from The Chill Grill kind of night. I’d already placed my order before I saw my last patient of the day, so it should be ready by the time I walked over there.
Thankfully, the pizza was ready just as I predicted. I couldn’t wait to take my shoes off and lounge on the couch until it was time for Luke to go to bed.
My phone buzzed in my bag just as I got settled in my SUV. After I started the vehicle, I dug in my bag to check it and turn the ringer back on.
Leo’s name flashed on the screen as a missed call, and I let out a groan. After the busy day I’d had, I’d forgotten he was coming over tonight to see Luke.
I pressed his name and waited for the call to connect to the Bluetooth before I put it in reverse and headed in the direction of my parents’ house. He answered on the second ring.
“Hey, Carolina. Um, I just wanted to make sure we are still good for tonight?” he asked.
“Yeah, we’re still good for tonight,” I said with a yawn.
“You sure?” Leo asked, his voice laced with concern.
“Yeah, I’m sure. I picked up a pizza, and I’m on the way to grab Luke from my parents now,” I told him as I stifled another yawn.
“I’ll see you shortly then,” he said before hanging up.
Luke was excited to see me when I picked him up. After saying a quick goodbye to my parents, I loaded him in the SUV and set off toward home.
“Is Dad coming over tonight?” Luke asked the second I’d pulled onto the road.
“Yeah, buddy. He’ll be there when we get home,” I told him as he shouted his excitement.
He rambled on and on about the Lego set he wanted to build first, but my tired brain just wasn’t in it tonight.
As we pulled into the drive, I saw Leo waiting for us on the front porch.
Once the car was parked, Luke shot out of the SUV and left his door open as he raced toward Leo.
I grabbed my bag and the pizza, kicking my door shut behind me and went to Luke’s side to close his door.
“Where’s your car?” Luke asked as soon as he stood in front of Leo.
“It’s parked right there,” Leo said as he pointed to his red pickup truck in the driveway next door.
“Why didn’t you park in our driveway?” Luke asked, ever the inquisitive child that he was. Leo looked up at me for directions, and I just shrugged. There’d be no going back once Luke knew Leo was right next door.
“I live next door,” Leo admitted, and Luke jumped up and down.
“That means I can see you all the time,” Luke said as he raced up the steps, almost tripping on the next to the top step, and stood in front of the door.
“Let me grab that for you,” Leo said as he took the pizza box from my hand.
“Thanks,” I said as I dug around in my bag for my keys.
As soon as the door was opened, Luke ran inside and down the hall, hopefully to wash up before dinner, but knowing him, he was off to grab the Lego set he wanted to build.
I walked inside and kicked off my shoes, and Leo followed behind me.
“Where should I put this?” Leo asked, and I told him to put it on the counter.
He walked in the kitchen and did as I instructed as I dragged my feet behind me. I didn’t know how I’d stay awake tonight, but I promised Leo he could see Luke, and I wasn’t going to back out.
Luke came down the hallway with the Lego set he’d talked about building with Leo, a race car of some sort.
“Did you wash your hands?” I asked sluggishly.
“Yes, ma’am. Do you want to build this with me after dinner?” Luke excitedly asked as he held out the box to Leo.
He took the box from him and said, “Sure thing, buddy.” I didn’t think I’d ever seen Leo smile that big before as he looked down at our little boy.
“Hurry up. Let’s eat so we can build it,” Luke said as he tugged on Leo’s hand. Leo followed him over to the table and sat down.
I gathered the plates and put one slice on Luke’s and two on mine and Leo’s. Carefully, I carried all three plates over to the table and sat down.
“Can I have some juice with dinner?” Luke asked as he took a bite of his pizza.
“I’ll grab it,” Leo said, and I sighed in relief as Leo stood and walked over to the fridge. I wasn’t sure why I was so exhausted suddenly, but I was grateful I didn’t have to move.
“Thanks,” I muttered as I took a bite of my pizza. It was good, but for some reason I didn’t think I could stomach another bite.
To my surprise, Leo returned with a juice box for Leo and a glass of tea for each of us.
“Thanks, Dad,” Luke said as Leo handed him the juice.
“You’re welcome, buddy.” Leo beamed. I noticed that every time Luke called Leo dad that Leo’s smile grew.