The days rushed by in a blur as Kevin spent time with Stephanie during her lunch breaks at work, taking hikes in the evenings along the coast and playing games with her parents. It seemed he couldn’t get enough time with her alone. Luckily, Jen had been able to find another associate to fill in for him, so he could stay longer. Before he knew it, almost a month had passed since he had returned home to Mendocino. During the days when Stephanie was at work, he had been busy thinking and making plans for his future and finally, the day arrived for his big surprise.
“Come on will you?” Kevin motioned with his hand, beckoning Stephanie to get into his car.
“Fine, I’m coming. I don’t know what nonsense you’re doing Kevin Pierce, but I think you really need to put your focus back on your career. Don’t you think one month is a long enough break already? Don’t leave your poor aunt stranded with the practice. Sometimes you have to just dive in and keep the momentum going. Once you get into a groove, things will start humming along. You promised me two weeks ago that you would. Even Dr. Richardson said that would be good for you.” Stephanie looked over at the man that had changed her life. She didn’t want to see him leave her or Mendocino, but she knew he functioned best doing what God intended for him to do. He was destined to save lives. Helping patients was where Kevin was in his element.
It had been a long road for the both of them, but they had finally reached a breaking point in their healing since the time they were separated. After Kevin had returned to visit her, it seemed to set off a chain of events in God’s master plan. Stephanie got an offer on her house the following week after Kevin returned home and eventually sold it. The property had only been on the market for two months before it was snatched up by a young couple with a four-month-old baby. Stephanie received enough from the sale to pay off the mortgage and save some funds for a rainy day.
She remained at her parents’ house after the sale, and during Kevin’s return to Mendocino, they were able to spend lots of time together and had become very close. Without a doubt in her mind, she knew life wouldn’t be complete without him. But she knew her emotional needs needed to take a backseat to the practice waiting for him in Los Angeles. He had people who depended on him, and it would be selfish of her to make him stay there just to make her feel complete. Her thoughts returned to the present as Kevin swung the car into the lot of the familiar building and eased it into the first available parking space. Stephanie gave him a dumbfounded look.
“Kevin, why are we at Dr. Richardson’s office?”
“You’ll see. Come on.”
Taking his hand, she followed him into the building and then into the elevator. With his body in front of her, he pressed a button and the elevator began to move. Before the elevator could gain momentum, it eased to a stop and she realized they had stopped at the second floor. Her face twisted with confusion, but before she could utter a word, the doors slid open. Kevin took hold of her hand and pulled her from the elevator, leading her down the long hallway. When they neared a walnut-stained door at the end of the hallway, he covered her face with his hand and told her to close her eyes. Stephanie obeyed, and he guided her like a blind person for several feet before he spun her around to look at it.
“So what do you think?”
She opened her eyes and gazed straight ahead. “Kevin, I don’t know what you and Dr. Richardson are up to but ...” The remaining words choked in her throat as she looked at the shiny letters in gold along the door. The large letters were plain to read. Dr. Kevin Pierce. The Sunshine Pediatrics Center. Her hand covered her mouth as a gasp escaped her lips. “You mean you aren’t going back to Los Angeles?” She spun around to look at him in wonder.
He shook his head. “Nope. I kept praying every day, asking God to show me a way I could make a difference with my talents and still be able to see you every day. And like you said, out of nowhere I heard a still small voice telling me to open my own family practice right here in Mendocino. Besides, there’s always been a part of me that’s wanted to work with kids, and when I spoke to Dr. Richardson about it, he told me there weren’t many family practices in town that specialized in kids. He’s the one who helped me put it into motion. I open in two weeks.”
Stephanie couldn’t believe her ears as she hugged him tightly as if he might change his mind and leave again. “I don’t believe this. Are you sure about this?”
“As sure as my name’s on that door.” He smiled at her.
Her face turned serious. “What about your poor aunt? Wasn’t she devastated?”
Kevin pressed his lips together into a frown. “I’ve been so busy, I haven’t had the chance to tell her yet. But I think she knew it was inevitable. She knew how much I cared about you and how I wanted to be near you.”
“But what about the patients and the practice? Who’s going to take it over? Are you going to sell it . . .”
Kevin pressed a finger against her lips. “Shhh . . . don’t worry. I’ve got it all figured out. God showed me a way where I could hire a doctor to manage the practice for me. That way, I can still own the practice, but I don’t have to physically be there every day. I can fly in twice a month to check and see how things are doing.”
“Wow, Kevin. Are you sure about this? I mean, it sounds like a wonderful idea. I don’t know why we didn’t think of that in the first place. I don’t know what to say.” There was dampness in her eyes.
“It didn’t come to me because I think God knew I needed time to get into the practice and see what was involved and experience what it was like to live life without you. Now that I know, I can’t be away from you. You and Mendocino are where my home is.” Kevin cleared his throat. “But there’s just one problem that’s throwing my whole plan off.”
“There is? What’s that?”
“I need a receptionist. Know anyone?”
“Yes.”
“Really? Who?”
“Me.”
Kevin’s lips lifted into a wide grin. “I was hoping you would say that. It’s yours if you can show me you can do the work.”
She stuck her tongue out at him as she pushed the door open to walk inside. Kevin chuckled as he followed her inside.
“Oh my gosh, Kevin, this is amazing.” She spun around in the large lobby and waiting room. There were toys everywhere with different toy boxes in the corners of the room. There were also racks of books strategically placed throughout the room. He had been inspired by his uncle’s office and designed the room just like it with a large tree house and castle on the walls to the side.
“I like it. So what do you say?” A small voice chirped from behind the tree house as Maria popped her head out.
“About what?” She turned and gazed at Kevin, a puzzled look on her face. She quickly brushed the hair from his eye when he gathered her close to him.
“Will you help me run it?” He heard a cough and glanced over at Maria, who stood there with a disapproving look on her face as her hands rested on her hips. “I mean help us run it.” He grinned at the little girl and she nodded, smiling her approval.
“I would love to.”
“Good. How about we celebrate tonight. Somewhere special. Dress up. This gives cause for celebration. Your parents and Maria too. They need to come. I don’t know what I would have done without you all and Dr. Richardson. I want to celebrate with all of you.”
“That sounds wonderful. I’ll call my mom and see what they have going on.”
“I need to make a call myself.”
“OK.”
Kevin walked into the room that would soon be his office. It was the size of a small bedroom and paled in comparison to his uncle’s, but he was just as happy with it. The sound of Stephanie and Maria’s laughter filtered past the doorway as he swung his black leather chair around and began dialing his phone. His leg bounced with nervous energy as he made the dreaded call.
He felt a twinge of nervousness at the sound of his aunt’s voice. “Hello Kevin. How are things in Mendocino. How’s Stephanie?”
“Everything’s going great, Aunt Deloris. Stephanie’s doing fine, and we’ve been spending lots of quality time together. Aunt Deloris, listen, I’ve been meaning to . . .”
“It’s alright Kevin. You don’t need to explain. I wish the two of you all the happiness in the world.”
“But . . . I mean, how . . .”
“You forget I’m a woman with years of wisdom. I recognize a man in love when I see one, Kevin. Your uncle had that same sparkle of excitement in his eyes when he first met me. Not that he ever lost that sparkle, it just faded into a bright twinkle as our relationship matured. You know how relationships get after the infatuation phase.”
Kevin nodded silently. “I know.”
“But even up until his passing, every time he looked at me with those soft brown eyes, I still felt butterflies in my stomach. I’m so sorry about what happened with Jen. I’m just as disappointed as you are. Never in a million years would I have imagined her to do something so selfish and conniving. Jen approached me on her own and told me what she had done and when I told her it was inexcusable, she said she was very sorry. I think her emotions got the best of her and clouded her judgment. She said she recognized a good man when she saw one, and I think her biological clock took over. She should have stepped back when she found out you were already taken, instead of plotting to keep you all to herself. She knows your heart belongs to Stephanie, and she just hopes that if for some reason things don’t work out with you and Stephanie, you’ll give her a second chance.”
“Of course, I would. That was very nice of her to apologize. I know she didn’t mean any harm in it. She’s really a good person. I don’t hold anything against her, and neither does Stephanie. I can only pray that she finds someone nice like her, someone who will make her as happy as she deserves to be one day. Tell her that for me will you Aunt Deloris?”
“Yes honey, I will. So what do you intend to do with the practice now?”
“I’ve been praying a lot about this, and I believe God is leading me to keep the practice, but hire a managing doctor to run the day to day operations. That way I can still own the practice and live in Mendocino with Stephanie. I would just fly down to make sure things are running smoothly. I’m sure Jen would do a great job managing the entire office.”
“I think that’s a brilliant idea. Even though I know your Uncle Thad really wanted you to work in it, I know he would want you to follow your heart. And if your heart belongs in Mendocino, I think he would be understanding.”
“When I get back to town in a couple days, I’ll start searching for the right doctor.”
“Actually, you won’t need to. I think I’ve found just the right person to run the office.”
“You have? How did you do it so quickly? Who is it?”
“It’s your best friend, Brian. I hope you don’t mind. When I had the feeling you weren’t going to stay in LA, I took the liberty of asking him if he would be interested in taking on a managing doctor position to replace you.”
“Brian? You’ve got to be kidding me. He never told me he was considering leaving Harbor. Wow, he would be perfect for the position and he’s a phenomenal doctor as well.” Kevin couldn’t contain his excitement. “I think the office will do well in his hands.”
“As do I. I’ll have my attorney draw up an employment contract first thing in the morning. He can be the managing doctor, but you’ll still be the owner.”
“Thanks for everything you’ve done, Aunt Deloris. Can you do me one more favor?”
“Yes, what is it?”
“I want to start a charity with some of the proceeds from the office.”
“OK. What kind.”
“I don’t know. Something with teens and auto accidents, something I can commemorate Sarah and Rachel.”
“That sounds like a wonderful idea. I’ll be the first to donate some money to help you get it off the ground. I’ll start working on it right away.”
“Thanks, Aunt Deloris.”
“You’re welcome honey. Don’t forget my invitation to the wedding.”
Kevin hesitated as he stole a glance over his shoulder to see if Stephanie was listening. “I wouldn’t dream of it.” Kevin smiled at her on the phone.