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I hear Laura laugh behind our chairs and Nick smiles at me. A smile that I haven’t seen on his face since we got together all those years ago.
“Here we are!” Laura shouts, jumping out from behind me.
“Laura!” Jenna yells. “You weren’t supposed to tell him where we were!”
Jenna runs off the porch as Laura follows her. “I guess we won’t have to get new kids after all,” Nick teases before he runs to go catch them.
“So, it seems things with you and Nick are getting better,” Rachel says once Nick is out of earshot.
“They really are,” I say. “We have a family portrait scheduled for next week and a beach trip the following week. I’ll look fantastic for both since I was basically on a fluid diet for an eternity.”
“Maybe I should sign up for a coma,” Rachel says. “I could stand to lose a few pounds.”
I nudge her with my elbow. “You’re not allowed,” I say.
“And why’s that?” she asks.
I look at her and I look at my family. I’m grateful for everything I have right in front of me. I’m grateful for my house and I’m grateful for my dog, even though he peed on the floor again this morning.
I’m just grateful.
“Because,” I say, looking over at her. “I couldn’t survive without my drinking buddy.”
She punches me in the arm and says, “Speaking of which, I’m going to head inside and refill us. Everything on the counter?”
“Nope,” I say. “It’s all put away. Gotta keep this house clean.”
She gives me a look that tells me I’m doing just fine and disappears on the other side of the glass doors.
My cell phone rings beside me and it’s the number for my local family doctor.
“Hello?” I answer.
“Hello, Dee,” the nurse says. “How are you feeling today?”
“I’m feeling better than I was when I woke from my coma,” I say, only semi joking.
“Well that’s a step in the right direction,” she says. “I’m calling to check your availability and see when you would be ready for a follow up appointment.”
“I’m pretty much free anytime,” I say. “I’m a stay-at-home mom.”
“Ah,” she says. “What I would give for that.”
I don’t answer. I want to say “don’t wish for another life if you’re not prepared to deal with the repercussions”, but I keep it to myself.
“Anyway, Doctor Thomas is available next Tuesday at eleven a.m. if that works for you.”
“It does,” I say. “But hopefully he can make it quick,” I say. “My availability is open, I just don’t want to be away from my family for too long.”
“She will be quick,” the nurse says.
“She?” I echo. “I thought Doctor Thomas was a male. I remember him being in my room.”
“You remember Doctor Brian Thomas,” she says. “This is his wife. They took turns checking in on you while you were in the coma. They’re pretty much our power couple.”
“Oh, I see,” I say. “Well it will be nice to meet her then.”
“Yes,” she says. “Vanessa is very sweet.”
