I talk her through how to use everything I brought, and she slips into the bathroom for a few minutes.
When she returns, she looks a little lighter, like just having a plan eased some of the weight.
She climbs back into bed and sets her phone on the nightstand. Then, after a beat, she picks it back up and glances at me.
“Can I text you? Just in case I forget something later?”
“Of course,” I say. “Here.”
I tell her my number, and a second later, my phone buzzes in my hand.
Hi it’s Sophie ??
I smile, warmth flooding through me. “Got it.”
She leans against the pillow, pressing the heating pad against her stomach.
“I’m glad you came,” she whispers. “You don’t make it feel like this huge, embarrassing thing.”
That one hits me square in the chest.
I brush a strand of hair from her face. “It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. It’s normal. You’re allowed to feel crappy about it. And hey, at least you get to miss school today.”
She nods into the pillow, and I squeeze her hand before heading back downstairs.
Declan is waiting in the kitchen, one hand braced on the counter, the other raking through his hair. He looks like it took everything in him not to pace outside her door.
The second he sees me, the question’s already on his lips.
“She okay?” he asks.
“She will be. First time’s rough, especially when you’re twelve and everything’s new and weird.”
He exhales through his nose. “Thanks for coming. I owe you, big time.”
I nod, my eyes flicking over to the living room couch—the same spot we sat two nights ago when I helped him in, just before that almost-kiss.
That was here.
Right there.
A flicker of heat rises in my chest before I force it back down.
Because I’m here for Sophie. And because if I keep remembering the way he looked at me that night, I might not be able to pretend it didn’t mean anything.
He hesitates. “Can we do PT here today? I don’t want to leave her.”
I smile. “Let me check in.”
I pull out my work phone and call Dr. Patel. I explain the situation, assure him I have everything I need in my kit and that I’ll file session notes as usual.
He approves it without hesitation.
“Oh, and Charlotte?” he adds at the end, his voice light. “That personal day you requested? May 29th? It’s cleared. You’re all set.”
Relief floods me. I’ll be able to see Sophie and Maya’s musical. “Thank you.”
When I hang up, I turn to Declan. “We’re good to go.”
