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I put my hand under her chin and raise her face so I can look into her eyes. “The little things become important when it’s all you have left. After losing my parents I kept random items of theirs too.”

“Really?” She asks. “What did you keep?”

I smile. “I kept my Dad’s Seattle Seahawks jersey, my mom’s favorite Yo-Yo Ma C.D. and the rolling pin she always used when she baked.”

One corner of Sophie’s mouth turns up in a smile. “A rolling pin? Is it the one we used?”

“No, it’s in a box in my closet … along with the C.D. But I downloaded the album on my phone and Emily and I used to listen to it constantly.” I take a deep breath, memories of my mother baking while listening to her favorite music filling my mind. “I wanted to keep memories alive for Emily and for myself. I get it.”

She loosens her arms from around me and takes a step back. She looks at me with an empathetic expression.

“Thanks for understanding. Maybe Google can tell me how to get marker out. Hopefully I don’t end up ruining the guitar.”

“Actually, Penny colored on the wood floors with marker once, and Emily’s fingernail polish remover got it out. We did have to re-stain that area though.”

“No way, I have some nail polish remover. I’ll try that.” She smiles softly. “You’re always rescuing me, Drew.”

I smile back, looking into her ocean eyes. I could get lost in this ocean so easily.

She blinks as if suddenly remembering something. “Hey, sorry I didn’t respond to your text. What did you want to talk about?”

“Oh, uh, nothing.” I shrug. “Don’t worry about it.”

This is the worst possible time to bring up our relationship, not that we even have one. I’m not sure where Sophie’s at in the process of grieving for her husband, but tonight she’s been through enough emotionally. She obviously still misses her husband a great deal, and she probably always will have moments of sadness. I know I still have those difficult moments when the loss of my parents feels heavy. I would never expect her to stop loving her late husband. All I can hope for is that she might be willing to love me too, that she might be willing to let me make her happy. That we can experience a completely new love in each other.

But that’s a conversation for another day. I’ll keep waiting, as long as I need to.

Sophie’s worth it.

On Monday afternoon, I receive a text from Sophie. I haven’t seen her since the guitar incident, so my face lights up when I see her name on my phone screen.

Sophie: Hey Drew, sorry to bother you at work. I have some kind of stomach bug, and Samantha and I are headed home from school. I won’t be able to bring Penny home today. I’m so sorry.

I frown. A huge part of me wishes I could rush home to take care of her.

Drew: That sucks you're not feeling well. Don’t worry about Penny. I’ll reschedule some patients and pick her up. Can I get you anything on the way home?

Sophie: I’ll be okay! Thanks though. :)

Drew: Let me know if you change your mind. I am a doctor, you know.

Sophie: Oh really? I thought you worked in the phlebotomy dept.?

Drew: *gif of Robert Downey Jr. rolling his eyes*

Sophie: *gif of Ryan Reynolds smirking*

I laugh to myself. Only Sophie could have a stomach bug and still be able to make me smile.

Walking up to reception, I ask the ladies at the front desk to reschedule my last two appointments so I can pick Penny up from school.

An hour later, I just finished up with a patient for a post-op check when my phone vibrates in my pocket. I pull it out to see an incoming call from Heartland Academy.

“Hello, this is Drew Reed.”

“Hello, Dr. Reed. This is Caroline from Heartland Academy. I’m calling to see if you can come get Penny from school early. She just threw up and the poor thing is feeling awful. There must be a bug going around the school. We’ve had to send ten kids home today, and a few teachers.”

“Of course, my last patient just left so I'll be there in fifteen minutes.”