Page 29 of Doctor Second Chance

As I hit send, a strapping, six-foot-two figure appears in my doorway. Shep. My heart does a little flip.

"Hey," he says, leaning against the doorframe, his arms across his chest. “You hanging in there? This is nutty, huh?”

“Yeah. I wondered why my therapy was canceled earlier. I didn’t notice the water trickling down the wall until someone came in to tell me what was happening.”

“This is a first for me. Did they tell you they are trying to find rooms for all of you in the rehab? They have to clear everyone out of here.”

“She said something about moving back over to the hospital until everyone can be disseminated to their new facility. I’m waiting on transport.”

“They are working on it, but that will be an act of Congress getting everyone settled. So, I came up with an unconventional idea. I already called Charlie, Dr. Hampton, to run it by him, so I wanted to see what you think.”

“Okay…. I can’t wait to hear this.”

“I have a fairly big house with two extra bedrooms sitting empty. I live less than ten minutes from here.”

I raise an eyebrow, curiosity piqued.

“You could stay at my place,” he says quickly. "Just until they sort this out. You'd be close to the hospital for therapy, and it beats being crammed in here with a roommate or two or shipped off to Mississippi."

My mind reels. Stay at Shep's? The offer is both thrilling and terrifying. A million thoughts race through my head. Wouldn't it be more appropriate to stay with Isabella? Am I a crazy person for even entertaining this insane proposition?

It’s not like I have a ton of options. And he is right; the idea of going back into a hospital room and, even worse, sharing it with other people sounds worse than a nightmare.

Before my logical brain can interject, my mouth opens. "If it's not too much trouble... yes. I guess that is the best solution in the short term. Are you sure you don’t mind?”

“The only hitch is, my son, Opie, is still with me. It’s a long story, but his mom ended up staying longer than expected.”

“Oh, of course. I’m looking forward to meeting him.”

“Perfect. I’m done for the day, so we can head that way if you want to grab your things. Let me go out and tell the nurse so she doesn’t think you disappeared. And we can head that way.”

He taps the door frame and walks off toward the nurses’ station. I’m kind of dumbfounded right now. Am I really going to go to my ex’s house to stay, the ex I hadn’t talked to in a decade before a few days ago, the ex I’ve spent the last ten years trying to forget?

I need to get my mind straight. This is a nice gesture by him, a solution for an unconventional situation, nothing more. The fact that he is my ex certainly adds an awkward element to all of this, but it’s only awkward if I let it be.

A day or two. I can do it if it means getting me out of this city quicker. I’ve got this.

8:29 pm

I’m settled into Shep's plush sofa, cradling a mug of chamomile tea as Shep tucks Opie into bed. Their muffled voices drift down the hallway, Shep's deep rumble mixing with Opie's high-pitched giggles. It's a strangely intimate moment. A warmth spreads through my chest, and all of my endorphins are operating on octane.

When Shep returns, he flops down next to me with a contented sigh. "He's finally out. Sorry about that—bedtime can be a bit of a production around here. My fault. I’ve spoiled him, I admit.”

I shake my head, smiling. "Don't apologize. It’s sweet to watch."

There's a comfortable silence between us, and I take a moment to really look around his home. It's tastefully decorated, with personal touches that speak to both his life as a doctor and as a father. A finger-painted masterpiece hangs proudly on the fridge while medical journals are stacked neatly on the coffee table.

"This is nice," I murmur, more to myself than Shep.

He turns to me, eyebrow raised. "What is?"

I gesture vaguely around us. "This. Being here. It's... peaceful." I laugh softly. “Beats being stuck in the hospital with all the beeping and constant interruptions."

Shep nods, a small smile playing on his lips. "I'm glad you're comfortable. I know it's a bit weird, given our history..."

"It is," I agree. "But it also feels like... I don't know, a gift? A chance to rewrite the way we ended things, maybe."

His eyes meet mine, and for a moment, I'm transported back to our college days. The intensity and connection are all still there, simmering beneath the surface.

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