Page 37 of Together Is Where We Belong

“The doctor will be right in to check on her,” I told them as I updated the chart and walked out of the room.

I let out a sigh of relief the moment the door closed. That was the most awkward situation I’d been in with a patient. I’d better get used to it since I was back in the small town I’d grown up in. This likely wouldn’t be the last time I’d have awkward moments with people I used to know.

I made my rounds to the next two patients. As I left the patient room, I saw Ainsleigh and Gentry heading in my direction.

I walked up to them and stopped. “The exit is back down the hall to the left,” I told them. They weren’t the only ones who’d got turned around with how to get back to the waiting area and the front door.

“I wanted to speak with you first if you have a second,” Ainsleigh requested. It really wasn’t the time or the place, but I held out my hand to guide her to the small breakroom we had, making sure to grab my cup of coffee from the nurses’ station on the way. I’d likely need caffeine after this conversation.

Once we were inside the room, I leaned against the table and waited for Ainsleigh to speak.

“Leo told me you needed to talk with him about somethin’,” she started, and I nodded in agreement, not sure where this conversation was going.

“Have you had that discussion?” she pried. I didn’t owe her anything, but I’d appease her for now.

“We have,” I told her, not going into detail. Those were for Leo to share with her.

“Please don’t break his heart again, Carolina. I’m not sure if he’d make it a second time around,” she pleaded before she turned and walked out of the breakroom carrying baby Olivia in her arms.

Gentry gave a tight smile and tipped his hat before he followed her out.

“Our discussion had nothing to do with me breaking his heart. It had everything to do with the nephew you know nothing about,” I mumbled to myself before taking a long sip of coffee. I let the warm liquid soothe some of the nervousness over mine and Ainsleigh’s encounter before I got back to seeing the patients who were waiting on me.

The day was long and my neck and shoulders ached by the time it was time to leave for today.

Tonight was going to be a pizza from The Chill Grill kind of night. I’d already placed my order before I saw my last patient of the day, so it should be ready by the time I walked over there.

Thankfully, the pizza was ready just as I predicted. I couldn’t wait to take my shoes off and lounge on the couch until it was time for Luke to go to bed.

My phone buzzed in my bag just as I got settled in my SUV. After I started the vehicle, I dug in my bag to check it and turn the ringer back on.

Leo’s name flashed on the screen as a missed call, and I let out a groan. After the busy day I’d had, I’d forgotten he was coming over tonight to see Luke.

I pressed his name and waited for the call to connect to the Bluetooth before I put it in reverse and headed in the direction of my parents’ house. He answered on the second ring.

“Hey, Carolina. Um, I just wanted to make sure we are still good for tonight?” he asked.

“Yeah, we’re still good for tonight,” I said with a yawn.

“You sure?” Leo asked, his voice laced with concern.

“Yeah, I’m sure. I picked up a pizza, and I’m on the way to grab Luke from my parents now,” I told him as I stifled another yawn.

“I’ll see you shortly then,” he said before hanging up.

Luke was excited to see me when I picked him up. After saying a quick goodbye to my parents, I loaded him in the SUV and set off toward home.

“Is Dad coming over tonight?” Luke asked the second I’d pulled onto the road.

“Yeah, buddy. He’ll be there when we get home,” I told him as he shouted his excitement.

He rambled on and on about the Lego set he wanted to build first, but my tired brain just wasn’t in it tonight.

As we pulled into the drive, I saw Leo waiting for us on the front porch.

Once the car was parked, Luke shot out of the SUV and left his door open as he raced toward Leo.

I grabbed my bag and the pizza, kicking my door shut behind me and went to Luke’s side to close his door.