Page 46 of Girl Going Nowhere

They love Maia as much as I do, so I doubt they’d care. Finn would go to work with his computer bag decked out in girly stickers any day of the week if she decorated it for him. And Brodie still lets her practice painting his nails every so often. She gets more nail polish on his skin and the carpet than on his nails, but it never bothers him.

And Dante… well, he’s gentle enough. He’s never made Maia feel unwanted, and he’s always entertained her whenever she’s around him. I doubt he’d walk around sporting anything pink and frilly if she asked him to, but I can’t blame him.

Trevor walks up to Dr. Emerson and me. “Hello, ladies. How are we doing today?”

I have to withhold snorting when I see Emerson roll her eyes at the young physician’s assistant.

My lips waver when she says, “I’d be better if you submitted the inventory report like I’ve been asking you to do for the past week.”

Trevor stands straighter. “Er, right. Sorry. I’ve been busy. I’m sure Blake has told you that I’ve taken on more patients.”

Both of them turn to me.

A calculated smile lifts my lips. “Oh, yes. I have it on good authority that Trevor is very hands-on with all of his patients. The women who come to the counter always praise how thorough he is in the examination room.”

Humor lights up Emerson’s eyes as Trevor shoots me a look and walks into the back room. When it’s just us ladies again, she says, “Do me a favor, and stay away from that one from now on. You’re far too good for him.”

Blushing, I lean back in my chair. “You don’t have to worry about that anymore. Lesson learned.”

She pats the desk and gestures to my phone that’s lighting up again. “Good. I’ll leave you to it, then. And answer your phone. It could be important.”

When I look, I see my mother’s name on the screen this time. She isn’t who I want to talk to, but Dr. Emerson is right. “Hey. Is everything okay?”

My mother’s sigh is as heavy as it always is when I annoy her. “You need to clean out your voicemails. It says there’s no more room left. What if this were an emergency and I couldn’t leave a message to let you know?”

That explains why nobody is leaving me voicemails after calling.“You could always text me whatever is wrong,” I reply. “Isthere an emergency?”

There’s a pause. Then, “Well, no. But it could have been.”

Point taken. “I’m at work, Mom. Can you tell me what this is about so I can get back to it?”

“I wanted to know if we could take Maia out to dinner tonight. Our neighbor’s daughter is having a party at The Regence and invited her. It’ll be good for her to be social and meet people.”

As if I keep her isolated? “What time is the party? I’m trying to get her to bed the same time every night. If her routine is messed up for even one day, all that work will go out the window.”

“Honestly, Blake,” my mother says in exasperation. “It isn’t like we’re going to keep her up until midnight. It’s a children’s party, for crying out loud. It’ll be over by seven.”

I frown. “Her bedtime is seven thirty.”

“Then we’ll keep her overnight so you don’t have to bother putting her down.”

“No, that’s not what I—”

“Perfect! We’ve got everything she needs here, so I’ll call you in the morning to let you know when she’s ready. Clean out your voicemail.”

She hangs up before I can even ask to speak to Maia, making me stare at the phone. Shaking my head, I set my cell down and grab another carrot.

The rest of the workday goes by quickly, ending relatively easily compared to others. There aren’t any rude or demanding patients that give me problems, Trevor leaves me alone, and closing goes smoothly without any late phone calls or emergencies to deal with.

As I’m walking to the train station, I get another phone call from a number I’m unfamiliar with. Even though I cleared out my voicemails, which were primarily all missed calls from my mother over the past six months, I decide to answer this time. “Hello?”

“Can I speak to Blake Karr, please?” a woman asks.

My brows pinch. “That’s me.”

The hesitation in my voice must be obvious because the woman on the other end speaks softer. “I hope this isn’t a bad time. I’m calling in regard to Jonathan Dover.”

For a brief moment, my heart spikes. Why would anybody be calling because of him? He didn’t want anything to do with Maia or me. Is he trying to take her away? File something against me?What if he wants custody?

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