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“Not good,” I mumbled. “We’ll have another one soon, but thankfully, Hannah agreed to a vacation to see my dad.”
Madeline clenched her teeth. “Not good?” she parroted. Her eyebrows furrowed, and she closed her book, sliding it back into the floral book sleeve.
I shook my head. “We’re both fighting for full custody.”
Madeline stood and wrapped her arms around my waist, her head resting against my chest. I rested my chin on the top of her head and slowly pulled her closer, rocking my body back and forth. Her warm embrace was all the comfort I wanted in that cold room, but it was here, waiting for me. I breathed in her scent, the same one that was always there but stood out more now that I was paying attention. Strawberries. Closing my eyes as tightly as I could, I focused on her in my arms, pulling myself away from whatever happened in that room, bringing myself to her.
She pulled herself from my chest and looked up at me. “On the bright side”—her smile glowed—“we have a vacation to plan now.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
-Madeline-
Ilove you, Madeline.
Had it really been three years since I’d cleaned this person's teeth?
I love you, Madeline.
This person had so much plaque…
I love you, Madeline.
They needed a deeper scaling. I needed to get them numb—look at them wince…
I love you, Madeline.
Those four words had been on repeat in my mind since Milo let them slip from his lips. I couldn’t bring myself to think about anything else, not even the difficult patient currently laying back in my chair with my mouth mirror and scaler in their mouth. This patient especially was bad, and all I could think about was Milo. Days had passed. I had seen Milo numerous times since, but those four small words were all consuming.
I finished the cleaning somehow, sat up the patient and tried to explain oral hygiene as best I could. Angle the toothbrush towards your gums, floss like aC…get a damn Waterpik…but my words slurred with breaks, blinking back to reality. Dr. Brennen came in and did his exam, giving me the chance to escape the room and hide back in my office before lunch. Jamie stepped into the exam and pinched her brow at me, watching me as I sat down in my chair and buried my face in palms. I should have closed the door.
“Hey, Madeline.” I heard Dr. Brennen’s voice, making me shoot my head back up, stiffening my back. “Are you okay today? Your patient said you seemed a bit off.”
“I’m fine, just…” Just what?
Just…my kind-of boyfriend is going through a huge custody battle, and I want to be there and support him as much as I can, while trying to keep him all to myself and struggling with the fact that I paused our relationship so he can focus on his daughter and not have to worry about me the entire time. Oh, and his ex-wife has the scariest lawyer on the face of the planet, and I’m terrified that he will lose this battle.
I heaved a sigh. “I just have a lot going on that I’m trying to deal with.”
Yeah, that was the best way to explain it for sure.
Dr. Brennen was probably the most understanding boss I’d ever had. He pinched his brow and sighed, leaning against the door to my office. “You’re taking some time off soon, right? I know there is something going on with Kent.”
I groaned. “Kent hasn’t been in the picture for a while now…”
“Oh, I know. Jamie found a new supplier, remember? We’ve actually been saving money.”
I forced a smile. “Oh, that's good to hear…”
He gave me a crooked grin. “When is your vacation?”
I blinked back at him. “In a few weeks. Milo and I are heading to Depoe Bay with his daughter.”
He nodded, pushing himself off the door. “You deserve it. I know your life has been a little…interesting lately, but a week off will do you some good.”
“Did the patient complain?” I asked, dreading the question.
Dr. Brennen shook his head. “Oh, no. Called you absolutely amazing like she remembers, just said she could tell something was wrong. She said she’d buy a Waterpik now.” He turned and walked back to his office, waving as he disappeared from the door. I heard his office door slam shut and instantly placed my face back in my palms.
