Page 92 of Where She Belongs
“Let’s just enjoy being us for a while,” she’d said when Tristy not-so-subtly brought up the topic last month.
So I wait.
After all, I waited ten years to admit I loved her—what’s another few months? Besides, we’re already building a life together. The ring is just a formality, a way to make official what we both already know: that this is it for us.
Hell, even her parents—devout Catholics—don’t mind waiting.
“Dr. Martin?” Her assistant’s voice comes through clear enough that I can hear it. “The board meeting is starting. They need your input on the new hire.”
Andrea glances at me apologetically, but I wave her off. This is our reality now—balancing two practices, two cities, and one lifewe’re building together. She heads inside for her video call while I take over herb lesson duty with the twins, Sawyer and Todd emerging from the house to take over the grill.
“Tio Gabe?” Anipea looks up at me with those serious eyes that remind me so much of her father. “Is Ninang Andie going to live here forever now?”
The question catches me off guard, though it shouldn’t. Kids always know what adults are dancing around. “Would you like that?”
“Yes!” DJ bounces on his toes. “Then she can teach us about plants every weekend instead of just sometimes.”
“And make lumpia,” Little Tyler adds. “Dad says your lumpia isn’t as good as hers.”
I laugh, remembering my failed attempts at recreating Andrea’s family recipes. “Your dad’s right about that.”
Through the home office window, I can see Andrea pacing as she talks, her hands moving animatedly the way they do when she’s excited about something. Even from here, I can read her body language—whatever’s happening at the last-minute board meeting is good news.
The sliding door opens and Harlow emerges with a pitcher of lemonade. “Everyone wants to know if lunch is ready yet.”
“Almost,” Sawyer replies, him and Todd taking turns flipping the chicken and steaks on the grill.
“Heard they approved the new administrative director.” Harlow pours drinks for the twins as I lead them to the patio table. “That’s going to free up a lot of her time.”
I grin. “That’s the plan.”
The plan we’ve spent months crafting: Andrea stepping back from administrative duties to focus on patient care, her clinic running under new leadership while maintaining her vision. My practice continuing to expand with Andrea eventually being among its resident physicians.
I want it done yesterday, but such things take time. Salud Integrada was Andrea’s dream come true long before we met, and the last thing I want is for her to walk away from it too quickly. She doesn’t have to. She can remain on the board and guide its future while practicing medicine the way she’s always wanted to—hands-on, personal, making a difference in people’s lives directly instead of drowning in paperwork. Between my concierge practice, the satellite clinic and our partnership model, we’re creating something that could change how rural healthcare works in New Mexico. Something bigger than either of us imagined when we started this journey.
Besides, watching her mentor residents, seeing how she lights up when she’s teaching—that’s the Andrea I fell in love with. The one who believes in making healthcare accessible to everyone, who fights for what she believes in.
Now she’ll have more time to do exactly that. More time for everything she wants, including the family we’ve been carefully not talking about.
I’ve seen how she watches the twins, how natural she is with them. How she’s started making casual comments about the kid-friendly features I’ve been adding to the house. We’re not rushing anything, but I know that look in her eyes when she talks about second chances. About doing things differently this time around.
Andrea emerges from the house, her face glowing with excitement. “They approved everything! Mariah’s taking over as Administrative Director, and—” She stops, noticing our audience. “Sorry, work stuff.”
“Good work stuff?” I ask, though her smile tells me everything.
“The best.” She steals a piece of grilled chicken from one of the plates before Todd and Sawyer can bring them inside, dodging my playful swat. “They also approved the partnership agreement with your clinic now that you’re officially a nonprofit. We can start implementing the satellite location plans next month.”
Harlow looks between us, her expression knowing. “I’ll take these two inside to wash up.” She herds the twins toward the house, leaving us alone.
“So,” I say, pulling Andrea close. “Everything’s falling into place.”
“Seems like it.” She fits against me perfectly, her head tucking under my chin. “Though there’s still the question of living arrangements.”
Ah. The conversation we’ve been dancing around for weeks. While I don’t mind adding to my car’s mileage each week as we alternate weekends at my house, I miss waking up next to her seven days a week. But everything takes time, even the moment I get to slide that ring around her finger. “What are you thinking?”
Andrea pulls back slightly to look at me. “I’ve been doing the math. Three days a week in Albuquerque for direct patient care, four days including weekends here... It makes more sense to make Taos our home base.”
My heart skips. “Yeah?”
