Page 10 of Meet Me in the Blue

Exhaling a knowing sigh, I couldn’t help but smile at his passive aggression. “I had a late start…” I hedged, and immediately caved when he raised his gaze. His soft brown eyes, the same as mine, assessed me. “You shouldn’t have gone into the patient’s room before me. She’s my patient and—”

“I knew how full your schedule was today.” He dropped his pen into a small mug next to his computer. “Forgive me, I was trying to save you some time.”

“Dad…”

“What?” He held up his hands. “I was.”

“You’re a control freak.” I smirked when he exhaled and shoved to his feet.

“That simply is not true.”

“Okay.” I folded my arms across my chest and leaned against the door frame. “Remember that time you reorganized all of my exam rooms because you said the workflow was off, and that one time you—”

“I like things the way I like them. So, sue me.” He shrugged and grumbled something under his breath about how when he died, we’d all be lost without him.

I might’ve laughed at his theatrics.

“Dad…”

“Let’s go get a friggin’ sandwich.”

He rounded his desk, and I held out my arm, gesturing for him to pass me in the doorway. He rolled his eyes. “I’m not a control freak,” he mumbled as Charity, our receptionist, met us in the hall.

“Dr. Abrams’ son is here, wanting to speak to Rook.” She sounded nervous and my stomach dropped.

“Luka?” I asked and felt stupid for it.

Of course, it was Luka.

Her brows pressed together, confirming my stupidity. “Um… yeah.”

Luka.

“Well, go see what he wants. Do you think… could it be…”

Dad let the unfinished sentence hang in the air as we all sank into the oppressive silence.

Was he okay?

Had Dr. Abrams passed?

Wouldn’t Mrs. Abrams have called my father?

We didn’t ask the questions or speak the words, but moved through them to the lobby, and when Luka gave me a quiet smile, I knew he wasn’t here about his dad.

He was here for me.

LUKA

NOT MUCH HAD CHANGEDat Harborside Family Practice in the last five years. Charity was still here with her blonde curls and big smiles. The shiplap on the walls was that same washed-out white that had become a Hemlock Harbor staple. The same intricate collection of miniature sailboats, Dr. Whelan’s prized possession, sat proud and dust free on the shelf behind the front desk. Even the doctor himself looked the same, like the years hadn’t touched him. Dr. Whelan’s eyes remained dark and serious as ever, his smile soft like his son’s. His son, with his gray slacks and white coat, his name neatly stitched onto the pocket. Rook fit in and stood out. He wasn’t that gangly kid anymore, waiting for his dad to finish up for the day, or the boy I’d fallen in love with, studying behind the counter while my dad helped him with math. Rook had changed while everything else had remained stagnant. He had always belonged here. Belonged to this town, to my family. I only wished I could have too.

“Everything okay?” he asked when I couldn’t seem to form a simple hello.

“Yeah… I wanted to see…” Rook’s father reached out his hand. “Oh… hey, Dr. Whelan.” Except when I raised my hand to shake his, he pulled me into a strong hug.

“Enough of that Dr. Whelan bullshit, son. It’s Roger, you know that.” When he pulled away, he gave me a noogie like I was twelve. “Or did you forget? It has been quite a while since you’ve been home. Maybe you forgot I’m not as serious as I look.”

“I see you haven’t forgotten how to lay down the guilt,” I teased, and he gripped my shoulders, his lips spreading wide as he laughed.

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