Tiny footsteps scurried to the reception desk, and my toddler bounced on her tiptoes trying to see over the top. “Matilda!”
“You got an appointment, Miss Matilda?” the receptionist asked. “Or are you here for your mama today?”
Matilda blinked confused eyes at me.
“The appointment’s for me… Erin…” I paused. Should I call myself Erin Easten anymore? I’d made the booking in my married name, but my mouth tripped on the word.
The receptionist handed me a clipboard. At least there would be more time to muddle through impossible thoughts.
“Your mama’s going to fill in my paperwork,” she said to Matilda. “If you can be a good girl and sit real quiet, I’ve got this yummy tray of sweeties you can pick from.” She held up a wooden tray stuffed with bakery treats. “Ifyour mama says it’s okay.”
Matilda’s eyes widened when she saw the cupcakes piled with pink frosting. Awestruck, the tiny imp said, “Mummy say okay,” her hand sneaking toward the tray.
“Just one,” I said. “And what do you say?”
Matilda was already face-first in her cupcake, gobbling the frosting off the top. Big brown eyes lifted. “Thank you!” She smiled sweetly.
The waiting room was deserted. A woman eyed me over the top of her magazine when I found a seat, but I pretended to focus on filling in the paperwork. My finger tapped nervously on the top of the clipboard as I read over the questions.
Marital status
There was no checkbox for“Figuring it out because my husband cheated on me with a woman called Tallulah that I haven’t been able to find online.”
Occupation
The box wasn’t big enough to write, “Unemployed stay-at-home wife missing a husband.”
Emergency contact
A smile burst across my face as I neatly printed Callan’s name and number. That was the easiest part of the form. My gaze drifted out the window to the mountains cradling the valley. Hewas over there somewhere making sure the crops survived the last weeks of winter.
A pinch of regret tugged at my heart. He shouldn’t have to trudge through his days on his own with the weight of his family’s legacy on his shoulders. Why hadn’t he settled down with someone? He used to date… God, it felt like years ago that Lila had last spilled about Callan hooking up with some girl I used to know from high school. Did the farm keep him too busy now? He must be so lonely.
“Erin?”
My head snapped around. An army of blonde women ran this clinic. A new one, wearing enormous glasses too big for her face, stood smiling from the corridor. Dr. Lola Hughes. Bronte said Lola was “a bit of an odd duck, but really nice.”
“God, sorry!” Flustered, I jumped up from the chair and shoved the clipboard at the receptionist. “I was off in another world. Til, come on.”
I hurried her down the corridor, even though the doctor told me not to worry about it. Lola waddled a bit like a duck, too. Her belly was enormous! In the consultation room, she whispered to Matilda that she could play with the toys in the corner and motioned for me to sit before almost collapsing into her chair.
“Sorry for the ungraceful entrance,” she said. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you I was only five months along.”
Five months! She looked ready to pop. “You’re not that big…”
Lola gave me a dubious look. “You sound like my husband.” She laughed. “Anyway. Enough about this little lumberjack.” She smoothed a hand over her belly before adjusting her glasses to switch into doctor mode. “What brought you here today?”
“I, um…” Nerves fluttered in my stomach. Was I really going to admit my truth out loud? “It’s, um…”
Lola scooted her chair closer. A fleeting hand touched my knee. “Take your time.” She held out a tissue.
Was I…crying? I flicked the back of my hand over my eyes and saw the glisten of fresh tears on my skin. “Oh, shit. Sorry.” I grabbed the tissue and dabbed as quickly as I could. “I…”
“We’ve got as long as you need.”
“But the other patients…”
“There’s a reason we offer everyone cupcakes and have all those gossipy magazines.”
