Page 13 of Doctor's Surprise Twins

I walk across the street to the parking garage and climb behind the wheel of my Mercedes. Traffic has slowed after rush hour, so it doesn’t take long to drive home.

I pull into the garage, head into the house, drop my gym bag on the floor, and head straight for the kitchen. I flip on the light and begin to search the fridge for something to make for dinner. I’m not all that hungry.

I’m more tired than anything. I grab a beer from the fridge and close the door.

I twist off the cap as I move about the house. I stop in the entryway and empty my pockets.

I still have a landline and a machine for messages just in case a major disaster happens that takes out cell towers. This way, the hospital can still reach me. I see the red light flashing on the machine, so I hit the play button.

“Ethan, it’s Jill.”

I groan and walk to the living room, the message still playing.

“I just wanted to touch base. You know, keep you updated. We’ve collected 1.2 million dollars, and all of that is going to the Amelia Walden-Cole fund for IVF treatments,” my mother-in-law says over the recording.

I flop onto the couch and take a long swig of beer.

“We’re helping countless families who have no other options, Ethan. I know you miss her—we all do—but some good can come of this.”

Bullshit.

“We’re approaching the six-year mark. Every year since we opened the foundation, we have a ceremony. We’d love it if you’d attend. But of course, we understand if you can’t make it. I don’t have to tell you the date, but everything starts at five. Goodbye. I hope you’re taking care of yourself,” she adds before the machine beeps twice, signaling the end of the message.

I tilt my head back and gulp my beer until there’s nothing left.

Instead of going back to the fridge for another, I open the cabinet and grab the bottle of bourbon. I uncap it, wrap my fist around the neck, and drink straight from the bottle.

It’s warm, and the liquid burns its way down my throat. It doesn’t go down as easy as the beer, but I know it will have a better effect.

Bottle still in hand, I move to the back of the kitchen and look out the back patio doors at the pool. What a waste. I should never have bought this house.

“Come on, Ethan. All families need a pool,” Amelia says, taking my hand and pulling me onto the patio. She turns to face me and wraps her arms around my neck. She smiles up at me, and everything inside of me melts.

“We live in Chicago. We don’t need a pool. We’ll only use it a few months a year.”

“We can put a heater in it and use it year-round.”

“With as much as we both work, it won’t get used. It’ll just be another expense to keep up with.”

“We need exercise, and you know how much I hate to run. You’re a heart surgeon. You should know that swimming is good for your heart.”

My head falls back and my eyes close as I groan. “I can think of a few other things that are also good for the heart.” I look at her now, smirking.

“Well, let’s go sign the paperwork for this house and then you can show me some of those things.”

I chuckle and she bats her lashes. She knows she’s getting to me. “You really want this house that badly?”

She smiles widely and nods vigorously.

“Alright. Fine!”

She giggles and jumps up and down, pulling my mouth to hers and then peppering my face with kisses.

I shake the memory from my head as I turn away from the pool I didn’t want. Here I am, ten years later, thinking about heating the damn thing after all.

I bring the bottle to my lips and turn off the lights as I head to a bedroom that’s been entirely too lonely these past six years.

Maybe I need to sell this house. Every family needs a pool, but I don’t have a family. It’s just me, and I hate it here.

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