I walked into the office carrying Tristan in his car seat.
“Hey! What are you doing here? Is Tristan sick or something?” Shay greeted me from behind the desk.
“Hey! No, he’s fine. Mr. Carter called and asked me to come in to take a look at him. Is he here yet?” I asked, carrying Tristan around behind the desk, adjusting the sock on his left foot.
“No, he hasn’t gotten here yet. Aww…he is so adorable!” Shay gushed, walking over to get a closer look at my son.
“Thanks. He’s been asleep for about 45 minutes now, so he might wake up anytime now. If he wakes up while I’m with Mr. Carter, could you watch him?” I asked, putting my lab coat on over my sky blue v-neck tank top.
“Sure. I’d love to!” she agreed cheerfully.
“Well, I’m going to go find my stethoscope. Just send Mr. Carter back when he comes in, please,” I said walking out of the room.
I located my stethoscope and walked into the room to find my patient waiting on the examining table, his long legs swinging carelessly back and forth in front of him.
“Hello Mr. Carter,” I greeted him with a smile.
“Hi Dr. Bryant! Please, just call me Nick,” he said, his blue eyes glistening.
“Alright, Nick, let me take your temperature,” I said, placing the tip of the thermometer under his tongue.
I checked my watch so I would know when to take it out of his mouth. Nick mumbled something and I shooshed him, so I would get an accurate reading of his temperature. I removed the thermometer from his mouth and saw what it said.
“What were you going to say?” I said, looking up at him.
“Um…nuthin’…nevermind,” he stuttered.
“Ok, well, you don’t have a fever. You said you were feeling nauseaous and dizzy?” I double checked.
“Actually, uh…” he hesistated.
“What is it?” I asked.
“I feel fine. I just wanted to see you again,” the words fell from his lips rapidly.
“So, you called me down here on my day off just so you could see me?” I said, raising my voice slightly.
“Well, yes, but please don’t be mad. I’m not very good with this sorta thing and I wanted to ask you out,” he looked at me with pleading eyes.
“Mr. Carter, this is not the best way to get a woman to agree to a date!” I retorted.
“Please, call me Nick and I’m sorry, but would you go out to dinner with me tonight?” he asked.
“No, I’m sorry I can’t,” I said calmly, moving to the door.
He jumped off the table and rushed over to pull me back by my arm. I turned to face those blue eyes once again. “Why not?” he demanded.
“I’m married, Mr. Carter. Now, please let go of my arm,” I said, opening the office door.
“Married?” he asked with wide eyes.
“Yes,” I replied.
“Happily?” he questioned.
“Excuse me? What kind of question is that to ask someone? If they’re happily married…” I expressed with disappointment.
“Peyton!! Peyton…could I see you for a moment?” Shay’s familiar voice called through the door.
“Excuse me,” I said to Nick, leaving the room. “What?” I turned to face Shay.
She looked at me sincerely with her brown eyes, “Peyton, why don’t you give the guy a chance?”
“Shay, I’m married…” I contemplated.
“Barely,” she replied rolling her eyes. That hurt, but I knew it was true. A lot of things weren’t right in my marriage, or what was left of it.
“Ok, I guess you’re right. Dinner couldn’t hurt, could it?” I asked, hoping for reassurance.
“Of course not. I’ll even watch Tristan for you tonight, ok?” she smiled brightly.
I agreed and walked calmly back into the room to find Nick playing with the Mr. Potatohead that was in the room.
I giggled a bit and walked over to him. “Nick, I suppose we could go out to dinner tonight. That is, if you still want to….”
He placed Mr. Potatohead back down into the basket and nodded vigorously. “Oh yeah, that’d be great!! But, um…aren’t you married?” he reminded me.
“Yeah, well…it’s complicated. Besides, we’re going out to dinner as friends anyway,” I justified my logic.
“Right, of course. So, want me to pick you up or meet at a restaurant?” he asked.
I thought for a moment and just in case Shay decided to keep Tristan at my house, I decided we should meet at a restaurant.
“Okay, well I’ll see you tonight at 7 then. Bye!” he called, walking swiftly out of the office.
I walked to the receptionist desk to talk to Shay and play with Tristan. I took off my lab coat and sat down, holding Tristan.
“So you’re going right?” Shay asked, turning around in her swivel chair.
“Yep, I am. We’re going to eat at Darryl’s Seafood at 7,” I informed her.
“Sounds nice. You okay?” she asked with concern lining her face.
“I don’t know. Shay, you know I don’t date and what about Craig?” I asked, referring to my husband.
“What about him? Remember…you’re through with him. In fact, the divorce papers are supposed to be in the mail,” she said.
“I know, I know, but still…this is so hard for me,” I sighed, sitting Tristan back into his car seat, handing him his pacifier.
“Well, Peyton, if you don’t want to go, don’t. I just think it would be good if you got out and socialized a bit, especially with some of the male species,” she smiled slightly.
“Alright, I’m going. I guess I should get home and get ready though. I haven’t been on a date in so long…” I thought back for a moment.
“I’ll come by in about an hour or so and get Tristan, ok? See ya!” she called as I picked up my son in his car seat and walked out into the bright Florida sunlight.
“Wow…can you believe mommy’s actually going on a date?” I asked Tristan out loud. I looked down at him and he just giggled as I pulled out of the parking lot and drove home.
