Page 6 of My Heart Before You

He’d met with the silver-haired legend earlier in the week to discuss performance expectations. Keeping near perfect surgical statistics would be no problem. He prided himself on being one of the hardest working surgeons at his hospital in Tampa, but the culture shift of mandatory decreased hours to encourage work-life balance he’d need to get used to.

The French door opened, and Kate strode down the deck stairs with a baby on her hip. “I see this is where the boys are hanging out. This little bro just woke up and wanted to join.”

The baby had his fat fist in his mouth, happily blowing bubbles and muttering against it. He looked dressed for dinner in a collared gingham romper with an embroidered blue whale on the chest pocket.

She handed their son to her husband. “Dinner’s in fifteen, guys.”

“Do you need any help, love?”

“No, I’ve got it. You guys catch up. I’ll call when it’s time.” Kate smiled before turning back toward the house.

Max repositioned his son, so he was facing outward in his lap. “I told you he was getting big. Look how chunky he is now. It’s a point of pride for Kate, since breastfeeding was so tough on both of them in the beginning. Of course, he just started solids, so that doesn’t hurt.”

His friend’s mouth pulled into a proud grin as he regarded his boy. Since Owen was often a main topic over the last six months, Colin was well versed in his short life.

“He’s a chunker for sure. Everything else going well?”

“Lately, he’s been teething, so I’m getting woken up at night like it’s intern year, but it’s not like he’s doing it on purpose.” He kissed Owen’s head. “You want to hold him?”

Colin shifted uneasily in his chair not having much experience with babies, but not wanting to disappoint his overjoyed friend after all he’d done for him. “Hand the little man over.”

The affable baby didn’t mind the transfer in the least. He let out a little coo and tilted his head, staring up with deep blue eyes. A small tuft of auburn hair wisped from the center of his otherwise bald head. Looking at the soft warm baby nestled against his chest, Colin couldn’t help but admit that it felt surprisingly nice.

They talked about the most interesting cases from the week before Kate opened the back door and told them it was time for dinner. The dining room table had been set for three with a highchair at the end of the table. Max settled his son in it and put a few strawberry baby puffs on the tray, which Owen immediately shoved into his two-toothed mouth.

Kate had prepared a mouthwatering roast; the savory taste of the cooked-to-perfection beef paired perfectly with sauteed Brussel sprouts and homemade bread with honey butter. Max opened the wine and gave everyone a heavy pour.

“Ohhh, this is good!” Kate crooned after sipping from her glass.

Warmth spread through his chest. “I’m glad it complements the delicious meal. Thank you again for dinner.”

“You are welcome here anytime. In fact . . .” Her eyes met Max’s over the table. “. . . we were thinking we could make this a weekly thing.”

He swallowed his bite. “Oh, I can’t possibly—”

Max’s baritone voice interrupted, “You can and you will. Kate and I have talked it over, and we want you to have a homebase. We know how close you were with your dad, and we want you to know you have people who care about you. That’s one of the main reasons that we wanted you to move to Boston, so we could be here for you.”

The warmth in his chest abated as squeezing tension replaced it. With all he had been through, he should have been better prepared for the crushing blow of suddenly losing his father, but he wasn't. His father’s death had knocked him to the ground so violently, he couldn’t reorient himself. It was as if he’d lost a chunk of himself.

They hadn’t just been close, they were each other’s support system and closest confidant. Or at least he’d foolishly believed they were. What he wouldn’t give to go back in time and do things differently. His throat tightened uncomfortably, and he poured wine down it in an attempt to alleviate it.

“Think of them as family dinners,” Kate piped in. “We’ll work them around your schedules, but there should be a day at least once a week or every other week that you both are off. We want you to know you’re always welcome here. If it makes you feel better, you can keep supplying delicious wine as a contribution.”

Two sets of eyes watched him as Owen let out a squeal and then hit his fist on the tray of his highchair as if in agreement with his parents.

“Okay, if you’re sure.” As much as he’d happily be here any night of the week for dinner, he didn’t want to impose.

“We are.” Kate leaned across the table and squeezed his hand briefly before opening a small container of a pureed food substance and spooning some out for her son.

The rest of the dinner passed enjoyably until eventually Owen became fussy and Kate declared bedtime. Max went upstairs to get their son ready for bed while he and Kate teamed up to clear the table and wash dishes.

“Okay, Mommy. Your turn.” His friend reentered the kitchen with a freshly bathed, footie-pajama clad Owen.

When Kate set down the dish towel and held out her arms for their baby, Max kissed her over the exchange, making an Owen sandwich.

A twinge pulled across Colin's chest before his friend held his hand out for the freshly rinsed dish. “How’s the new condo? Kate said she found you a nice corner unit.”

For ease, he decided to live in the new condo tower a block from the hospital. It had an assigned parking spot in the garage for his car and a really nice gym facility on the top floor. Since running and weight training were how he blew off stress, he anticipated spending a good deal of his newly allotted free time there.

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