Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
Brax
“Mia,” I said on an exhale that was half tension, half relief that I’d finally found her. She was standing by the window, looking stoic. I wasn’t sure why she was in this exam room alone, or why I’d heard her call out Grace’s name. But I had so much to say—how to begin?
“How did you find me?” she asked.
“I ran into Dr. March.” I’d thought clinic was empty on my first pass, so I’d searched the ward and then the ER, before finally heading back here. I didn’t tell her any of that as I walked over to her. I could see that just seeing me was making her a little teary. Honestly, I was getting choked up too.
I stopped a few feet in front of her. “I’m sorry,” I blurted. “I was wrong to not tell you about the job. Forgive me.”
She started to cry. I took her hands in mine and was relieved she didn’t push me away. “I let my desire to walk in Atticus’s shoes cloud my thinking.”
“I’m sorry too,” she said, her voice cracking. “I jumped to conclusions. I accused you of lying. I know that job meant a lot to you.”
“You mean more.” I squeezed her hands and looked into her green eyes that were bright with feeling. “The best way I can honor Atticus is to be a good man. I don’t want the job. Take it. Take it and give them hell.”
She smiled through her tears. “Too late. Long story, but I spoke my mind to Brunner. But more importantly, I just hit Send on the fellowship application a second before you showed up. You were right about me—I’m terrified. I don’t like to fail. And I’m afraid of the times when things won’t go well, and how that might remind me of my sister. But I’m going to do it anyway. I love the kids. I love the families. I love heme-onc. And I think Grace would want me to do it too.”
“You’ll be an amazing oncologist.” I knew it down to my bones. I didn’t know exactly what had happened between her and Brunner, but I knew she was okay with not getting the job. And so was I.
Mia smiled, but not a giant, happy smile. More of a sad one. “Brax, are you leaving? Dr. Brunner told me you’re going back to Philly?”
There was a sudden racket in the hall, accompanied by voices and laughter, but I ignored it. “That’s what I told Brunner. Honestly, at that time, I didn’t know what I was doing.”
“So you’re not? Going?”
I was relieved that she sounded like my answer mattered. I had to let her know how much she mattered to me. “I want to be with you. If you’ll have me.”
She walked straight into my arms. “I love you,” she said simply.
“I love you too.” Those words had never been so easy to say. Or so wonderful to hear as I wrapped my arms around her. Holding her close, feeling her softness, and taking in the familiar scent of her hair made my heart swell with joy. This was where we belonged. Together , wherever that might lead us.
I had one more piece of news. “You know that job in the residents’ clinic that they hired me for last year? Well, they want me to take it in July, when my chief year ends. I like teaching. What do you think?”
She looked up at me, her smile wide and bright. “I think Atticus would be proud. I know I am.”
A clatter in the hall had both of us glancing toward the door again. But I needed Mia to stay with me just another minute. So I held her hands tight and said, “So I thought we might start from the point where things went wrong.”
She gave a snorty laugh. “When you said, ‘Take me home for Christmas’?”
I gave a little chuckle. “I was thinking about when we started talking about the job thing.” The chatter of voices in the now-deserted clinic got louder, and footsteps were coming closer by the second. I was going to have to step this up.
“What’s going on out there?” She tried to look past me, but I blocked her view with my body.
“Mia Maria D’Angelo, I, Braxton Michael Hughes, love you, with all my heart and soul. And I feel bad that your visit home got sort of messed up at the end.”
She frowned, like she was a little worried about my mental health. “I’m over it.”
“Just go with this, okay?”
As soon as she said “Okay,” back, I kissed her quickly and gripped her shoulders. “You took me home for Christmas, so now I thought I’d bring Christmas to you.” And then I turned around and said in a loud voice, “Everybody can come in now.”
Her family—and friends, who were really family too—all piled in. Her mom and her dad, carrying Emma. Liam and Dina. Sam and Gabe. And Caleb, carrying pizza. Lots of pizza. And salad. And jojos, which, if you don’t know, are homemade fried potato wedges some pizza parlors around here make from scratch. And Diet Coke, which we all needed after these long few days. But mostly, they brought their love.
Caleb set down a six-pack.
Sam rushed up to him, no holds barred. “What are you doing, you big ortho lug? You can’t bring beer in here.”
“I wasn’t sure. I mean, it’s after hours,” Caleb said, sounding a little startled and looking at Sam like he’d just gotten attacked by a rabid dog. A cute one, but still.
Sam rolled her eyes. “Maybe this is how you ortho guys roll, but this is a clinic. In a children’s hospital .”
“Sorry,” he said apologetically.
“Okay, fine,” she said, relenting a little. “I guess you meant well.”
He grinned at her concession, and then turned to Mia, “We’re going to your place for dessert.”
“Oh no,” Mia said, clasping a hand to her forehead. “I can’t go. I’m on call tonight.”
“No, you’re not,” Sam said. “I’m taking your call. You can do mine tomorrow.”
“Are you sure?” Mia hugged her. “You’re the best friend ever.”
“No problem.” Sam said. “Just save me some dessert.”
“Uh-oh, family,” Mia said. “My place isn’t looking too great after these past few days.”
“We don’t care,” Beth said. “We’ve been so worried about you.” She gave me a squeeze. “Thanks for asking us to come, Brax.”
“Hey, buddy,” I said to Caleb, pounding him on the back. “Thanks for helping me set this up.”
“Wait—you helped him?” Mia said to Caleb.
“Yeah,” Caleb said, hugging. “We’re square now.” Turned out that because of the snow globe, I’d managed to score a few bro points with him.
Beth picked up a child’s drawing on the desk. “Looks like you’ve got a couple of fans,” she said to Mia. She dusted off her hand after getting glitter on it.
Mia walked over to her mom and put her arm around her. “Mom, I met the cutest little twins,” she said. “I can’t wait to tell you all about them.”
“Thanks for bringing the pizza, Mom and Dad D’Angelo,” I said. Maybe I should have stuck to Mr. and Mrs. but…why not?
“Mom and Dad D’Angelo?” Mia asked me with a laugh.
Steve put an arm around me. “No problem, son.” Son . I must’ve looked as affected as I really was from hearing that, because he shook my shoulder affectionately and beamed. “Looks like you two worked it out.”
I met Mia’s eyes. They were twinkling. “We worked it out.”
“I guess we’re going to my place,” Mia said to me with a shrug.
“With your family,” I said.
“With our family. My dad called you son . It’s official.”
Then I laughed out loud. “Yeah, I guess it is.” Happiness was bubbling all through me. I hadn’t planned on gaining an entire family, but somehow, I had. I gathered Mia into my arms. “I love you.”
She smiled up at me. “I love you too.”
Mia
Later that night, when everybody left, we got ready for bed ridiculously early, laying blankets and pillows down in front of the tiny little fake tree my mom had set up for me. Only she would bring me a tree to basically light up after Christmas. Thanks, Mom.
Brax called Jenna, and I got to talk to her for the first time. “Jenna,” he said, “I want you to meet my girlfriend, Mia.” He looked up from the phone, and with pride in his voice, said, “Mia, Jenna’s my younger sister, but she’s a lot wiser than me. And she’s awesome.”
“Mia, oh my gosh,” Jenna exclaimed. “I’m thrilled.”
“Hi Jenna!” I responded. “Great to meet you.”
What I learned was that Brax was loving and affectionate with his sister, and she was the same right back. To me as well.
Before he hung up, Brax took the phone off speaker mode and spoke quietly to his sister. “Hey,” he said. “I just wanted to tell you thanks. For everything. And I love you.” Afterward, he poured us some wine as we both sat on my couch.
“I’m sorry you missed spending Christmas with her,” I said.
“That’s okay.” He was still smiling proudly. “I’ll see her soon. You know, I owe her. She told me to give myself a chance with you.”
I grinned widely. “Then I owe her too.”
We settled into relaxing. “You hungry?” he asked.
“Not a chance.” I patted my stomach and laughed.
“What is it?” he asked.
“Pizza tastes so good when you’re not heartbroken,” I said.
He chuckled in agreement and handed me a glass. We clinked a cheers.
“It’s so pretty,” I said as I took a sip and admired the tree.
“Yes, you are,” Brax said. He started to nuzzle my neck, which I loved.
“Oh, wait,” I said. “I have to tell you something.”
“What is it?” He kept dropping kisses near my collarbone. I let out a little shiver.
“Guess who came into clinic with Bianca today?” I asked.
“Who?”
“Pedro,” I confirmed. “They’re officially dating.”
“Guess Pedro listened to my dating advice,” Brax said between kisses.
My mouth dropped open. “You gave him dating advice?”
I could feel him smile against my neck. “When you find someone special, you lock it down.”
“You’re ridiculous. Want your present now?”
He frowned. “I’ve already had the best Christmas I could ever have. A real Christmas, a family, and most of all…you.”
“That’s sweet, babe,” I said with a laugh, “but I’ve got something else for you. I mean, after that dress and the snow globe, you were a hard act to follow.”
I got up and crossed the room to an envelope I’d hidden under my sadly neglected mail pile. I walked back and held it out to him.
He ripped it open. Then he tossed his head back with laughter. “Packers tickets? Ha, against the Eagles?”
I nodded. “I figured it’s time you start switching your loyalties.”
He looked puzzled. “I didn’t know you liked football.”
“Actually, Caleb’s dying to go. Now that you’re his new favorite person, I thought you might want to ask him.”
“Thanks for the great gift.” He laughed again. “Caleb’s okay, you know? I’d love to go to the game with him.” Then he reached around behind his back and pulled out a wrapped gift. “One last one,” he said.
I pulled out fuzzy, warm reindeer slippers, which I promptly put on and made sure to light up the noses. Thrilled, I flashed him a smile. “They’re almost as awesome as you.”
He took me in his arms. “Happy New Year, honey,” he whispered in my ear. “Happy new beginning.” And then he kissed me until the Christmas lights blurred, and all that remained was him, his lips, his big arms, and his love wrapped around me tight.