Page 1 of The Doctor's Surprise Family

CHAPTER 1

CLAIRE

Inever planned on asking Blake out.

It’s not that I’m shy, or Iwouldn’task a guy out, but I had other things on my mind. Dr. Hargreaves, for one, at the front of the class, piling on reading like it was going out of style.

“I know it’s Thanksgiving, and you all have plans. But I’m doing you a favor— no, don’t roll your eyes. Next year, you’ll be interns, and you thinkIpile on homework? Wait till you’re working back-to-back shifts, juggling patients, cramming for exams. A few books over Thanksgiving,pff. That's nothing.”

I glanced over at Blake making notes on his laptop. He caught my eye, smiled, and I smiled back. We’d never talked much, but we’d do that sometimes, exchange little looks when Hargreaves got going.Lord, here he goes. Buckle up; it’s a big one.

“I’m preparing you,” said Hargreaves. “Toughening you up. My first year of residency, I slept in my car, and not because I couldn’t afford an apartment. I was too tiredto drive, so I’d sleep in the back. Pull my coat over me and…”

Blake went back to his notes. I let my eyes linger. His smile hadn’t faded, and it made him look younger, like a kid with a prank in mind. A very big kid. The first thing I’d noticed about Blake was his size: north of six feet and built like a tank. He had muscles on muscles, a hard, angled jaw. He might’ve looked dangerous if not for his smile, that mischievous kid’s smile I couldn’t help but flash back.

Hargreaves sighed and stopped talking. He surveyed the room. “You’re not listening, are you? Well, fair enough. You’ve got family waiting. Big turkey dinners. Cranberry sauce still shaped like the can.”

Blake’s lips went tight. His smile disappeared. He shut his laptop with his class notes still open and shoved it and his textbook into his bag. He stood, and on impulse, I got up as well.

“Hey, Blake?”

“Yeah?”

“You got plans for Thanksgiving?”

“Studying, mostly.” His smile was back, but I thought it looked strained. His body was angled for a quick escape. I moved on instinct to block him.

“You’re not going home?”

He shrugged. “There’s a diner near here, does it up for Thanksgiving. They do a whole turkey plate with all the trimmings.”

I stared. “You mean Joe’s?” I’d seen their special — gray rounds of turkey loaf; thin, lumpy gravy. A spoonful of stuffing splatted on top.

Blake smiled. “That’s the one. And there’s bottomless coffee.”

“You’re not going to study through Thanksgiving dinner?”

“Why not?” Blake winked. “Pick up your jaw.”

I probably should’ve left it at that. Minded my business and gone on with my day. But I’d been buzzing all week to get home to my parents, and they just lived an hour away. I saw them most weekends, and I still missed them. Blake was from Florida, so wasn’t he homesick? I blurted out without thinking, “You’re not going home?”

Blake swung his bag over his shoulder. “I am home,” he said.

“But, I mean, to your family? You’re from Florida, right?”

“Uh…” Blake set his bag down again and stroked his rough chin. “The thing is with that, my folks passed away. No one’s in Florida waiting on me.”

I could’ve smacked myself. Open mouth, insert foot. And before I could stop myself, I did it again, spat out the first thing that popped in my head.

“Why don’t you come with me, drive up for the day?”

“What, to your parents’ house? Blake’s expression was guarded.

“Is that super weird? It’s super weird, right? But Mom always makessomuch food, and it’s only us three to eat it. You should hear Dad at Christmas, liketurkey again?The leftovers last that long. I’m not even kidding.”

“I shouldn’t impose,” said Blake. “Your parents don’t know me. Hell, you don’t know me beyond how-d’you-do.”

“We could change that,” I said. “I’m about to get lunch. Why don’t you come with me, and we can talk?”

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