Page 34 of Doctor Second Chance

She nods, already turning back to her work. "Will do, Dr. Duncan."

As I walk away, I can't help but wonder how Elle will react to this news. More importantly, I want to know how I will navigate this minefield of her staying at my house.

4:27 pm

I pull out my phone as I walk to my car, the summer heat hitting me like a wall as I step outside. My fingers hover over Elle's name in my contacts. It's strange how natural it feels to text her again after all these years.

Hey, heading back to my place now. You still at the hospital? You can catch a ride with me if you want to leave your car here.

I slide into the driver's seat, cranking the AC. My phone buzzes almost immediately.

Just finished my last session. Grabbing coffee with Isabella, then I'll head your way. That okay?

I smile, typing back quickly.

Of course. Mi casa es su casa. Take your time.

As I pull out of the parking lot, I can't help but wonder what Elle and Isabella are talking about. Probably me. The thought makes me both nervous and oddly excited.

It immediately occurs to me how arrogant it is to assume they are talking about me. The more likely scenario is that she hasn’t given a second thought to what happened last night.

She shut me down when I tried to talk about things beyond the surface talk we have done so far. I’m not sure who was saved more by Opie waking up and spilling the cereal this morning—me or her.

Traffic is light, and I make it home in record time. I hear Opie’s laughter from the backyard as I walk through the door. I put down my bag and head straight out to the backyard.

"Daddy!" he shouts as I step onto the patio. He's splashing in the pool’s shallow end with his blue noodle while Cason watches from a nearby chair.

"Hey, buddy," I say, grinning, bending down to the side and ruffling his wet hair. "Having fun?"

Cason stands, gathering her things. "He's been a little water bug all afternoon. Wore himself out. With this heat, the pool has been a welcome retreat. I just got out.”

I nod, noticing Opie's drooping eyelids. “I’m glad y’all had a fun day. Thanks, Cason, for being the world’s best. I can take it from here.”

“Have you heard anything from Ari?” She asks me under her breath so that Opie doesn’t hear. “I texted her and didn’t hear back. We had plans to take Opie to the Children’s Theater tomorrow.”

“You know, Cason, I haven’t. I’m not sure what is going on there, but this is very unlike her. I’m starting to get very worried.”

“Gosh, I hope everything is okay.”

“Me, too, Case. For Opie’s sake.”

She taps my shoulder as she walks back toward the house and offers a concerned look. Everyone is distressed about this bizarre situation. I’m not a praying man, but I can’t even fathom the idea that Opie could lose his mother. I hope it is some kind of unique situation that will make sense once we all know the deal.

After she leaves, I wrap Opie in a towel. "Bath time, little man. Then how about some dinner with Daddy’s friend, Ms. Elle?”

He nods sleepily against my shoulder. As I carry him inside, I realize I'm looking forward to Elle coming back. Dare I let myself go there by admitting how nice it will be to sit down together and talk about our days?

ELEVEN

Elle

4:57 pm

I take a sip of my latte, savoring the rich flavor as I sit across from Isabella in this chic little coffee shop downtown.

The atmosphere is cozy, with exposed brick walls and soft jazz playing in the background. I can't help but feel a sense of comfort wash over me as I take in the charming details of this quaint space.

The warm glow of Edison bulbs hanging from the ceiling casts a gentle light on the vintage-inspired decor, and the aroma of freshly ground coffee beans mingles with the sweet scent of pastries. It's the kind of place that makes you want to linger for hours, lost in conversation or a good book.

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