Smiling up at her, I answer. “Yeah, Doc, a date.” She seems to have lost her ability to speak again, which I find somewhat adorable. I hand her a piece of paper with my number. “Call me or text me once you’ve thought about it, but you better get to your appointments, Doc. I wouldn’t want to make you behind on your day.” She nods and enters the exam room where Kierstie is waiting.
I don’t know what it is about her. It’s more than just how beautiful she is. She has a warmth and kindness about her. Like it’s not an act, but just who she is on the inside, in her soul. That calls to me, and it’s something I feel a desire and a need toexplore. I haven’t felt this pull to someone since Sarah, and that was thirty years ago.
Just a few minutes pass when the door opens, and Kimbra comes out and nods in my direction as she heads to Madison’s room. I reach out and grab her hand as she passes me. “I’m taking Kierstie home. Call or text me when you’re off, Doc.” I can tell she wants to say something, but she bites her tongue and nods. I let her hand go, and she walks to the other room, knocking once before opening it and stepping inside.
A door opens and closes. I turn and see Kierstie looking at me like she’s trying to study me or some shit. “What?” I stand up. “You ready to go?” Kierstie nods but tilts her head, and I know something is going to come out of her mouth that I probably don’t want to hear. I may not have spent a lifetime with her and her siblings, but being around them these last couple of years has taught me plenty. One of those things is that nothing is off-limits to her and most of her siblings. I reach the door to the lobby and open it for Kierstie. She walks through and can’t keep her mouth shut anymore. “You know the walls in this place aren’t that thick, and I heard what you said to Doc.” I look down at her and wait for her to continue. “I think you’d be good for her, but you’ve got an uphill battle with that one. We’ve been trying to get her to come to a family day for over a year. She’s a little skittish, but she’s good people. I’m on your side in this and will help ya in any way I can. I know Jane feels the same,Madison, too.” I don’t say anything back because what the hell is there to say? We get to my truck, and I open the door for Kierstie. Before she gets inside, she looks at me. “You know, my ma always says two things. The first is that a person is never too old to find the love of their life, and the second is that a person can always find it in them to love more people. Family is who we decide it to be, not what’s determined by DNA.”
She gets in, and I close her door. I walk to my side of the truck, thinking about what she just told me. The ride back to her place is surprisingly quiet. When I pull up to her place, park, and get out, I go around and open her door for her. She gets down and looks up at me. “You realize what I meant by telling you that?” When I don’t say anything, she gives me a playful shove on my shoulder. “It means you’re more than just Jane and Logan’s uncle. You’re family to all of us. If you want to pursue something with Doctor Hargrave, we’re all gonna support ya and would love to include her in our family, too. You’re both good people who deserve happiness. Now, I’m gonna go inside and hug my babies and my hubby. I happen to know that the dear doctor is without her kids tonight, and I also know that on this piece of paper here is her number. Use it and take that first step. She deserves a good guy, and I know you’re one.”
She hands me a piece of paper and walks toward her front door. I go to follow her, but she turns and holds out her hand to stop me. “Get goin’, mister. You got wooing plans to figure out.” I’mabout to argue with her about safety and all when the front door opens, and Shane steps out. He gives me a chin lift, and I give one in return before I head back to my truck. I start the truck but don’t put it into gear. Instead, I open up the piece of paper and stare at her number. It’s been decades since I romanced a woman, and I can honestly say I barely romanced Sarah all those years ago. We were young, horny, and both fell in love hard and fast. I’d like to think that if she had lived, I would have romanced her, eventually. The guilt that used to overwhelm me whenever I thought of Sarah has lessened significantly over the years, but a little still tugs at me. She would’ve had a longer life and maybe even been able to be a mom had she not totally embraced me and the club as she had. I know this club ain’t anything like the Sangre Devils. Even back then, we weren’t exactly living within the law.
I know Kimbra has kids and that it’s a package deal with her. I’m actually looking forward to getting to know her in every way I can. I know this ain’t gonna be just roses and wining and dining her. I’m gonna have to get a little creative. Time to start figuring out a plan.
CHAPTER ONE
This morning’s question from Bentley: What if the meteor that killed the dinosaurs was actually a spaceship, and we’re the aliens?
How the hell am I supposed to answer that?
~Text from Kimbra to Ben~
Kimbra
It’s been almost a month since Ben gave me his number. We’ve been texting for weeks and did manage to get together for coffee once, but that’s as far as things have gone. Have I not helped that situation? Okay, maybe not, but I’ve also had the kids the entire month since Brian can’t be fucking bothered to spend his time with them. Oh, he makes promises about taking them for his whole weekend but barely ever comes to get them for even a Friday night dinner. I might have lost my shit a bit on him yesterday when he called and was starting to make excuses about this weekend. I reminded him that, at this point, we didn’t have any child support in place, but if he wasn’t even going toget them the twenty-five percent of the time he was supposed to, I might have to have another conversation with my lawyer. Magically, his plans changed in an instant, and he would pick the kids up today after work. I really could’ve sworn that I have three kids and not four.
I know I should tell Ben I’m free tonight andactuallygo out with him. He’s sexy and sweet…but if I’m being brutally honest with myself, it’s more about me. I work full time and have three very busy kids. I don’t have time to go to the gym or the salon. I've still got baby weight from all three of my kids, not just Bailey. My roots have taken over, and I haven’t had a haircut since, I don’t know when. I’m not exactly girlfriend material.
Ben’s not making saying no easy, though. The man is nothing if not persistent and sweet, all wrapped up together. His patience is also extraordinary. I don’t know another man who would still be texting and talking to me after this long and not have had one single date.
My alarm is going to go off any minute, but I refuse to get out of bed a minute early, just on principle. I lean over and grab my phone off the nightstand. I unlock my phone and check my messages, making sure I didn’t miss anything from the hospital. Luckily, there are no missed calls or anything, just a singular text message.
Ben: Good morning, Doc. I know you have a packed day and are on call tonight, but what do you say to this… you, me, and a pizza? Nothing fancy, just half-decent food and good conversation.
Ugh! Why is it so hard to say yes to him? I know he’s not Brian, but it’s not like I ever really dated before. I mean, I was a freaking virgin when Brian and I got together. I want to say yes. Ben’s so sweet and sexy as all get out. He’s like a cross between that guy who played Negan, a lumberjack, and a biker. He has broad shoulders that you know can carry some serious weight. He has dark hair speckled with streaks of gray, which on a man only makes him look sexier, but on a woman makes her look old. Okay, I might be slightly projecting there since I know my grays are showing.
Back to Ben. He’s got a great sense of humor and actually listens when I talk, so why the hell am I so scared to go out with him?Quit lying to yourself, Kimbra. You know why. It’s because you let the shit Brian said to you get under your skin. You’re questioning your attractiveness and your ability to please a man, and you know a man like Ben has had plenty of experience over the years.“It’s too fucking early for my brain to try and use logic and bluntness. Great, I’m back to talking to myself again. Real healthy there, woman.”
Before I can get my crap together and respond to Ben’s text, my door is opened. Bailey flies into the room and jumps on my bed, her blonde curls bouncing all over the place. “Mommy!” I can’t help but smile at her and her energy. It’s always a toss-up whether she’ll wake up like this or be a zombie for the first hour of the day.
“Oooff!” A five-year-old jumping on my stomach first thing in the morning isn’t quite the wake-up call I prefer. “Mornin’, Munchkin. You’re up early.” Bailey looks at me with a big smile. “It’s sharing day at school. I can’t wait!” Ahh, to be five again.
“It is. Did you finally decide what you’re gonna bring to show your friends?” Bailey jumps up to stand on the bed. “Yeah, I’m gonna bring in Mister Jangles.” She holds up a teddy bear that she’s had for years. Branson won it at a fair and gave it to her when she was two or three. It was one of the last things we’d done as a whole family before Brian became too busy. I can’t help but smile because I had no doubt that was what she was going to pick for sharing day.
“Alright, Munchkin. Time to get up and start getting ready for school. Let’s see if your brothers are up and get some breakfast.” I know I have a full day and I need to make sure they’ve all got their bags packed to take to their dad’s, since he doesn’t have much of their stuff there. In fact, he’s got Branson and Bentley sharing a room. Luckily, they don’t seem to mind since they’re rarely over there. I get up, slip my feet into my slippers, and headout of my room, stopping at the first door down the hallway, and poke my head in. Bentley is sitting up in bed, rubbing his eyes. “I’m up, I’m up.” He’s like me, and once he’s awake, there’s no going back to sleep.
“Don’t forget to pack some clothes since you’re going to your dad’s after school.” He nods and starts to get out of bed. I continue down the hallway, go to the last door in the hallway, and open it. Branson is still lying in bed with his pillow over his head. I flip the light on, and that gets me a groan. “Fine! I’m up, I’m up!” He is so not a morning person and never has been. “Don’t forget to pack your game bag and some clothes for the weekend, since your dad is picking you up this afternoon.” That earns me another groan. Branson has let both me and his dad know that he’s not a fan of Brian’s girlfriend. He told his dad that she was just with him because he’s a doctor. I had to fight a smile when he spouted that out to his dad.
I head to the kitchen, once again thankful that my coffee pot has a timer and is just finishing brewing a pot of caffeinated deliciousness. I grab a mug out of the cabinet and quickly doctor up my first cup of the day. I let myself take a couple of sips before I turn around to see Bailey sitting at the dining room table. Bentley walks into the kitchen, dressed, but his hair is still every which way. “Mornin’. Mom, can we get a chemistry set?” I start getting out the things I need to whip up some eggs and toast for breakfast. “Why do you want a chemistry set? Don’t youhave one already?” I pour three glasses of juice and turn around to put them on the counter. I catch Bent’s roll of his eyes. “Mom, that set is for little kids. I need a set that’s for big kids and lets me doactualexperiments.” Why does that conjure up images of him blowing up the house or, worse yet, his brother or sister? It’s too early in the morning for this. “I’ll think about it and look into them, alright, bud?” He comes and gets a juice glass for him and Bailey and nods, knowing that if he says anything more about it this morning, my answer will change to no.
“Mom, I’m gonna need new cleats soon. The ones I have are almost too small.” I look at Branson and realize he’s now my height and will be thirteen next month. Where did my baby go? Now he acts like he’s almost grown up and eats like a man. “We’ll go next week and get you a new pair. I swear you’re growing too fast.” That earns me another eye roll. Time to get this morning into gear and get breakfast done and myself ready for the day.
**********
It’s already been one of those days, and it’s only three. I’ve got at least three more hours today, though it looks like I might be here for a while as two of my patients are in very early labor. One is a first-time mom. The other is on her fourth pregnancy, and I swear she could deliver without me at this point. All her births have been almost exactly the same.
I managed to grab a smoothie an hour ago, so I’m not hangry because that’s never a good look for someone’s doctor. Bedside manners are important, after all. I give myself a few minutes in my office to review the charts for my next few appointments. I also check my phone and see the notification from Bailey’s after-school care that Brian actually picked her up on time. That gives me hope that he must be on his way to pick up Bentley and watch Branson’s practice. Maybe there is hope for him. I have no desire to ever get back with Brian, but I would love it if he actually had a decent relationship with our kids.
There’s a knock on the door, and Darius pokes his head in. “Your next appointment is here and in her room. Her hubby isn’t here yet, but she says he should be here any minute.” I get up and take the chart I need with me.
