Page 63 of The Doctor's Surprise Family

Iwoke up to birdsong and Blake’s slow, deep breathing, and the sun through the maple trees warm on my face. Panic lanced through me — I was late for my shift — then I caught sight of the clock on the nightstand. Just five past seven. I was okay. I’d make it if I got a move on. I’d even have time for the quickest of showers.

I leaned down and kissed Blake on his sleeping forehead. He made a soft, happy sound, but didn’t wake up. We’d scattered our clothes everywhere last night in our haste, and I tiptoed to grab mine, quiet as I could. I wound up with one sock and no underwear, but I guessed it would do for my short walk of shame. Not that I was ashamed of us, or of myself. What our future might look like, I couldn’t guess, but I’d seen the look in Blake’s eyes when he promised we had one. He’d meant it, I knew it, and I was glad.

I slipped on my shoes and eased the door shut, and started back down the drive toward the main house. It was a beautiful morning, bright, crisp, and clear, spoiled only by a phone ringingsomewhere close by. It stopped, then immediately started again, and I realized it was Blake’s phone, left in his car.

I should’ve walked by. I should’ve just left it. It wasn’t my phone, or my damn business. But I kept thinking, who’s calling so early? And why do theykeepcalling when he’s not picking up? Maybe it was urgent. Someone in need. So I reached in to grab his phone, and that’s when I saw it, there in the passenger seat. That’s when the light drained out of my day.

I didn’t speak much German, but I knew a contract when I saw one. A contract with the hospital where Blake had been stationed. And Blake had signed on the dotted line. From what I could make out, he’d accepted an attending position. He’d be going back, and for a good while. Four years, at least. Oli would be seven. What future did he see for us that fit aroundthat?Was he expecting I’d drop out again? Give up my residency and fly off to Munich? He hadn’t even asked me!

“Asshole.Asshole.” Anger burned through me, then crippling heartbreak. I collapsed, boneless, against the roof of the car. The pain of Blake’s betrayal was physical, real. I felt like he’d punched me hard in my gut, and knocked the breath out of me. I wanted to puke.

“I trusted you,” I whispered.

His phone rang again. I dropped it on the seat. Screw whoever was calling, and screw Blake. A future, my ass. Had it all been a lie? Even that night four years ago, when he’d claimed to want more, maybe he’d only been locking me in. Locking in hookups through the rest of the year.

I drew a deep, ragged breath. That wasn’t Blake… was it? He was so good with Oli, so patient. So kind. And he wanted a family.He hadn’t faked that. Last night at dinner, I’d seen him tear up — from happiness, I’d thought, but what if it wasn’t? What if he already had a foot out the door?

He’s right there,said Mom’s voice, calm in my head.You could go in and talk to him. Fight for him, like we said.

I closed my eyes and tried to slow down my breathing. But my pulse was still racing, loud in my ears. I could go in and wake Blake, and beg him to stay. Tell him we needed him. Oli needed his father. But he’d signed the damn contract, unless… unless…

I snatched up the contract and leafed through it again. Flipped to the date — three days ago. I felt my heart plummet and shatter anew. So he’d signed just three days ago, not three weeks or a month. He’d got to know Oli and got back with me, and still he’d picked Munich over me. Over us.

“Wewere my argument,” I said to the contract. “We were how I fought for him, and we weren’t enough.” He’d always pick the Army, when it came down to that, and I guessed in a sad way, I understood. The Army had been there when no one else had, a constant in Blake’s life since he was eighteen. How could he choose love, when love had always betrayed him? Everyone had left him, his parents. His friends. That one selfish foster mom who’d promised the world, only to send him off without a goodbye. Even I’d left him four years ago. How could he trust me to stay after that?

I closed the door quietly and hurried back to the house. Mom wasn’t up yet, and neither was Dad. Oli was sleeping when I checked in on him. He’d be so sad when Blake left, but he was strong. He’d survive. Life would go back to what it had been before — a little rushed, a little lonely, but a good life. We’d been happy, the two of us. We didn’t need Blake.

I kept telling myself that as I got dressed, as I drove into work, as I drank my coffee in the residents’ lounge. We’d be just fine. Just fine. Just fine.

“What are you muttering?” Joelle came up behind me.

I nearly jumped. “Nothing. What are you doing here?”

“Dropping this off.” She held out a bag. “It’s your sweater. You left it at our place.”

I took the bag, feeling numb. The barbecue, right. I’d forgotten a lot that night, like why Blake was bad news.

“Hey, you okay?” Joelle touched my arm. “Come on and sit down. You don’t look good.”

“I’m all right,” I said. “Just haven’t slept.” I turned away, but Joelle spun me back.

“Blake did something, didn’t he? Should I go beat him up?”

I laughed at the thought of that, tiny Joelle kicking Blake’s hulking ass. “It’s not his fault,” I said, when I’d recovered myself. “I let myself think we might have a future, but our dreams are too different. Our lives don’t— they don’t—” The words caught in my throat. My eyes brimmed with tears. Joelle opened her arms, but I jerked back.

“No, no, don’t hug me. If you do, I’ll cry. Muller can’t see me with my mascara all smudged.”

We both did “the face.” I forced a tight laugh. Joelle squeezed my arm.

“After work, right?”

“I’ll text when I’m off.”

Joelle hurried off. I stood breathing deep. It wasn’t so bad, not so bad at all. I still had my friends. My job. I had Oli. I had Mom and Dad, and I had my dreams. I had more than most people had, or could dream of. I would befine, just fine.

Just fine.

CHAPTER 23

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