Page 20 of Tailored for Them

“No, thank you,” Violet signed the wordnofor Gracie with her free hand, just like Beck taught her to. “We’re going to be all done with the bin if you toss it again.”

With that, we settled into the routine of the session. Reeling little Gracie in and working on fun activities to help strengthen her fine motor skills. We weren’t entirely sure what her care would look like up in northern California since it was significantly less populated and therefore had fewer resources to offer neurodivergent children, but I assured Violet at the end of our session that I’m no more than a call or text away if she needed help.

After Violet pulled me in for a hug, she thanked me one last time.

“Of course, I’m going to miss you all,” I crouched down to Gracie’s level, holding my palm up, “Have so much fun on your new adventure, little Gracie.” Gracie smiled at me and gave me a high-five before holding her mom’s hand and being led out of the office.

I had a few hours before my next client, due to last-minute cancelations, so I decided to make the most of my free time by catching up on some paperwork.

Then I decided not to do that at all and found myself staring at Nicole’s message with my hands running through my hair.

This was exactly how Courtney and Beck found me later when it was time to eat lunch in the break room.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you hunched over your desk like that, ever,” Courtney’s words startled me out of my spiral because I hadn’t realized that they entered my office until she spoke, “What’s up, T?”

I spun in my chair, inhaling through my nose when the aroma of pasta filled the space.

“Did he make enough for me?” I asked, crossing both of my fingers at her.

Courtney smiled, “Of course, and probably enough for leftovers, too.” She and Beck both lifted large bags. Courtney and Josh had a professional chef at home that kept their refrigerator stocked with prepared meals at all times. They started using him after Susie was born, to help them through Courtney’s postpartum. But Josh was loaded, as world-famous rock stars usually were, so they kept him on.

Once you hire a private chef who handles all meal planning for you, it’s difficult to go back.

Courtney didn’t work at the clinic anymore, choosing to become a full-time mommy to little Susie and Cooper, instead.However, she still brought lunches for Beck, Beck’s boyfriend, and me.

“Hell yeah, brother,” I stood from my chair and took a step toward them, before remembering my phone and snatching it off the desk to shove into my pocket.

“What are you stressed about?” Beck asked as the three of us made it over to the break room of the clinic.

“Who says I’m stressed?” I replied.

“The hunch in your shoulders,” Courtney replied, resting her hand on the said shoulder and gently pushing down so it wasn’t hunched near my head. Frick.

I sighed, before pulling my phone out of my pocket.

These were the women I wanted to talk to about this.

“I’m wondering how to respond to these texts,” I pulled up the conversation with Nicole as we entered the breakroom. Beck grabbed my phone and studied the exchange as all three of us pulled seats out and settled in.

As Beck passed the phone to Courtney to look at, Beck’s boyfriend silently entered the break room and started divvying out lunch for all of us.

We’d come a long way from sack lunches and snack packs.

“Hi Adam,” I held my fist out for him to bump.

“Hey,” He replied. As soon as he dished everyone their meals and sat next to Beck, Courtney spoke up.

“I’m confused, you started this conversation,” Courtney handed my phone back to me.

“I did,” I sighed, twirling my pasta around on my fork, “But I’m feeling nervous.”

“Why?” Beck asked around a mouthful of food.

I leaned back in my chair, quirking my lips to the side in thought.

“This woman is really fucking pretty,” I admitted, “We kissed the other day to make her ex jealous, and it’s all I can think about now.”

Beck wiggled her eyebrows, whereas Courtney rubbed her hands together as if she were a villain planning something.

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