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I stood, pushing myself off the chair to stand next to him, “It wasn’t the first time he was lucid, and it won’t be the last. Don’t be mad at Mama, she just wanted to see the love of her life.”
Jacob’s jaw tensed again, and he nodded, the tears welling up in his eyes.
“Relax the jaw, Bro.” I slapped his shoulder.
His lips opened as he turned to glare at me. “I’m not your bandmate.”
I gave him a crooked smile. “Go easy on Mom, okay?” I slapped his shoulder once again and let him go to help my sister.
I understood why he was upset. He’s the first born, dad’s pride and joy. He and dad had a relationship that Sydney and I didn’t. I knew dad loved us, he made sure he told us, but he was always proud of how far Jacob had gone. Mom didn’t specifically say but I knew he had asked about Jacob first, and then the company - and then Sydney and me. Those were dad’s priorities.
Shaking off the thought, I switched my mind to focus on the here and now. Dinner with my family, a sound check tomorrow night, performance on Friday and the potential of selling the one thing my dad loved almost as much as us.
I was in for a wild ride.
Chapter Four
-Jamie-
Ding, ding, ding.
I was going to tear that stupid bell from the wall.
I put the denture I was working on back on the counter and walked into the operatory. All four rooms had a patient in them. As I walked past them, I noticed that Dr. Brenner was focused on his patient, and Madeline was busy talking about oral hygiene. They didn’t ring the bell. That only left . . .
“Jamie,” I heard Kelli’s voice muffled by her mask. “I need that other scaler—the purple one—can you grab it from sterilization?” She turned her body to look at me.
“Sure thing, Kelli,” I took the few steps to the sterilization room, and found Drew standing by the sink, his hands deep in soapy water as he cleanedout the lab bowls.
“Oh sorry, Jamie. Kelli needs something?” he asked, twisting his body as he watched me walk in.
“Got it.” I waved the scaler in the air and went to give it to Kelli. That’s when I noticed Dr. Brenner stand up and walk to Madeline’s room. “Exam?” I asked as he passed me, knowing he would most likely want me in the room with him for any notes to be taken.
“Maddy’s got it. You reline that denture.” Dr. Brenner slapped my shoulder as he passed.
I saluted, “Yes sir.” I set the scaler down on the tray for Kelli saying, “There you go.”
“Thanks, Jamie.”
“Hey, Jamie.”
I spun to face Dr. Brenner’s assistant Claudia. She was masked and gloved up, her hair a mess as usual and a look I knew all too well on her face.
“Can you sit with the patient so I can use the restroom? He’s on nitrous . . .”
“You got it, go.” I waved her off and went to take her chair next to the patient who had his eyes closed as he breathed in that elusive “laughing gas.” I glanced at the clock on the computer that was mounted to the wall: 3:24 p.m.
Only an hour and a half left to go.
A few moments later I was pushed back out of the chair, with Claudia arriving just in time for Dr. Brenner to return from the exam. Meanwhile, Madeline passed me with her patient, taking her up to the front desk to check out, and I returned to the lab where the denture was still waiting for me.
I enjoyed all aspects of my job, but working in the lab, and with my hands, was what I loved the most. It reminded me of the sculpting clay I would mold as I sat and watched TV, or the paints and easels that sat waiting for me in my room. I knew it was a strange comparison, but working with the 3D Printer, bleach trays, and dentures in the lab brought a tad bit of creativity to the dental office.
“Hey,” Madeline’s voice broke the silence moments later. “There’s a book signing at Powell’s next Saturday, wanna come?”
“Where’s Milo?” I asked, knowing that she and her husband were glued at the hip.
“He’ll be working. You, me, and Holly. Girls’ day. You in?”
