Page 28 of Stat: Love In Scrubs
“Hi, Daddy!” she said, waving enthusiastically.
I laughed.
“Hey, baby girl. You getting ready to go to bed?” I asked.
She nodded, then pointed at the screen.
“Where are you?”
“We’re at Top Golf,” I answered.
“Where is Ms. Sinclair? I want to see her.”
I shook my head at her bossy little self. Then turned the camera to face Yara, who was killing that chicken wing. The moment she noticed Esa, she grabbed a napkin to wipe her mouth, then smiled.
“Hi, Ms. Sinclair,” Esa said, waving wildly again.
“Hi, sweetheart. What are you doing up this late, little lady?” Yara asked her.
I could see my baby getting shy now as she pulled her blanket up to block her smile.
“To tell my daddy goodnight.” She told her.
“Well, that’s sweet of you. I’ll let you get back to that, and I’ll see you at school.”
I could tell it satisfied Esa with that response, so I turned the camera back to face me.
“I knew you would like her daddy, that’s why I pretended that day — I mean, goodnight, daddy.”
“Esa, your little butt better not be on that phone.” I heard my mom say before she came into view of the screen.
“Desmond, this child was supposed to be going to bed. But I guess she didn’t plan to miss a chance to call you before she went. Have a good time, son, and I want to hear all about it,” she said, before ending the call.
I shook my head and glanced over at Yara, who was smiling back at me.
“That child of mine is so busy.” I finally spoke up about the bomb she dropped before getting off the phone.
“I knew she wasn’t sick. I thought she just wanted more time with you. I guess she wanted us to have time together. I should have known when her little butt perked up.” Yara responded.
We laughed. “I don’t know how she knew I was coming. It could have easily been her grandparents.”
“Faith.”
“I can’t knock that. You ready to go?” I asked her.
She nodded, then took one more sip of her drink before standing. If I thought I wasn’t hooked before, I damn sure knew I was now.
TWO WEEKS LATER…
Ipulled into my father’s driveway and parked my car behind him, since Maria’s car was gone. My phone buzzed with a text from Doc, causing me to smirk. This man was out of control. He needed to be worried about his patients. Not texting me videos he had been watching.
Doc: You still going by your pops?
Me: I just made it. So, focus on your patients.
Doc: Stop acting like you don’t enjoy hearing from me.
Me: Eye roll emoji… please.
