Page 15 of The Doctor's Simple Life

Most of my stuff is cosmetic, anyway. And I’m sure people are happy with what I give them. In fact, I know they are. It helps them become a person closer to who they see in their head. For some people, that is life changing.

But for me…

This is a stupid line of thought. It’s not like I’m going to run off to a small town and become some backwoods doctor. Think about my salary! I wouldn’t want to lose that. I have a life that I’m used to, and I like it just the way it is.

“You know, I wish Sienna would bring home nice young men like you more often,” says Mrs. Hale with a wink.

Sienna splutters something incomprehensible in protest and marches back across the room to glare at her grandmother. I swallow the smile that wants to spread across my face.

“That’s good of you to say, Mrs. Hale,” I say, glancing at Sienna to catch her eye. “I’m not sure that everyone would agree.”

“Nonsense. You’ve been nothing but an angel this evening.”

I scoff at that, but Mrs. Hale doubles down. “Are you married? I don’t see a ring on that finger.”

“Gramma,” warms Sienna, her voice low and stern. It’s a voice I’ve seen her use on patients many times. It’s the kind of voice that commands authority among older people who want to think they’re always right when they’re clearly not.

But Gramma Hale is clearly immune to Sienna’s strict voice. She blinks wide in mock innocence and says, “What, honey? I’m just asking.” Then she turns back to me and says, “I know we live in a modern age — and don’t misunderstand me because I couldn’t be more proud of my little girl — but I still hope to see her marry one day.”

“Do you?” I raise an eyebrow at Sienna.

“Oh, yes. I’m sure she’ll find a handsome somebody to look after.”

“Not someone to look after her?” I ask.

Mrs. Hale fixes me with the kind of look that tells me not to make assumptions. Immediately, a blush of shame floods across my face.

“I know you all think in the city that us country folk are backward hillbillies, but let me promise you this. We all love our kids as much as any city folk, and I know my Sienna. Any man or person in her life will have to fight hard to be allowed to look after her.”

“Why?”

“Because she’ll be too busy looking after you, dummy.”

“Okay, all right,” Sienna interrupts. “If we’re done talking about me like I’m not here.”

Mrs. Hale looks up at her and holds her hand out with a smile. Sienna takes it, her icy facade cracking a little under the weight of her grandmother’s expression. “I’m sorry, honey. You know all that’s important to me is your happiness, don’t you?”

Sienna pauses, then sighs, her shoulders relaxing. “Yes, Gramma. Of course I do.”

“But that doesn’t mean I’m not allowed to dream about you bringing home a good man one day too, does it?”

“No,” says Sienna tightly, her lips pressing into a thin smile. “But you know that’s not my priority, don’t you?”

Mrs. Hale nods, and a small twinge of something constricts in my chest. It doesn’t bother me that Sienna isn’t looking for marriage; of course it doesn’t. That’s none of my business.

And for the record, neither am I. I have no interest in a relationship of any kind. But sitting here with Mrs. Hale looking at both of us, I’m starting to wonder what she’s seeing that we’re not. It’s not like there are anything but hard feelings between Sienna and me.

I’m certain Sienna finds me as intolerable as I find her.

So why is Mrs. Hale’s comment affecting me?

“Can I get you anything at all, Dr. Westbrook? A drink, a snack?”

“Gramma, I’ll go. Don’t even dare stand up.”

Mrs. Hale nods deeply. “Ask the young man what he wants, then. I won’t have him speak bad of my hospitality.”

“Nobody has ever done that,” Sienna says with a sigh. She’s clearly tired of having me here. Maybe I should just leave. But as I start to withdraw, I feel Mrs. Hale’s piercing eyes on me.

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