Page 95 of The Potter

So, this is Vance’s consult, the one he’ll see on one of the worst days of his life.

“Ah, yes,” I confirm, double-checking Vance’s calendar. “Dr. Potter is running behind. Let me show you to the waiting room and grab you a refreshment while you wait.”

Where is Vance, and why hasn’t he called? He could use Duke’s phone. This behavior is not like the man who called me hourly when I was at his house recuperating.

A sinking feeling settles in my stomach.

Maybe now that I’m healed, and his duty as my surgeon is done, he’s moved on.

Maybe Mrs. Adams’s daughter is his next project?

No, I won’t think like that. Vance is a brilliant and caring surgeon. He treats all his patients with the same respect and kindness as he did me.

He just needs time to get himself together for the deposition.

That’s all.

“Thank you, sweetheart.” Mrs. Adams walks toward the open waiting room, and I rush out from behind the desk to meet her.

“Let me show you where we stash the best sodas.”

Which is in the same location as the other sodas, but thankfully, Mrs. Adams accepts my overhelpfulness, walking alongside me to the waiting room and allowing me to pour her a drink as she takes a seat in one of the oversized chairs.

“Here you are.” I pass her the plastic cup and settle in the chair beside her. Call me nosy, but I’d love to know what this woman and her daughter’s story is. Vance accepted their appointment for a reason. I’d like to know why.

“Thank you, dear. You’re very sweet.”

I lean back in my chair and smile. “Is this your daughter’s first appointment at Potter’s Plastics?”

Mrs. Adams nods. “Yes. I’m only here for moral support, though. I feel a little weird being here.”

“Not all plastic surgery has to do with facelifts and butt implants.” I chuckle.

If Caleb had never caused my accident, I would have continued to always associate plastic surgery with boobs and cheek implants.

“Well, when you’re my age, you really don’t worry about scars.”

I frown. “So, why is your daughter meeting with Dr. Potter?”

A smile widens across her face as she speaks. “She’s going to her first prom in the spring.”

“Aww. How fun.”

She nods. “It can be… for some girls. For others, like my daughter, it’s amonumentalevent. One that she wants to be absolutely perfect. You see, Charlotte has been homeschooled for the past several years since she developed End Stage Renal Disease from her long-term battle with diabetes.”

My breath hitches.

“The doctors assured us that a kidney transplant would save her life, and it did. I was a match, and after months of recovery, Charlotte is back in school and attending her first prom.”

“And you want Dr. Potter to smooth the scars from the transplant?”

Mrs. Adams sighs. “The surgery wasn’t without complications, unfortunately. Charlotte ended up with an infection that required two additional surgeries to debride the wound.”

I fill in the rest. “And now, all that’s left of her former life is a scar.”

Mrs. Adams nods. “One that she wants removed so she can wear the gown of her dreams.”

Tears sting the back of my eyes. “I completely understand.”

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