Page 72 of The Doctor's Surprise Family

I turned to her, surprised. “You’ve thought about this.”

“Maybe a little. You know, in case.”

I glanced at Oli. “I have, as well. I missed out on so much with him, and I’d love to?—”

“Dad?” Oli set down his fork, finished with breakfast. “Can I take a book to school? In case I get bored?”

“I’ve already packed you one. But I doubt you’ll get bored.” Claire went and sat with him and pulled him into a hug. “Mike’ll be there, and so will Adam. You can play at recess, and eat together at lunch. And you’re going to meet new friends, so you won’t be bored.”

Oli turned to hug her back and dragged his sleeve in his plate. I hurried him upstairs to grab a new shirt while Claire checked his bag again to make sure he was set. By the time we were through, Mike’s dad was honking. Claire hurried outside, Oli in tow.

“Do we have time for a photo before they head off?”

Mike’s dad leaned out and peered up the street. “The traffic’s not half as bad as I was expecting. We’re going to be early, so go ahead.”

Claire snapped a few shots of Oli with his school bag, then I snapped a few with them both together. Then Mike and his dad got out and we got a group shot, all of us yellingcheeseas the timer went off.

“Guess it’s time,” said Claire, and bent to kiss Oli. He squirmed away.

“Mom!”

“Sorry, hon.” She caught him anyway and pressed a kiss to his head. “Have a great day, okay? And be good for your teacher.”

We stood hand-in-hand at our pretty white gate and watched Mike’s dad’s car disappear down the street. We watched the kids out of sight, then Claire wiped her eyes.

“What do we even do with ourselves? We took the day off for this, but what do wedo?” She laughed, thin and shaky, and I pulled her close.

“Well, if you’re up for it, I had an idea.”

“Sit by the phone all day biting our nails?”

I laughed. “Well, we could, or we could ride our new bikes.”

Claire’s brows knit with puzzlement, then her eyes went wide. “You actually did it? You went and got bikes?”

“Sure did.” I winked. “I thought we’d pack us a picnic and ride to the pond — and, before you ask, I walked down last week. My phone worked the whole way, all through the woods. So if youwantto sit by yours biting your nails, you can still do that while we ride our bikes.”

Claire peered down the empty street, where Oli had gone. “He didn’t seem scared at all.”

“Because he knows he’s loved.” I leaned down and kissed her, a comforting peck. “He knows we’ll be waiting when he gets home, and if he needs us, we’re a phone call away.”

“It’s been so long since we took a day for ourselves.” Claire smiled, and her eyes were bright. “You know what? Let’s do it. Let’s have a date.”

I let out the breath I’d been holding for what felt like all morning. I’d been planning today since we took Oli school shopping. I’d spotted the bikes and thought, if not now, when? I could wait for the perfect time — when Claire passed her boards. When my fellowship ended, and I knew what came next. Right now, it was looking like a teaching position, still with the Army, here in the States. But after Claire’s boards, she’d be busier than ever. I’d be adjusting to a new, hectic schedule, my surgical lineup, plus teaching hours. Today was the day, and the perfect day for it, the sun shining bright, not a cloud in the sky.

“I’ll just call Mom,” said Claire. “Let her know Oli’s off.”

“And sunscreen,” I said, and kissed her again. “Don’t forget sunscreen. It’s going to be hot.”

I packed up our lunch, and soon we were off. We rode slow and easy through the shady green woods, over the bridge by the stream near the farm. I rode behind Claire so I’d see if she wobbled, or if it looked like she needed a break. But she rode on with her hair streaming out, her perfect white sneakers pumpingthe pedals. Sometimes, I thought I caught a snatch of a song, Claire singing her happiness into the breeze.

We rode through the morning and finished up at the pond, and we both took our shoes off at the end of the dock. We dangled our feet in the summer-warm water, and Claire laughed when a minnow swam up for a nibble.

“I’m glad we did this,” she said. “We should go out more often.”

“We’ll have time now.” I shifted so our knees bumped. “Not for a cruise, maybe, but that’s for old folks. We can start having date nights. Maybe a weekend. Maybe a honeymoon, if…”

Claire stiffened. “What?”

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