Page 57 of The Grumpy Doc's Surprise Delivery

And that’s how I find myself standing outside Rogers Memorial Hospital, staring up at the sign, wondering exactly what it is thatI’m doing with my life. How have all my choices led me to this point, lingering outside waiting for a girl?

In my head, this plan had been brilliant. Go to the hospital, show up, tell Emma I’m sorry. Fairy-tale ending. What could be better?

But in all my brilliant scheming, I’ve forgotten that life isn’t a fairy tale. This is stalking her at work. This is speaking to her without giving her a chance to escape if she wants to. This is creepy.

But I’m committed now. I have to see her.

Even if she rejects me, even if she yells and screams and hates me forever after this, I have to see this through. If I want any chance of getting to know my child, I have to do this.

I take a long, deep breath and walk into the reception area.

“Hello,” I say to the woman behind the desk. She looks up at me with a frown.

“I’m sorry, sir,” she says. “You can’t be in here. Patients are supposed to wait in the public area.”

“No, I’m not a patient,” I say. “I’m a doctor.”

“A doctor? Where’s your badge?”

I sigh. “Not at this hospital. Look, I’m looking for Dr. Emma Rodriguez, do you know her?”

The woman breaks into a grin. “Oh, Wonder Girl. Of course I know her.”

“Can you tell her that I’m here for her? Please?” I cringe at the clear desperation in my voice.

“Why don’t you tell her yourself?” says the receptionist, jutting out her chin, trying to indicate that Emma is walking right behind me.

I freeze, my heart leaping into my mouth. Time slows down around me as I turn.

And there she is.

Just as I remember her, her long hair tied up, her face twisted in thought, her arms filled with paperwork. Lost in her own busy world, she glances over in my direction — maybe to smile at the receptionist, maybe for no reason at all.

I open my mouth and any word I’ve ever known is trapped on the tip of my tongue. “Emma,” I manage to call out, scared that she’s going to walk away before I have a chance to say anything to her at all.

She jolts in surprise at hearing her name, then blinks in a double take when she notices that it’s me. She stumbles, almost dropping everything she’s holding. “Liam? What the hell are you doing here? I’m at work. You can’t be here.”

She makes as if to leave, but I reach out to her, running towards her. I’ve come this far. I can’t stop now. “Wait, Emma, please. I’ll understand if you don’t want to see me again, but just give me two minutes. That’s all I need. Two minutes of your time. I just want to say I’m sorry.”

“You’re sorry?” she echoes incredulously, staring at me with those big brown eyes again.

“I am. Will you let me explain?”

Her mouth opens and closes, and then she grabs me by the elbow to drag me off to another room. She closes the doorbehind us and I stand still, waiting for her to be the first to break the silence.

She folds her arms and stares at me. “Well?” she says. “Explanation time. Right now.”

“I’m sorry,” I say. “I’m sorry I’ve stalked you at work, but I need to tell you that I made a mistake.”

She cocks an eyebrow at that, and I take it as a sign to continue.

“My job is the most important thing in the world to me. It has been for a long time. It’s why I like you. Because I know you understand. Work is important to you too.”

“It is,” she agrees.

I take a deep breath. This is harder than I thought it was going to be. “I’ve seen a hell of a lot over my career, but I’ve never seen anyone like you. Nobody who understands like you do. I was so stupid to let you go.”

“You think?” she says. Her words are sharp and speak volumes, but the look on her face is one of complete uncertainty, like she’s trying to defend against a feeling she doesn’t want to have. She really is just like me.

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