Page 59 of Lost King

"How could you possibly have another surprise? I was proposed to and married all in one day. Nothing could top that," she sips on her glass of ginger ale.

Grabbing her by the hand, I lead her towards the clubhouse. Passing the guys, I wave my hand in the air letting them know I'm cuttin' out for the night.

"Wait, we're not going to say goodbye to everyone?" her hand tightens on mine.

"They know where I'm going. Don't worry, babe. You'll see them all again tomorrow," I promise. We'll have a houseful come tomorrow afternoon I have no doubts about it.

Trusting me, and still wearing her dress, she slides into my car. The house I bought is a couple of miles from Logan's home. As soon as I pull onto the long driveway leading to our home the two-story house comes into view. The sun hasn't completely set yet, so she gets to see what it looks like from the outside.

The moment I saw this house I knew it was the one. Cedar shingles, wooden shutters, and a large front and back porch. "You want to go look at it?" I ask.

"Can we do that?"

"Come on," I rush around to the other side of the car and open her door.

"Every window has a flower box, and look," she points as we step onto the porch, "I've never seen a porch swing the size of a twin bed. Quinn, wait— we can't walk through someone else's home."

I pause in front of the door and pull the key from the front pocket of my jeans. "I have the key, babe." Unlocking the door, I push it open then turn and pick up my bride.

"This is my surprise—a house?" her face lights up.

"You ready to add another chapter to our story?" I step over the threshold. "Welcome home Mrs. Emerson Beckett."

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Emerson

Ten months later

"Can you tell me where it hurts?" I ask Grayson the six-year-old little boy sitting on the exam table in front of me.

He points to his ear, "right here."

Using my otoscope, I gently examine the inside of Grayson's ear, and as expected he has an infection. Grayson's mom, Kinsley brought him in today. She said he's been running a fever for two days and has been complaining about his ear. Turning my attention to a worried looking Kinsley, I tell her. "Grayson has an ear infection. I'm going to prescribe him some antibiotics. I also want you to give him some Tylenol for his fever."

"Umm— are the antibiotics costly?" she asked in a nervous tone.

"I'm not sure, but your insurance should cover most of the cost."

"I uh— I don't have insurance."

I don't know much of Kinsley's story, only that she is a single mother and has been living in Polson for a couple of years. I also know she works at Charley's. Quinn told me once that Charley has always run the bar himself since he doesn't get too busy on any given day living in a small town and all. Charley had a feeling about Kinsley the day she walked into his bar looking for a job and he didn't have the heart to tell her no. Other than that, I don't know anything else about her. She keeps to herself.

Giving her a warm smile, I excuse myself. "Wait here. I'll be right back."

Walking into my office, I unlock the supply case that holds all our samples. We get pharmaceutical reps who come in from time to time and leave some with us. I gather the ten-day supply of the antibiotic Grayson will need, place them in a bag, and make my way back into the exam room. "Here you go," I say handing Kinsley the bag. "This ten-day supply should cover him. Also, I'm going to make a note on his chart for my receptionist telling her to set you up on a payment plan to cover today's visit."

Swiping a tear from her cheek, Kinsley nods, "thank you so much."

"You're very welcome." This right here is how I know I made the right choice opening my own practice. After Quinn and I married, he told me it was time to fulfill my dream. So, with his love and support, I wasted no time going after what I wanted. I put a call into a realtor, and two weeks later I was signing a lease on the building my office is housed in.

It was a little overwhelming at first with being pregnant and newly married while setting up my practice, but I've enjoyed every minute of the journey. It also helped I had the club behind me. Everyone pitched in. Reid and Nikolai handled the few minor remodeling aspects of the office, while the girls jumped in and helped me order furniture and decorate the waiting area. My waiting room is sectioned into three areas. I have a space for well check-ups, one for those who are sick, and I have an area for children to play. Alba even set up a reading corner and stocked it full of books. Then there is the front counter where my receptionist Zara sits, and in the back, I have three exam rooms.

In my opinion, the place is perfect and turned out just as I envisioned it. My office is open Monday through Friday and my hours are from eight o'clock am to five o'clock pm. I love being able to set my own pace. My evenings and weekends are for my family. When I'm at work, I'm wholly dedicated to my patients. Unlike the hospital, I get to spend more than five minutes with them. I take my time to get to know every person that walks through my clinic doors. I treat patients of all ages. They range from newborn to my oldest patient Mrs. Porter who is 97 years old.

Besides my work life, another thing that has come full circle is my relationship with my parents. They have done a complete one-eighty. My practice had only been open a few weeks when I went into labor and had to go on maternity leave. Imagine my surprise when I found out my mom took a leave of absence from her job to come to Polson and help out at my office. She took on my entire workload for six weeks. I have now been back at work for two.

Before my mother left and returned home to Washington, she told me once again how proud she is of me, and I did the right thing by opening my clinic. She even expressed that with her and dad getting older they have considered opening their own practice much like mine. Something where they could still do what they love but be able to slow down. I think my mom got spoiled with the nine to five hours and free weekends.