Page 49 of Doctor Mile High
“Don’t apologize. I love holding him. It isn’t a hardship.” She scoops him into her arms and she begins to rock him, humming a melody that I don’t know.
“Yes?” I bite out, annoyed that whoever is on the other line woke up my child.
“I’m so sorry, sir. The crib is on it’s way up to you.”
“Excellent. Next time, please call the number you have on file. You woke up my son.”
“Apologies, Dr. Warrick. It won’t happen again.”
“See that it doesn’t.” I hang up the phone harder than I mean to, but I’m irked.
I see how tired Dove is. She has dark circles under her eyes, she’s probably hungry, and I know how much she wants to shower. I refuse to have her shower alone, but first and foremost, our child needs to be safe.
“I’m going to go meet them at the front door, Love Dove. I’ll be back up. I’ll get the crib set up and then we’ll get in the shower,then you can sleep for however long you want.” I kiss the top of her head, bringing a smile to her face even though she’s so tired. “I’m happy there are a few days before the convention. You’ll get plenty of rest.”
She nods. “And when you get back up here with the crib, you can tell me how you and Landon have so much history instead of leaving me wondering for so long.”
I groan, tilting my head back in annoyance at having to think about that man again. “Fine. I’ll tell you all the boring details, but he’s never been a good man. He’s always been who he is and I want you to know you’re done with him. You never have to work for him. From this moment on, you can do whatever you want. If you want to work, great, if you don’t, great.”
“I need health insurance, Winston. For me and baby Winston. I can’t have you pay for everything.”
“You two are mine. You’re my family. That means I take care of you. Remember, you aren’t alone anymore. I’ll take care of you now. I’ll be putting you on my health insurance and you’ll have access to my bank account by the end of the day. I was serious when I said you’re mine, Dove.” I walk away, stopping at the edge of the steps. “I’ll be right back. Don’t try to do anything without me. I have a feeling you’re the ‘I’m fine’ type when you aren’t fine. Don’t attempt it.”
She rolls her eyes at me, placing Winston in the pile of pillows I made. “I’m not that bad.” She blows me a kiss and I catch it like the lovestruck fool that I am, then tuck it in my pocket. It’s enough to make her smile and laugh, bringing a brightness to her face that hasn’t been there since I saw her on the plane.
I hurry down the steps, almost stopping in my tracks when I remember I have to tell my family about Dove and the baby. My entire family will want to throw a party and my mom will want to plan the wedding immediately, but that’s up to Dove.
I won’t allow my mom to control anything in our lives. I don’t think she would take over on purpose, but Dove seems too sweet to say anything if my mom did try to take control.
Dove hasn’t been able to speak up for herself since working for Landon, and I’m sure the habits she got while working with him have stretched into her personal life without her awareness. Landon loves playing the game of survival. Watching others suffer is how he’s made his small fortune, and he’ll continue to do so until someone stops him.
That person will be me.
He has no business in this industry and I’m going to make sure he no longer has a foot in the door by the time I’m done with him.
When I open the front door, two employees from the hotel stand there. Both are holding very large boxes.
“Two?”
“We didn’t know what you wanted. One to build or more of a foldable one? When I saw the foldable one I thought it would be more convenient. And we got diapers.”
“And wipes,” the shorter one chimes in.
“And a few newborn clothes? We know you’re not prepared and wanted to help, but I don’t know anything about babies.”
In a world where there seems to be more and more thoughtless people, these two remind me that good souls still exist.
“If you could send the crib that I have to build to my home address on file, that would be wonderful. I’ll take everything else.” I snag the bags and the foldable bassinet, knowing that it will be perfect for the time being.
All I want to do is go home now. I want to start building my life with Dove, but for now, I’ll soak in this time as I know we’ll never get it back.
14
DOVE
“You areby far the cutest baby I have ever seen,” I whisper to my newborn as he sleeps. “You kind of look like a potato, but you’re still the cutest.” I trace the bridge of his tiny button nose, completely obsessed with him.
His hair is so dark. I would think it was pitch-black if it wasn’t for the light reflecting off the strands, showing streaks of a reddish brown.
