Me: Hey man… so how strict are you on next weekend’s move in time? Would you mind if I started dropping off boxes and looking around the place to get an idea of anything I need to get? I cashed in my PTO and basically have off the next month before my new position begins. I’m already stir crazy.
I wait a few minutes, packing up more boxes of scrubs and kitchen gadgets I don’t immediately need. When my phone lights up, I practically pounce on it.
Trystan: Okay, I’m jealous. I’m not strict about it. Do what you need to do. Hell, I don’t care if you officially started moving in now. I’ll text you where I’m working at today. Stop by and snag the keys.
Me: Seriously?
Trystan: Seriously
His job site address pops through.
Trystan: See you in a bit
Me: Thank you
Trystan: You bet
Blowing out a breath through puffed cheeks, I look around my tiny-ass, expensive apartment and feel nothing but excitement for a new beginning. I load up as many tubs and boxes as my truck will hold this round and take off on my new adventure.
???
Looking around the grocery store, I see I’ve got my basics. Sandwich shit, breakfast shit, coffee shit, pizzas. I’m going to have to start actually cooking again, now that I have time to cook. I have to eat better than cafeteria food and quick bites between patients. I’ll sit down tonight and start thinking of actual meals. This will get me started, though. Trystan left the place practically fully furnished, except for the few items he decided to take to the new place on Ridge Lane. Do they really all live on the same road? It’s like they’re this unit. A family with no blood ties. Well, mostly no blood ties. Mark and Brynleigh are family. I’m kind of jealous. My phone rings.
Mom.
“Hey, Mom, how’s it going?” I greet her, happy to see her picture pop up on my screen.
“Hey, Hun! It’s going good! Your dad and I are getting ready to go down to Florida in a few weeks. I’m excited to touch sand.”
“You could always come visit here this summer too. I have sand here.”
“What are you talking about? Your town didn’t have a beach the last time I was there.”
“With the end of my residency, I took a job in Kittery. I’m pretty close to the beach now. I’m currently moving into my new place. I’ve made some new friends, and I feel like a whole new man. It’s amazing what some sleep can do for you. My new position will only be weekdays.”
“Oh my gosh, that’s fantastic! Well then, we will have to plan a visit soon. Maybe now you can start thinking about finding me a daughter-in-law and giving me some grandbabies to spoil. I’m not getting any younger. Maybe we’ll even leave Tennessee and move closer.”
“But youlovethe mountains.”
“I love you more, and I want to be closer to my future grandchildren.”
“That’d be fantastic, Mom. I think I met someone I could really like. It was a chance meeting, but we’ll see how it goes. I have to get her to agree to a date first.”
“Oh? She’s playing hard to get?”
“I guess you could say that. She’s not just falling at my feet.”
“Then she doesn’t care about the whole doctor status. That’s good.”
“Ha, not like there’s a fortune to my name anyway. And, no, she doesn’t seem like that type at all. From what I’ve gathered, she’s a teacher.”
“She sounds lovely. Do the wooing. Be persistent, boy.”
“You sound like her best friend.”
“Then maybe I’m onto something here.”
“You always are, Momma.”
