Second Chance Romance- The One That Got Away

The Doc Is In

The last person Nathan King was expecting to see was Scottie. It had been ten years since he last saw her. They had just graduated from high school and were preparing to go to different colleges, 7 hours apart. The first four months were made up of constant texting, phone calls and social media interactions until he had monumentally screwed up. At his first college party he had gotten drunk, slept with a woman he barely knew and had gotten her pregnant. He had come clean to her and she had been heartbroken, expectedly. However, she had not broken up with him, instead she told him they would find a way around this. Talk about it in person, like adults do she had stated.

Melody stared at the Nathan, he seemed miles away, probably thinking about the not-a-break-up break up from a decade ago. Clearing her throat, Melody was the first to speak “Hey Nate, and hello to you too cutie.”, she added addressing the girl Nate still carried in his arms. That seemed to shake him out of his daze. “Hi Scottie, long time” Nate answered, “This is my niece Natalie, she has the flu and her mom is out of town for the day.” The room went silent until the little girl, Natalie, sniffled before coughing “I don’t feel good Uncle Nate, my nose is blocked, and I want my mommy”. “I know you do sweetheart, that’s why we’re here to see Dr Scott. She will fix you right up and you will good as new, okay?” Nathan assured Natalie.

Throughout this exchange, Melody stood quietly observing the pair. Snap out of it Melody, she chastised herself, this is your office albeit temporarily and Nate is a patient’s parent, correction uncle. “Hello Natalie, I know this flu bug is the worst especially with your mommy being away but by the time she comes back you will be feeling a little bit better. Let me check your temperature, can I do that?” Melody asked the little girl. With a little tilt of her lips, Natalie nodded while being cradled by her uncle, now sitting in a chair opposite Melody. Melody made a short work of checking Natalie’s temperature and all the tests and checks, after that she wrote everything down in the patient’s file before prescribing all the medication and giving Nathan strict instructions to make sure Natalie is hydrated and well-rested. The awkward silence descended upon the room once again, Natalie struggling to keep her eyes open. “So, you’re back in town” Nathan started, attempting to fill the silence. “Temporarily” Melody answered, “I’m filling in for Patrick while he takes a deserved holiday with his family. He has dedicated 20 years of his life to this practice and this town so I figured I would volunteer my services for two weeks. Oh my god, I’m rambling, aren’t I? I’m sorry, you’re also back in town I see?”

She was so adorable when she did that, Nathan thought, he’d always like her rambling where he was concerned. As far back as he could remember, he had always made her a little nervous and that attracted him to her even more. She was looking at him now, waiting for an answer and he had to mentally shake himself to remember what she had said “Yeah, I am back in town. My sister needed some help with fixing things around the house, our parent’s house. She moved back a year ago so some things needed to be fixed after the house had been neglected for so many years, her husband will be joining her in a few months.” Now who’s rambling Nathan thought to himself, I am a 29 year old man behaving like a teenager. Only for Scottie, only with Scottie. “Ok, it was nice seeing you Nathan, but I have to see my next patient if I have any hope of making it home in time for dinner. Take care of little Natalie and do not hesitate to call if anything comes up. With regards to Natalie’s health of course” Melody finished. “Yes, of course” he responded with a smile, his eyes twinkling humorously as he walked to door “Bye Scottie, say hello to your parents for me”. “It’s Melody” she said to a closing door.