Just One Kiss, Please Daddy

Chapter 13

Ford’s POV

“Someone’s here to see you, doc,” my assistant Ella informs me, pushing away a lock of her graying hair away from her glasses as she enters my office. “Madeline Bridger, med rep.”

“Yeah, she scheduled that a couple days ago, I remember,” I say.

But my mind isn’t really into the conversation.

I keep looking at the jar of Hershey’s Kisses on my desk, remembering yesterday.

Remembering Livia.

I spent a great deal of the day thinking about her. Worrying about her. Wondering when I can have her with me and Nadine again.

Hoping there would be a time when I can finally get her to open up enough to tell me about those bruises and scars.

Last night was great. Steak nights are always a treat with Nadine, but having Livia there and actually seeing her eat and enjoy herself is a joy that I didn’t know I needed. That’s why I wanted to do it again.

I was thinking that maybe tonight might be another good time. I can invite her to our house and cook the dinner myself. Which means I need to cancel this appointment with the med rep.

“Tell her that I can’t see her today,” I tell Ella. “Reschedule an appointment with her first thing in the morning tomorrow. I hope she understands.”

“Of course,” Ella says kindly, heading back to the reception area.

Once I hear the receding footsteps of whom I assume is the med rep leaving, I get out of my office to clock out too.

But to my surprise, a tall woman with flaming red hair and soft brown eyes is still standing in front of Ella’s desk. Her face is red, her shoulders hunched. She seems upset.

That gets confirmed when she turns her intense gaze to me, but I also realize one other thing.

I know her.

Madeline Bridger.

The name is familiar.

“So this is what you do, huh?” she says to me, her tone haughty with a light of teasing. “Just because you’re a doctor now?”

“I….” I trail off, trying to rack my brains. “Do I know you, Miss Bridger?”

“You mean you forgot?” Madeline walks over to me. “How about some respect to the girl who stuck by you through med school?”

That’s when it clicks.

That’s why she looks familiar. We already know each other.

God, med school seems like forever ago. But I do remember going with her, attending classes. She dropped off at our third year, and I never heard from her ever since.

“Madeline,” I say, shaking my head in disbelief. “It’s been so long. Forgive me. I had so many patients and faces just blend together most of the time—”

“It’s fine, I was just teasing.” Madeline smiles. “So here we are. You made it, after all. Funny, you were the one who always doubted you would make it. I was the confident one. And now look at us: you’re saving lives and I’m pushing pills.”

“Don’t say that,” I tell her kindly. “I’m sorry I had to cancel on you. We can continue with the appointment.”

She waves me off. “It’s alright, I’ll just go back tomorrow. I think you’re leaving early for something. Is it a date?”

A date?

Well, what I’m planning is quite special, but I don’t think I can call it a date.

Still, thinking about Livia being at home, enjoying the dinner I plan to make, makes something in my chest flutter….

But I swallow it all back and look at Madeline.

“It’s not a date, but it’s a special one for my daughter and her friend,” I just say. “But hey, just stay in touch. I want to discuss the products you’re planning to sell.”

Madeline smiles and hands me a business card. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow, Ford.”

With that, she waves at me and leaves. Now Ella and I are the only ones left in the lobby.

Ella tilts her head, watching the door. “Didn’t know you knew that woman, doc. She was angry when I canceled. Weird to see her just soften up on you.”

“Well, we were good friends in the past,” I say, clocking out at last.

“She might be into you.”

The suggestion makes me stiffen. “Hey, take the day off early too, Ella.”

Ella just shrugs, heading out to gather her stuff. I’m about to get the locks ready when all of a sudden, the doors swing open with a force so huge that the glass panels almost smash against the walls.

Ready to reprimand whoever did that, I whip around, only to see Nadine’s anguished face.

“Nadine!” My chest hardens as I run up to catch her, seeing her stumbling to get inside. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt? Did someone do something to you?”

She shakes her head. She’s covered in sweat. In her hand is her phone, and I see the caller ID on it.

Livia.

It’s on loudspeaker, but no voice is coming out.

My stomach drops. “What’s going on? Calm down and tell me.”

I sit her down on the bench in the waiting room, turning to Ella and motioning her to get a glass of water. She rushes with it, helping me coax Nadine to drink.

Once replenished, Nadine starts to speak. But only broken words come out of her mouth. Tears soon appear in her eyes, flowing down to her chin.

“Dad,” she keeps saying. “Dad….”

“What’s wrong?” I cup her face and wipe her tears. “Tell me. I’m right here.”

“It’s Livia.” Her voice breaks with anxiety and pain. “She… We were walking to your clinic. She had an allergic reaction to the overgrown grass in PE, so I volunteered to take her here instead of the school clinic.”

“And?” I look behind her. “Where is she?”

Nadine’s eyes well up. Her words come out gargled and full of distress. “We saw a guy who was drinking, and she started to pick on me. Livia stood up to him, and he pushed her down, so I kicked him. Then he started to chase us. Livia got tired so I told her to hide and I will call for help. When I called her, it’s the guy who answered….”

My entire world stops.

Nadine breaks down in my arms. I hold her tight, comforting her. Assuring her.

But only one thought is in my mind.

“Get in the car. Let’s find Livia.”