Page 33 of Burned By the Broken Doctor

“Liam?” His voice carries the usual hint of surprise, like he isn't entirely expecting me to be home.

“Hey, Dad,” I greet, forcing a smile.

He raises an eyebrow, taking in my suspiciously chipper demeanor. “Looking mighty happy there, son. Did you two lovebirds work things out?”

Lovebirds? I choke back a laugh. “Yeah, something like that,” I mumble, pouring myself a glass of water.

We settle at the table, the aroma of grilled chicken and roasted vegetables filling the air. Dad takes a bite of his food, a contented sigh escaping his lips. “This is good, son. You're turning into quite the chef.”

Between mouthfuls, he launches into a story about work, a never-ending saga of office politics and looming deadlines. I tune him out mostly, my mind replaying the events of the evening. Then, his question brings me back to the present.

“So, how did you figure it out, Liam?” he asks, a knowing smile playing on his lips. “How'd you know Emma was the one?”

I blink, momentarily confused. “The…one?”

“The one you love, of course,” he chuckles, gesturing with his fork. “Come on, son, don't be coy with your old man.”

Love? I almost choke on my food. “Dad, I never said anything about love,” I manage, trying to sound calm. “We're just…in a relationship.”

He shakes his head, his smile widening. “Ah, young love. Always so dramatic. But don't worry, son. It goes away eventually. Just like the denial stage of grief.”

“Grief, Dad?” I furrow my brow. “What are you on about?”

He sets his fork down, a serious expression replacing his jovial one. “Grief, Liam. The five stages. You know, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.”

“Yeah, I know the stages,” I mutter, still confused. “But why are you bringing it up now?”

“Because it mimics falling in love so closely,” he explains, his voice gentle. “You deny your feelings at first, then you get angry when those feelings get in the way of logic. It's a roller coaster, Liam.”

“Whoa, hang on. I told you we aren’t in love.”

Dad shakes his head, a wide smile spreading across his face. He stands up, gathering the plates. “Alright, dishes tonight are on me. You did the dinner, so it's only fair.”

I scramble up, ready to take the plates from him. “No way, Dad, I can handle it.”

He waves me off, a glint in his eye. “Nonsense. You go grab two cans of beer and wait for me on the porch. We can catch the sunset.”

I sigh, knowing better than to argue with him when he’s made up his mind. I head to the fridge, and my fingers close around two beers that have condensation already forming a frosty sheen on the cans.

I step outside onto the porch. The last rays of the setting sun cast long shadows across the backyard. Dad comes out moments later and settles in a rocking chair, a contented sigh escaping his lips as he gazes at the fiery sky.

I hand him a beer, silence stretching comfortably between us. His words echo in my mind. Denial. Is that what I am feeling? No way. I shake my head. What I feel for Emma is an undeniable attraction and I’ve accepted that.

As much as I’ve accepted the nerve-racking reality that I’ll have to spend the next few days planning a wedding with Emma. The thought sends a shiver down my spine. It is going to be torture, pure and simple. I know she’s going to wring out every bit of me in the process and, beneath the apprehension, a tiny spark of something else flickers. Intrigue? Excitement?

The thought of spending more time with Emma, of getting to know her better, is undeniably appealing. Of course, that must be because I’ll have more chance to make love to her and get this attraction for her out of my system.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Dad's voice breaks the silence, his tone gentle.

“Huh?” I look up to see the last sliver of sun dip below the horizon. The sky is ablaze with color, a breathtaking display of orange, pink, and purple hues. Taking a swig of beer, I nod. “Yeah, it’s beautiful.”

“What are you thinking about, son?”

I shrug, taking another sip of beer. “Just…stuff.”

He chuckles knowingly. “A difficult one to voice, huh?” He pauses for a moment, then adds, “You know, Liam, the older you get, the more you realize life isn't always black and white. Sometimes, the best things in life come in shades of gray.”

“What do you mean?”

---