Page 35 of Single Daddy Doctor Dreamy

Still at the hospital. How’s everything going?

I quickly reply:Great! Took the boys for ice cream. Also, Mrs. Harlow offered to babysit tonight. What do you think about a quick dinner out?

His response is almost immediate:Sounds perfect. Need to clear my head. Let’s do it.

By the time Joel gets home, the boys are fed and settled with Mrs. Harlow, who’s brought along a jigsaw puzzle to keep them entertained. Joel looks exhausted but determined, his tie loosened and his sleeves rolled up.

“You look nice,” he says, taking in my simple navy dress and the way I’ve styled my hair.

“You’re not so bad yourself,” I reply, giving him a warm smile. “Ready?”

We head to a small restaurant a few blocks away, a cozy spot with low lighting and rustic charm. It’s the kind of place where everyone knows everyone, and tonight is no different. Several people wave as we walk in, and the hostess greets Joel by name before leading us to a corner table.

As we settle in, Joel’s shoulders seem to relax slightly. “I needed this,” he admits, glancing at me over the top of his menu.

“Me too,” I say. “It’s nice to have a moment to breathe.”

The evening starts out perfectly. We order simple dishes. Joel opts for steak while I go for pasta and we spend the first half of the meal talking about the boys, the hospital, and the small moments of our day that we rarely get to share.

But then, the atmosphere shifts.

I notice him first. Dr. Rivkin enters the restaurant, his presence commanding despite the unsteady way he carries himself. His face is flushed, and his movements are jerky as he scans the room. My stomach drops when his eyes land on us.

“Joel,” I whisper, my voice low. “He’s here.”

Joel follows my gaze, his expression hardening. “Stay calm,” he says quietly, his hand moving to rest on mine. “Let’s see what he does.”

What he does is march straight over to our table.

“Anderson,” Rivkin says, his voice loud enough to draw the attention of nearby diners. “Out celebrating your little victory, huh?”

Joel’s jaw tightens. “Dr. Rivkin, this isn’t the time or place.”

“Oh, I think it’s the perfect place,” Rivkin sneers. His words are slightly slurred, and I catch the sharp scent of alcohol as heleans closer. “You think you’re some kind of hero, don’t you? Going behind my back, spreading lies…”

“That’s enough,” Joel says firmly, his voice low but commanding. “You need to leave.”

“Or what?” Rivkin challenges, his tone mocking. “You’ll report me to the board? Oh, wait, you already did that.”

The tension at the table is suffocating. I can feel every eye in the restaurant on us, the weight of their stares making my skin crawl. Joel stays calm, but I can see the strain in his posture, the way his muscles are coiled like a spring.

“Dr. Rivkin,” Joel says, his voice steady but laced with steel. “You’re drunk. Let me call you a cab.”

Rivkin’s laugh is harsh and bitter. “You think you can dismiss me? Like I’m nothing? I’ve given my life to that hospital. Who the hell do you think you are?”

Joel stands, his height and calm demeanor a stark contrast to Rivkin’s unhinged aggression. “Let’s take this outside,” Joel says quietly. “There are families here. Let’s not make a scene.”

For a moment, I think Rivkin might refuse. His eyes dart around the room, taking in the silent, watchful faces of the other diners. Finally, he jerks his head to the side and stalks toward the door, Joel following a few steps behind.

I stay seated, my hands gripping the edge of the table as I fight to keep my breathing steady. The murmurs around me grow louder as the door swings shut behind them, the tension in the room crackling like static electricity.

Several agonizing minutes pass before Joel returns, his expression grim. He sits down across from me, running a hand through his hair.

“He’s gone,” he says. “I called him a cab. Told the driver to make sure he got home.”

I let out a shaky breath, the tightness in my chest easing slightly. “That was… intense.”

“Yeah,” Joel says, his voice heavy. “But maybe it’s a good thing. There were plenty of witnesses to his behavior tonight. If he tries to claim this is all some kind of conspiracy, this will only hurt his credibility.”

---