The Good Doctor

by Andi Jaxon

  I should throw the card away, I know I should. I can’t bring myself to do it. I keep thinking of his dirty blonde hair that rests just above his glasses. I can’t help but imagine what it would feel like to be wrapped in his muscular arms, instead of being thrown down a flight of stairs because his dinner was cold. Maybe, just maybe he would take me on dates or talk to me about the books he was reading. He could want to know how my day was going. Just normal everyday conversation. I used to have that with Jason, when he was pretending, but now all he does is shout, but things will get better. They have to because there is no other choice for me. It’s not just me, I have to worry about, and I have no one who will take me in. I will deal with it for her, everything I do is for her.

  It's good to dream so I can pretend, even if it is just for a little while that Dr. Adam thinks of me as something more than just a patient, even if it is a lie. Something to help me get through the bad times. It all has to get better soon, right?

  C H A P T E R T H R E E

  Adam

  Isabel’s face has been constantly on my mind since I last saw her. Her big green eyes staring at me from beneath full lashes haunt me. I could die a happy man if I could see her smile, just once, but more importantly, if I was the man to put that smile on her face. I’m sitting on my wrap around porch trying to think of the best way to accidentally run into Isabel when my pager goes off.

  Damn it! Can’t I get one day off?

  “Nurse’s Station, this is George.”

  “George, this is Lieutenant Patterson. Why was I paged?” I bark into the receiver.

  “Yes, sir. Reese told me to page you if an Isabel Alexander came in. She’s in the ER, sir.” George answered hesitantly.

  “Thanks, George,” I say before hanging up.

  What do I do? Go down there? What if her husband is there?

  “I have to see if she is okay or if he hurt her. I can make sure to get the proof I need this time,” I say to myself.

  Grabbing the closest pair of scrubs I can find, I quickly change and make a beeline for the hospital.

  What happened to her? How bad is it? Did that asshole hit her? I’ll kill him.

  I try to calmly make my way to the nurse's station, but I can’t help scanning the waiting area for her husband.

  “Petty Officer, I was informed my patient Alexander, Isabel has been admitted to the ER. I want an update on her condition.” I surprise the Petty Officer behind the desk, he wasn’t expecting me to show up.

  “Sir, Mrs. Alexander is here, but she isn’t the one being seen, it’s her daughter, Sophie.”

  Must have been the little girl in the elevator.

  “Where are they? Is she the only one with the child? What is the child here for?”

  I need to know where that damn husband of hers is!

  “Well, sir, Sophie was brought in with a broken arm claiming that she fell, but her x-rays tell a different story.”

  “What do the x-rays show?”

  “Multiple breaks in multiple places. It looks like abuse, sir.”

  Now I just have to get one of them to admit it, and I got him.

  “Is there a man with them or is it just the mother?”

  “Just the mother. Bed 4.” He points to a curtained off area.

  “Thank you. If a Petty Officer Alexander shows up, call the MA’s, and don’t let him in. In fact, he’s dangerous, lock down the ward if he shows.”

  “Don’t you mean Captain Alexander, sir?”

  Fuck me! He couldn’t be some Petty Officer dumb shit. Oh well, either way, something has to be done about this asshole.

  “I don’t care if he is the Secretary of the God damn Navy. If he shows up, lock the damn ward down. That’s an order. Understood?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  I take a deep cleansing breath, trying to calm down as I walk toward where Sophie and Isabel are. I take one more cleansing breath before pulling back this curtain and see the most adorable little girl I have ever laid eyes on. Just one look and I know she is going to have me wrapped around her little finger.

  Sophie has strawberry blonde curls, her mother’s big green eyes and light freckles across the tops of her cheeks and nose. She looks to be about four, and she’s beautiful, just like her mother. Isabel is surprised to see me, and I cannot resist winking at her.

  “Hi, I’m Dr. Patterson. I heard you had a nasty fall. Can you tell me what happened?” I say as cheerfully as I can.

  Sophie tries to burrow into the bed and avoid looking at me. I can imagine how afraid she is right now, of men specifically, with a father who likes to use her as a punching bag. Moving as slowly as possible, I walk toward the bed and have a seat, ducking down, so we are eye level before I try to address her again.

  “My name is Adam, what’s yours?” I ask soothingly.

  “Sophie,” says a squeaky little voice.

  “Sophie, that’s a beautiful name for a beautiful girl. You must be very brave to not be crying. I bet your arm hurts pretty badly.”

  Sophie smiles slowly and finally looks up at me.

  “My arm hurts,” she says. “Can you make it better?”

  “I can, but I have to look at it first. Can you tell me what happened when it started to hurt?”

  I slowly inch closer to Sophie as she raises her arm, so I can get a better look. Her arm is obviously very swollen and according to the x-rays, I know it’s broken.

  Poor thing, she must be used to being in pain.

  “Daddy hit me,” Sophie whispers.

  Isabel gasps from behind me, so I am sure I heard her correctly. I try not to let the surprise and pain show on my face at her words.

  “Oh,” I say “Why would he do that?”

  “I made him mad. I was hungry and asked for something to eat.” She says as a few tears slip from her eyes.

  I can hear Isabel is quietly crying behind me, but I refuse to take my eyes off Sophie. Just then an ER nurse comes inside the curtain.

  “Nurse, can you keep Sophie company while her mom and I head outside to talk for a moment?” I bend down to eye level with Sophie again.

  “We will be right back, okay, Sophie?”

  “Okay. You aren’t mad at Mommy, are you? You aren’t going to hit her, right?” Sophie says in a rush.

  “No Sophie, I’m not mad at your Mommy. I just want to talk to her for a minute. I would never hurt her or you. It’s my job to make people feel better, and I take my job very seriously.” Sophie seems more relaxed as she sits back on the bed.

  “Isabel?” Isabel immediately takes my hand with tears still running down her face. I pull her through the ER, the waiting room, and outside gripping her hand tightly.

  “I was asleep when it happened. I woke when I heard her scream and him yelling.” Isabel says, tears running down her face, “I have always been there to protect her, to take the brunt of his anger. Why wasn’t I there this time? This is all my fault!” she cries, covering her face with her hands.

  “Isabel, look at me.”

  “We can’t stay there any longer. I have to protect my little girl, what am I going to do now?” She sobs.

  I reach out and lift her chin, so I can see her eyes. I tenderly wipe the tears from her face.

  Damn, she’s beautiful.

  I lean forward and cradle her face in my hands, I can feel her stiffen as I slowly let my hands travel down her neck and across her shoulders until I’m hugging her tightly to my chest. Finally, she relaxes against me. She surprises me by wrapping her arms around my waist in a tight hug.

  “How did you know I was here?” she says against my chest.

  “The front desk called me. I have your file flagged on the computer,” I tell her simply.

  “Why?” she asks, pulling back to look up at me.

  “I wanted to know if anything happened to you. I needed to see you again and make sure you were alright. Why didn’t you tell me about your little girl?”

  “You didn’t ask, and you aren’t my friend, you�
�re my doctor,” she states simply.

  “I could be. I could be more, if you would let me,” I whisper.

  “I should get back to Sophie.”

  I tightened my arms around her, “You can’t go back to him.”

  “I don’t have a choice. He’s her father,” she says, a defeated tone in her voice.

  “No father would break his daughter’s arm because she was hungry! You do have a choice. Don’t go back. Please,” I beg.

  “We have nowhere else to go. I have no friends or family, no money for a hotel,” she’s talking to my chest again, doesn’t want to meet my eyes.

  Tears once again began streaming down her face. She struggles to get me to release her, but it just makes me hold on to her harder.

  “There are shelters. I’m sure they will know who to contact to help you.”

  She shakes her head no, “I can’t go to one of those places. I can’t take Sophie there.”

  “I’m sure there is someone you can contact to help you.”

  “There is no one, we have nowhere else to go.”

  “Isabel, please. I’m begging you, don’t go back to him.” I’m begging her again when a thought occurs to me.

  “You can live with me. I have more than enough room for you both. Plus, I work a lot. I’m not there very much.”

  I hold my breath waiting for her to answer. I can see the gears turning in her head as she weighs all her options before answering me reluctantly,

  “Okay,” Isabel whispers.

  “Thank you.”

  “I should get back to Sophie.”

  Did I really just ask a woman that I’ve spent all of ten minutes with to move into my house with a kid?

  C H A P T E R F O U R

  Adam

  Once Sophie has a cast and is discharged, Isabel and I decide to tell her that she isn’t going back home.

  “Sophie,” Isabel starts, “we’re going to go see where Dr. Patterson lives. He says that he wants to make you a yummy dinner for being such a brave girl.”

  Sophie is a smart little girl, she doesn’t believe her mother for a minute.

  “Hey, Sophie, do you like ice cream?” I ask.

  I look over at Isabel and give her a wink because I have an idea. I kneel in front of Sophie, so we are eye level.

  “I like ice cream, why?” she answers.

  I can’t help but chuckle. There is not getting anything past this one, Isabel is in trouble when she gets older.

  “Well, I need to go to the store before we head to my house. I was hoping you would help me pick an ice cream flavor.”

  “Ice Cream? For after dinner?”

  “Yes, but you have to be good and listen to Mommy while we are in the store,” I respond. I feel like I am negotiating with a terrorist at this point, but as long as she feels comfortable, I see it as a win.

  I look over at Isabel and see her trying to stifle a laugh. When I turn back to Sophie, she seems deep in thought.

  “How about ice cream and a movie?”

  “Well, Ms. Sophie you have a deal.” I reach my hand out, and we shake to close the deal.

  All three of us are smiling as we load into my truck and head to Target, for some supplies for Isabel and Sophie. Going shopping with a four-year-old is an experience. Everything is interesting, Sophie seems to say whatever pops into her head, it's both entertaining and exhausting.

  “Ooohhhh, Mommy! I want to feel, all the pillows!” Sophie says as we pass the decorative pillows on our way to grab some clothes for her.

  “Mommy! Mommy! Mommy! Can I see the toys? Please?!?” she says as we pass the toy aisle after grabbing toiletries for both ladies and clothes for Isabel.

  Through the entire trip, Isabel keeps her cool and calmly tells Sophie ‘no’ even when she pouts. The pouty lip pulls my heartstrings, so I take pity on her, she’s had a long day.

  “Hey, Sophie, why don’t you help me pick an ice cream flavor? What’s your favorite?” I ask her.

  Her entire face lights up like it’s Christmas morning. She starts to answer but looks at Isabel first, when she nods that it’s okay, Sophie lets out a little squeal of excitement.

  “I can really pick the ice cream?” she looks at me like I’ll take it back, but I would never do that.

  “Yup, you get to pick,” I tell her.

  “CHOCOLATE!” she shouts.

  Her answer makes me laugh, even though Isabel is telling her to calm down and not be so loud in the store.

  “Alright, Sophie. Let’s go pick some ice cream.” Turning to Isabel, I ask, “Mind if I push her?”

  Surprised at the offer, Isabel says, “Oh…Um…okay.”

  Stepping up to the cart, I start to jog then jump onto the bottom bar of the shopping cart. It’s been a long time since I took a joy ride on a cart, but Sophie’s squeal of laughter makes up for the dirty looks. I can’t control my own laughter as I get the cart under control and wait for Isabel to catch up to us.

  “That was fun!” Sophie exclaims, “Can we do it again?”

  Before I get a chance, Isabel responds for me, “No, Sophie. That’s enough excitement for tonight.”

  She tries to look stern, but she’s hiding a smile as well. We make our way to the ice cream cooler, and I tell Sophie to pick whatever one she wants.

  “I want the chocolate one,” she tells me.

  “Just plain old chocolate? No marshmallows or peanut butter or caramel?” I ask. I can’t believe she just wants plain chocolate.

  “Nope. Just chocolate,” she tells me, putting her hands on her hips. “What’s wrong with just chocolate?”

  Putting my hands in the air in surrender, I respond by saying,

  “Just checking, sweet pea.”

  We gather the items we need and head to the registers, Sophie insists on loading the conveyer belt herself. This girl is amazing. She is smart, spunky, and definitely has a mind of her own. I think I’m falling in love with her already.

  I pay for our items, with protest from Isabel, and head out to the truck. We get Sophie in her seat and the bags inside when Isabel turns to me, a somber expression on her face.

  She looks up at me with tears in her eyes,

  “Thank you.” She is so sincere that I’m not sure what to say.

  “What’s wrong?” I ask, concerned over her tears.

  “You have been amazing. Thank you,” she says, wiping a tear from her cheek.

  “Thank you for letting my little girl feel like a little girl. You made her laugh and smile.”

  More tears fall down her face, and I can’t help but wipe them away with my thumb.

  “I can’t remember the last time she laughed like she did tonight. Maybe she never has.”

  My hands are on her shoulders when she lets out a sob. Carefully, I wrap her in my arms, pull her to my chest, and offer any comfort I can. At this moment, I promise myself that I will do anything and everything possible to protect them.

  She wraps her arms around my waist and holds on tight, pressing her cheek against my chest, I’m sure she can feel my heartbeat. I drop my head and kiss her hair.

  “You don’t need to thank me, I’m happy to do it. And if I’m being honest with myself, I’m starting to fall in love with your little girl.”

  Isabel

  Hearing Sophie squeal in the shopping cart tonight made me realize how sad her life has been. It proved to me that I can’t ever go back to Jason, she deserves a much better life than what we have had.

  This is all thanks to Adam. He told me tonight that he’s falling in love with Sophie. He’s only spent a few hours with her and yet he loves her. Jason has never once said he loves her. Adam hugged me when I cried. He didn’t get angry and tell me to shut up; he wiped my tears and comforted me. He’s such a good man.

  Jason used to be all these things when we first met. He was sweet and loving. We used to take long walks on the beach, hold hands, and sneak kisses when no one was looking. I can’t pinpoint when it happened, but one day he just
got so angry he hit me. At first, I thought it was my fault, so I apologized. He said he would never do it again, but then he did. Again and again, he would hit me and tell me how worthless I am.

  Then I was blessed with my little miracle, Sophie, but it didn’t stop. I had to protect her now too. I got the beatings twice as bad because I had to take hers as well, but I took them because I knew she was safe. That was until tonight. Why didn’t she come to me first, why should a four-year-old be afraid to get some food? All these questions constantly swirl around in my head. Now that we are with Adam I can sleep and know my baby won’t go hungry. She may even be able to laugh and play like a normal child her age. I just hope that I am not making the same mistake twice by placing my trust in another man.

  C H A P T E R F I V E

  Adam

  I crawl into bed, dead tired, after a long day at the hospital, thinking about how much better it is having a full house. It’s been a noisy evening and a family filled morning, but in a good way. After a few hours, Sophie was starting to come out of her shell, and although Isabel is still being formal with me, I hope she will start to relax the longer they are here. I want them to feel at home here, with me.

  They can’t leave me.

  Where did that come from? Who am I kidding? I knew the moment I laid eyes on Isabel that I wanted her to be mine, forever. The fact that she has a husband who abuses her doesn’t make me feel any different about her. In reality, it makes her even more precious to me. I know I should feel bad, but I don’t. Isabel and Sophie deserve the world, and I’ll be the one to give it to them. I have to. It doesn’t matter if it is with me or someone else. The only way Captain Alexander is coming anywhere near them again is in a pine-wood box.

  I’m startled from my thoughts by a soft knock on my bedroom door.

  “Come in,” I say rising from the bed.

  Isabel pops her head through the door. She’s wearing my dark blue terry cloth bathrobe that swallows her small frame.

  “I… umm… wanted to… umm… say thank you for letting us come here.” She says nervously.