Page 41 of The Doctor's Surprise Family

“The dentist,” I said, for something to say. The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife, Claire standing stiff, back ramrod straight. She glanced at me and our eyes met, and she looked away. Would she even want me here, if I came home? Or was she looking at this as a visit, something to tolerate for Oli’s sake?

Oli smiled, oblivious. “Could I be a dentist?”

“If you study hard,” said Claire. “And if you like teeth.”

“Do dogs have dentists?”

“I, uh… I don’t know.” Claire whistled, and Buster came bounding in. He snuffled at Claire, then he snuffled me, then he jammed his big head in Oli’s lap. Oli pushed him off, laughing, and I wanted to stay. I wanted more of these moments, Oli’s laughter. His smile. The three of us all together, hanging out. Playing games. Claire had put me behind her, that much was clear, but did that have to mean we couldn’t have this? We could still be a family without being together. We could live our own lives, but raise Oli together. Would Claire want that? Would she consider it?

“Dad’s taking my drawing to put on his fridge.”

“That’s great,” said Claire. “He cooks a lot, so he’ll see it whenever he’s home.” She gave me a look I couldn’t decipher, sad, kind of wistful, a little pissed. We’d have to talk soon, just her and me. Figure out what we wanted our family to be.

CHAPTER 15

BLAKE

Ifound myself living from playdate to playdate, hanging on for the moment I could see Oli again. I’d say goodbye and two minutes later, I’d come up with a dozen new questions to ask him, all the details I should know as his dad. Did he like to eat cereal, or did he like hot breakfasts? Did he know how to swim yet? Did he want to learn? What did he want to be when he grew up? Maybe a dentist. He’d asked about that. But then he’d asked Claire if boys could be nurses. And he’d said something about flying a plane.

I’d hung up his drawing on my rental fridge, and it made my chest hurt whenever I saw it, not in a bad way, but in afullway. I was full of so much — hope, fear, and delight. A constant low hum of anticipation. The worry I wasn’t or wouldn’t be enough.

I was in front of my fridge when Claire’s call came in, admiring Oli’s artwork as I thought about lunch. We weren’t due for a playdate for another two days, and my heart plunged at the thought she might cancel.

“Hey, Claire.”

“Hi, Blake. Just a minute. Oli,pleaseput that down and go get your shoes.”

Oli giggled in the background. Claire let out a sigh.

“Sorry,” she said. “Are you busy right now?”

“No, not at all. What do you need?”

Claire was pacing around. I could hear her shoes on the tile. I could hear Oli too, playing with Buster.

“I hate to do this,” Claire said. “Actually, you know what? I shouldn’t have called.”

Something crashed in the background. Claire hissed through her teeth.

“Buster, no,down. Oli, your shoes!”

I leaned on the counter. “You guys need some help?”

“No, I don’t—Buster!Sorry, could you hold on?”

She set the phone down with an audible thump, then I heard Buster’s claws skitter by. Oli giggled and shrieked. Claire yelled his name. I heard a door slam, then muffled laughter, then Claire’s shoes again.

“Blake? You still there?”

“Sure am. What’s up?”

“Look, I shouldn’t do this.” Claire’s tone was tense. “My parents went antiquing, and they got rear-ended. They’re stuck out in Red Banks, at the garage. I’m late for work, and?—”

“You need me to watch Oli?”

Claire was quiet a moment. I could feel her wheels spinning. I guessed I was her last choice of babysitter.

“Could you? I wouldn’t ask, but everyone’s busy.”

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