Nothing beats a family dinner and game night.And I want this to be a thing.A real tradition.Maybe we can rotate houses.One week at Keith’s, one at Ms.Richards’s, one at ours...Mine and Amelia’s.Because this is my home now.My town.My family.And I’m never looking back.
A few of us stick around to chat.Dr.Harrison mumbles something, and I barely catch it.“Sorry?”
He sighs.“There’s a new resident starting.Dr.Thomas wants me to mentor them.”
I frown.“Is that a problem?”
“I have a feeling it might be.”
“Right.So, give her to someone else.”
“Can’t.He insists it has to be me.”
I shake my head, amused.“Guess that makes you the old, wise one, huh?”
He groans, rubbing his face.“I’m not that old.”
“If you say so.”
I like the way he carries himself… calm, confident, like a man who’s seen enough to know when to step in and when to step back.He gives off a solid, fatherly presence, the kind that makes people listen even when he’s not raising his voice.And I guess if this new resident might be difficult, maybe Dr.Thomas figures they’ll be easier to manage under Harrison’s watch.
I pat his shoulder as I take a step back.“I’ve gotta get out of here.”
“You’re not working today?”he asks, glancing at the clock.
“No, I just came in to check out the CT scanner and, you know, get my picture for the front cover of the article.Not that it hasn’t been there enough,” I joke.
For the first time, he actually chuckles.“Fair point.I like you.”
“Thanks.”I grin.“I’ll be thinking of you when I see you mentoring the new resident.”
“Yeah, great for me,” he mutters dryly.
I wave him off and head out.
As I drive to the store, it still hits me sometimes how different my life is now.The streets are quieter, the air cleaner.People wave when they see me, even if we’ve only met once or twice.I never got that in the city.Back there, it was all about moving fast, getting ahead.No one slowed down just to be nice.
But here?Here, I belong.
I grab a cart and move through the aisles, picking up everything I need for dinner.More silverware, since I don’t have enough for this many people.I get a pie from Genevieve’s instead of making it from scratch.I’m a solid cook, but baking has always been hit or miss for me.Why risk a disaster when Genevive’s pies are better than anything I could make anyway?
I pull into the driveway at 4:30.She’s still at work in the office, so I let myself in and get started on dinner.The roast goes in first, then I chop the vegetables, setting everything up just right.The house smells incredible already… salty, buttery, and garlic.
Next, I set up a charcuterie board with all the favorites: cheese, dips, meat, and fruit.
It’s stupid how much I love doing this.How much I love making a home for her.
A few minutes later, I hear footsteps.I turn just as she walks in, heading straight for me.She looks a little tired but beautifully happy, in the same clothes, and her hair messy from the day.
I open my arms, and she steps right into them, fitting against me like she was always meant to.My hands settle on her back, and hers glide over mine.
This here.This is everything.
I press a kiss on her forehead.“How was work, beautiful?”
She sighs against me.“Good.Day one done.”Leaning back, her brown eyes meet mine.“And now I’m ready to eat and hang out with you and my family.”
I smile, brushing my thumb over her jaw.“Keith’s coming too, if that’s all right.”
