“This is the best day of my life,” she whispered and then flew out of her chair and into his arms. Emotion choked him, rendering him unable to speak for a moment at the incredible gift she was giving him. She was forgiving him. She might not be aware of it, but she was forgiving him for being an absentee father, and she was teaching him how to be a real one. She was teaching him that this day that seemed like another run of the mill day for him wasn’t. Today shouldn’t have been anything special, but because Isabella was here with him, it was the best day he’d had in a long time…maybe since his own childhood.
He kissed the top of her head and pulled back to look into her eyes. “Me too,” he whispered.
…
Addie looked for Drew amongst the parents sitting in the stands at the skating arena. She needed to focus on him, on Bella, and not on the past that was trying take over the present for her. She was here for Isabella’s skating lesson, not to get caught up in the memories of her teenage years. Despite the cold temperature of the arena, sweat trickled down her spine, and she saw herself on center ice, she felt the heat of the lights from that night, she saw the stands filled with parents and family and friends.
“Addie!”
She turned sharply in the direction of the voice, Drew’s voice, and smiled. He was sitting near the top, a cup of coffee in his hands. She smiled at him, relieved that nausea was now being replaced by jitters brought on by him. He was wearing jeans and his coat was open, revealing a navy sweater underneath. He held up a coffee for her as she sat down beside him. “Here, I picked one up for you.”
Her fingers brushed against his as she took the cup, and a shiver that had nothing to do with the temperature in the arena stole through her body. She sat down beside him and caught a whiff of the fresh scent of his soap. His hair was slightly mussed up, and stubble lined his jaw. He looked delectable. Judging by a few of the women staring in their direction, she wasn’t the only one who was thinking this. “Thanks. This is exactly what I need right now.”
He smiled and looked into her eyes, in that way that made her forget to breathe because he seemed to capture every ounce of rational thought. “Me too.”
“Did you have a rough day?” she asked, feeling shy asking something that felt intimate even though it wasn’t really.
He ran a hand over his jaw. “No, it was pretty easy. I had Isabella helping, so that made it far more entertaining than usual patient appointments.”
Laughter bubbled in her chest. “I’m sure she was a great assistant.”
“She really was. She was so confident after our day she even offered to help me out in the OR.”
Addie burst out laughing because she could picture his daughter doing just that. She looked away awkwardly when she realized he was staring at her…in a way that made her warm from the inside. He was smiling, the corners of his eyes crinkling slightly. He had a beautiful smile, one that made her forget all the reasons she could never have a man like him. “I can see her doing that. You’d better watch out.”
He ducked his head. “I know. It was good, though, to see her so interested and happy.”
“I’m glad,” she said, staring straight ahead at the kids skating.
“Bella is really excited you’re here tonight. Thanks for doing this.”
She took a sip of coffee in an attempt to look casual. “Of course. It’s really not a big deal. I wasn’t going to let her go out there being the only kid who didn’t have a…um, older friend.”
Something flashed across his green eyes, and he looked ahead, his jaw clenched, but didn’t say anything for a moment. “It is a big deal. To both of us,” he said, his deep voice thick. He hadn’t turned to look at her, but he sat up straighter, and a smile broke out onto his face as he pointed to the arena.
She followed the direction he was pointing in and smiled and waved as Isabella made huge arm gestures in their direction as she and her class got onto the ice. “She’s always so full of energy.”
One corner of his mouth lifted. “It starts at six in the morning and goes until eight at night.”
She laughed. “At least you know she’s happy.”
He turned to look at her, and she realized how close they were sitting, almost huddled together, close enough that she could rest her head on his shoulder. “It’s been a long road to get here, and there were times I didn’t think I’d ever see her smile…or smile at me.”
If she were less self-conscious, she’d reach out and put her hand on his knee or shoulder, but she’d never do that. “She thinks the world of you. She’s always talking about things you do, and she talked about how much she was looking forward to her day at the hospital with you non-stop.”
He smiled. “We did have a good day. So, how are you doing? Business going well?”
She nodded. “I have my new employee starting this week, so that’ll help with all the extra holiday hours and for ChristmasFest.”
“That’s great. Addie’s really excited. When’s that Christmas party again?”
Heat flooded her face, and she turned her gaze in the direction of the ice, watching as Isabella and her class skated in circles. “Three weeks Saturday. Uh, like I said, you really don’t have to do that.”
“I’d like to, Addie.”
She smiled and looked away. “Okay. I was thinking about the skating thing. Is it okay with you if Bella and I go to the outdoor rink downtown to practice a few nights after school? The nights I have my new part time girl working, Bella and I can get some practice time in.”
He looked surprised. “Of course.”
She nodded, swallowing past the fear of the idea of being on that rink again. She was going to need the practice as much as Bella. A part of her wished she’d never agreed to this, but the other part of her was so happy for her little friend. She knew what it was like to be an outsider. She glanced at Drew from the corner of her eye and saw him staring straight ahead at Isabella. “Of course, if Bella’s mom decided to come out, I will bow out. I’d hate to cause problems.”
His brow furrowed. “I’ve been trying to get a hold of her because I know it would mean so much to Isabella to have her mother here, but I haven’t heard back.”
Her heart sank. “Oh, I’m sorry.”
He shrugged. “She…travels a lot for work. Jill leads a pretty glamorous life.”
She fiddled with the lid on her coffee, trying not to look like she was fishing for info on his ex. “Yes, Isabella was telling me she’s into fashion and is a beauty blogger or something like that?”
His jaw clenched, and it took him a moment to answer. “Something like that. She’s very successful at what she does, motivated, driven, energetic. Bella has a lot of that spirit.”
Addie winced. “She must miss her so much.”
He looked down. “She’s been hurt by her mother. We both have. I’m just trying to build a new life with her and trying to restore her faith in me. Bella has to be my priority, and I’ve learned my lesson. I’ll never put anything or anyone above my daughter’s happiness again.”
Addie sat there, falling in love just a little bit, with the man beside her, the one who just said he’d never get involved with a woman again.
Chapter Four
Addie stared at her phone, re-reading the text that had just come through from Drew. She was seated across from her sisters at the Mountainside Inn, enjoying a new bi-weekly tradition of girl’s night. She tried to look nonchalant, because if her sisters got a whiff of drama, they’d be all over it.
“What? Is it Mom? She’s been serial-texting us,” Melody said, leaning forward.
Addie looked up at her. “Really? She serial texts you?”
They both nodded.
Addie tried not to look hurt. “She can’t even be bothered to solo-text me. But that’s good, because after that stunt inviting Drew to her awful party, I wouldn’t want to see her anyway.” She wasn’t surprised that their mother wasn’t bothering with her. She was like the black sheep of the family, mostly bec
ause she wasn’t like her sisters. She had never been good enough.
Molly rolled her eyes. “Well, consider yourself lucky, then. It’s her loss.”
“So what’s the text?” Melody asked, taking a sip of wine.
She put her phone down, like there was nothing special about the text. “Oh, right. Drew just texted asking if I could go Christmas shopping with them tomorrow.”
Melody made a grab for her phone, but Addie managed to hold it far enough away. “Hey, hands off,” she said, writhing around in the booth like she was ten.
Melody held out her hand and gave her a ferocious frown. “What exactly does it say?”
She looked down at her screen again, even though she’d already memorized it. “Hi, Addie. Bella was hoping you’d have time to join us for tree and decoration shopping tomorrow. I realize it’s your day off, so don’t worry if you can’t make it.”
Melody sat back in the booth, crossing her arms. “Hm. Well, you have to.”
Molly nodded. “Obviously.”
“But it’s nothing to be excited about. I mean, it’s sweet of Bella to ask…but it’s Bella asking. Not Drew.”
They all stopped talking as their shareable platters arrived. She suddenly regretted the calorie-dense food options they’d agreed on, then hated herself for that old way of thinking. Years of Yo-Yo dieting and disordered eating and self-bashing had taken its toll, and sometimes she still struggled with the line between healthy eating and feelings of guilt for the occasional indulgence. It was something her sisters hadn’t ever really understood. They’d both inherited their father’s height and slim build. She had, unfortunately, inherited their mother’s shorter, curvier body that seemed to gain a pound by just looking at dessert. Years of self-hate had finally given way to acceptance and love, but it wasn’t always the obvious choice for her. Certain situations brought out the old feelings, reminded her of the insecure young woman who’d been bullied for years. She shook off the insecurity and reached for one of the nachos her sisters had already started devouring.
“Really, so Bella texted you?” Melody asked, ditching the nachos for the artichoke dip.
Addie took a sip of wine. “Obviously not. I just mean this is a single father trying to keep his daughter happy.”
“Well, he’s not going to be single for long in that hospital, so if you have feelings for him, you’d better move fast,” Melody said.
Addie stiffened but tried to look nonchalant. “What do you mean?”
Molly leaned forward and shot Melody a look that made her disapproval over the blunt comment clear. “Women aren’t swarming him, and he’s not like that…but he’s a very good catch, and people notice that.”
“Also his stock went up big time, last week,” Melody said, taking more dip than chip. If she didn’t love her sisters, she’d kind of hate them for being able to scarf down food like they did and not gain a pound.
Addie twirled the stem of her wine glass, trying not to look overly interested. “What do you mean by that?”
“He brought Bella in. They were really cute. Hot, single doctor, holding on to his little girl’s hand at work, showing her the ropes. She looked up at him adoringly. You could practically hear the sighs from the entire female staff.”
Addie groaned and put her head in her hands. She could just picture it. Of course when he’d mentioned that he’d brought Bella in, he hadn’t mentioned the aftermath. Or maybe he hadn’t noticed. Or maybe it wasn’t her business. Who wouldn’t be attracted to him?
“But it’s not like Drew ever shows interest in anyone. He’s focused. He looks as though he’s being tortured when it comes to small talk. If he hangs around anyone, it’s Luke Thomson. So you have nothing to worry about, Addie. Go ahead and make your move,” Molly said with an encouraging smile.
Move? She didn’t make moves. She stood on the sidelines, preferably with dim lighting conditions. “I have no moves to make. I’m helping him out with his daughter. That’s all.”
Molly looked as though she was going to choke on her twice-baked loaded potato skins while Melody’s eyes narrowed. Melody had always been the most outspoken of the three of them. Addie braced herself for the calling out her sister was gearing up to dish out. “Don’t sit around on the sidelines, Addie. If you have feelings for him, act on them before someone else snatches him up.”
“I don’t have feelings for him. I barely know him. I’m not going to just start pursuing a relationship with a single dad. He never wants marriage again. I want marriage. A guy in it for the long haul. That’s my end game.”
Melody’s expression softened. “I’m not trying to be mean. I just…I feel like we’ve all been put through enough with Mom and that she’s prevented us from going after our dreams.”
Addie sat back in her seat and sighed. “I’m not mad at you. You’re right. Maybe part of me feels like I’m not the type of woman he’d ever look twice at.”
Molly frowned. “You’re smart and gorgeous, and his little girl adores you. You stepped up to help him out when you barely even knew him. There’s nothing more a guy could want.”
Addie forced a smile because she didn’t want her sisters thinking that she really hadn’t changed since they were teenagers. It’s not that she still had all her old insecurities, but sometimes they snuck up on her when she was feeling vulnerable, like when she stalked Drew’s ex’s Instagram account. “I…um, so there’s the fact that his ex and I are nothing alike.”
“You met her?” Melody asked, her eyes huge as she wrapped stringy pieces of cheddar around her chip.
Addie winced. “Not exactly. Bella was talking about how her mom was like a fitness lady as she called her. Then Drew mentioned she was…glamorous and some sort of beauty blogger and…”
Molly put her head in her hands, and Melody pulled out her phone. “You stalked her on Instagram, didn’t you? All right. What is it?”
She had. Last night she’d sat in bed, the lights off, and scrolled and scrolled. Maybe cried. Maybe had to pause and get a glass of wine. Addie bit her lip and didn’t answer.
“Come on, Addie,” Melody said.
“I think this is an invasion of privacy or something,” Addie said.
“If it was private, it wouldn’t be on Instagram. That means it’s public.”
Addie finished her glass of wine. “I feel like it’s juvenile.”
Mel rolled her eyes. “Of course it’s juvenile. No one is denying it’s very juvenile of us to go snooping Drew’s ex’s Instagram feed on a Saturday night while drinking wine, but juvenile doesn’t necessarily mean wrong.”
Addie looked to Molly, who was suspiciously quiet. “What do you think?”
Molly shrugged. “Okay, well I guess I’d feel the same way you’re feeling.”
“Here it is!” Melody said, waving her phone around.
“How did you find it?”
“Drew mentioned her name once, and she kept his last name, and I know she’s some kind of fitness guru or something…” Her voice trailed off, and she inhaled sharply.
Addie poured more wine in each of their glasses. Molly was leaning over and looking at Melody’s phone. She didn’t need to look. She’d gone through those pictures at least twice. It may have been that moment when she decided she and Drew were very different people from very different worlds. “Oh, Addie,” Melody whispered, blindly feeling for more chips while she scrolled through her phone.
Molly shook her head and stopped looking.
“I want to turn away, but I just can’t,” Melody whispered. “Why is she…oh, I don’t think we should be eating all this dairy…or corn…”
Molly burst out laughing and grabbed the phone from Melody’s hand. “Okay, enough. We’ve seen enough. So Drew’s ex is…has different goals.”
“Well, once again, I’ll be the only one honest enough to say the truth. I’m sure she’s a very nice person, but it’s all a show. She’s not real. So, great, she has five thousand posts on how to create the perfect abs or sculp
ted buns or the best protein smoothie. If she were so great, then why did they get divorced? Also, she’s had work done. Too much. I can list at least three different things.”
Sometimes, Melody’s bluntness was a blessing. Like right now. But how pathetic was it that she felt somewhat better that the perfect woman on that Instagram account wasn’t that perfect? She looked to Molly, who gave a sheepish smile and nodded.
“Okay…like what work?” Addie asked, leaning forward. The damage had already been done; now she needed to hear the facts and then move on.
Melody lifted her hand and raised index finger. “Botox, collagen, and silicone. I mean, that’s the big stuff. Addie, this isn’t real. She must spend hours grooming, hair, highlights, facials, manicures, the list is endless.”
Addie’s mouth dropped open.
“Melody…” Molly said, holding up the bottle of wine and signaling to the waitress.
“Look, I call it like I see it. Oh, and maybe a tummy tuck.”
Addie’s eyes widened, and she sucked in her stomach. “Really?”
“Really. And if I could get my hands on some before pictures, I’d be able to tell you if there was anything else,” Melody said.
The waitress appeared and refilled their wine glasses.
“I don’t think that will be necessary,” Molly said, laughing as she picked up her glass.
“What else do you—wait, no forget it. I don’t want to know. None of this matters. None. Drew isn’t someone I’d feel comfortable with anyway. I need someone less…good-looking.”
Melody kicked her under the table. “Said no sane person ever.”
“I’m not sure when this entire conversation turned to me and Drew, anyway. You work with him. Why don’t you ask him out?”
Melody leaned forward. “Because I would never do that to my little sister. You’re infatuated with him, in that adorable, earnest way that breaks my heart. You’re the dreamer, Addie. You deserve to have your own dreams now. Go after him.”
A Christmas Miracle for the Doctor Page 5