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Shannon
“So, is this going to be the only way I see you now?”
It had been nearly two weeks since I left Missy’s little welcome home party for Clara without a goodbye.
She had called on the way home, and I gave her some lame excuse about needing to be to work early, and that I was trying to beat the rain.
This was her second well-baby check, and Clara was doing great. Missy was doing good, too.
“Uh, well, I am Clara’s doctor,” I laughed.
“Are we still not friends?” she asked.
“Missy,” I whispered. “I just need some time,” I stammered, unable to find the right words to explain the mess of emotions I was dealing with.
Missy narrowed her eyes. “Time? Shannon, we’re friends. Friends don’t need time away from each other. When you saw me struggling to leave the hospital, you were there for me. Now it’s my turn to be there for you.”
“I know, Missy. I just... I don’t want to burden you with my problems.”
Her frustration was evident. “You’re not a burden, Shannon. We’re here for each other, especially when times are tough. Blake is upset, and so are you. You guys can’t avoid everyone and expect things to improve.”
“Blake is avoiding you guys?” That was surprising.
Missy blew out a breath. “Well, not Wilder, but that’s because he literally lives in his bard, but he’s barely talked to Charlie.”
“He lives in Wilder’s barn?” I asked. I knew nothing about Blake’s life now, but that little detail was surprising. “With animals?”
“No,” Missy giggled. “God, no. Though I’m sure he would be fine with Ba bunking with him when the weather turns cold, he doesn’t live in the common sense of the word barn. It looks like a barn on the outside, but it’s totally converted into a house. Wilder converted to it to lure Blake to move to Adams.” Missy winked. “It worked.”
“Uh, well, good.”
“Back to you and Blake.”
I shook my head. “There isn’t a me and Blake, Missy.”
“Yet,” she winked. Clara wiggled in her arms and let out a little cry. “I still can’t believe she pretty much slept this whole time.”
“She’s a good baby,” I smiled.
“Because she has the best doctor in the world.”
“Pretty sure I have nothing to do with that, but if you want to give me credit, then I’ll take it.” I had done my part with Clara; now it was Missy and Charlie’s job.
Missy waved her hand in the air. “We’re not talking about me or Clara right now. How close were you and Blake before the accident?” she asked.
“Uh, what?”
“I’m over my pregnancy brain, and I’ve got mom brain now. It's straight to the point and not afraid to ask anything,” she explained. “Were you and Blake a one-night fling, or was it more than that? Shelby and I were talking the other day, and none of us know what you and Blake were beside you and Blake.”
“Oh, uh, well...” I stammered. “It wasn’t just one night.”
“You dated, then?”
“Uh, well...”
“Shannon,” Missy laughed. “Spit it out, woman. What was the deal with you and Blake?”
“Well, we were both pretty young, but I guess we dated. It was more like Blake would come to visit his brother, but once we got together, he spent most of his time with me.”
“Was the ‘l’ word tossed around?” She wiggled her eyebrows.
“Missy,” I laughed. “You’re crazy.”
“Answer the question, doc. I’m sure we’ve only got a few minutes before you kick me out of here so you can get back to work.”
I sighed heavily. “Yes, Missy. We loved each other. As much as two kids could.”
“Back then, did you think it would be more?”
I could barely remember before Sheldon’s accident. “Gosh, Missy. You’re asking about something that seems like a lifetime ago. A lot happened in ten years.”
“But now you and Blake are thrown back together,” she pointed out. “Sounds like fate put you two together back then, and now fate brought you back together.”
“Uh, what brought us back together is you trying to hide your pregnancy from Charlie, Missy.”
“Details,” Missy muttered. “My point is, fate brought you two back together, and you don’t look a fate horse in the mouth.”
I tipped my head to the side. “What?”
“Malaphor,” Missy muttered. “I’m still kind of rusty with them. They’re slowly coming back, though.”
Clara squirmed in Missy’s arms and let out a loud cry. “Oh, sweet, girl,” she whispered. “Is that a hint you need a little snack for the ride home?”
Thank goodness for a hungry baby. Clara saved me from having to talk to her mama anymore. “I need to get to my next patient, anyway. Make sure to make your next appointment for two weeks, okay? And then we’ll go every month until she’s six months.”
“Lots of driving,” Missy sang to Clara. “It would be better if Auntie Shannon moved to Adams, wouldn’t it?”
I rolled my eyes and grabbed Missy and Clara’s charts. “I’ll see you guys later, okay? Call me if you need anything.”
“The same goes for you, Shannon. Don’t be a stranger.”
I smiled and patted Clara’s arm. “Bye, sweetie. Make sure your mama behaves.” I headed back to my office and flopped into my chair.
Thinking or talking about Blake was exhausting.
I knew Missy would mention him today, but I had hoped she would let it go. We had tried talking, but it only caused me more heartbreak. For a second, I thought Blake would accept my apology, but he didn’t. He had just let me run away.
If Blake wanted to move on and change things between us, he was going to have to be the one to make the move. I was open to seeing where things would lead between us ten years later, but only if he wanted the same.
I couldn’t be the one to convince him Sheldon’s death was just a tragic accident, and I sure as heck wasn’t going to convince him to love me.
Missy said our meeting again was fate, so I was going to stand back and see what else fate had up its sleeve.