Page 28 of The Love Dose
I’m committed to doing everything in my power to remove that sadness for the rest of Chacha’s life.
I sit at the desk and read the email. It contains the documents I requested. The ones I need to finalize the adoption.
There’s surprisingly little in the way of Chacha’s health reports. At least in comparison to children born in the western world who are accompanied by a pile of documents from day one. Other than the midwife who aided Chacha's mother's labor, I'm the sole physician to have ever treated him.
I type my response with information they request about flight times. I’ll pay for a chaperone to escort Chacha on the lengthy journey to New York.
I hit send and switch mental channels to tomorrow, reminding myself to fill up the car before picking up Caroline for our impromptu drive to Sugarbush Falls.
I still can’t believe I convinced her to go. Maybe I should have told her to pack necessities like boots, gloves, and a warm scarf and to leave the designer handbags at home.
I consider texting her just that but decide against it. Any interaction now could result in her backing out.
I head to my bedroom, strip down and get into the shower, picturing Caroline strolling along Main Street in spiky boots and a mink coat. She’s something else.
As I let the hot stream roll down my back, it occurs to me how much I'm counting on the magic of Sugarbush Falls to reduce Caroline’s stress and if we’re really lucky, even heal her soul.
Chapter Twenty
Caroline
Istare at my bedside clock. 6:23. The sun isn’t even awake yet.
I don’t know what I was thinking agreeing to leave town. Especially now, at this point in my life with so much going on.
Granted, Calvin can be extremely persuasive. When he looked me in the eye, his strong presence only inches away, I could do little more than agree to his offer. Sure, having downtime after my health scare would be wonderful but who has the luxury for that?
Is it too late to back out?
Given that he may already be on his way here, the answer is yes.
My phone buzzes with two messages. Evie and Sam.
I know Sam wakes early for work and kids but I wonder why Evie is texting at this hour. She has more flexibility.
Last night, a text came in from Mo.U gd?was all she wrote.
I responded with a thumbs up emoji.
In fairness, her checking up on me is as kind as it is unexpected. We are far from friends. More like rival territories forced to maintain a truce because of shared allies.
I probably should give Sam and Evie an update on how I’m doing. They can pass it along to Barbie.
Since both women are awake, I put in my earbuds, grab my suitcase and set it on the bed, tossing in the flannel pjs I found in the back of my closet. Can’t recall where I got them. Probably a gag gift from Evie.
“Hey Siri, call Evie.”
There’s a lag and then she answers. “How’s the fugitive?”
“Funny.”
“Seriously, do you takeanyrules to heart?”
“Sure, legal ones, for example.”
Evie chuckles. “Touché. Did Dr. Handsome tell you I got your decision date pushed off?”
“He did. My attorney left me a message as well. Thank you,” I say.
