Page 13 of Draft Pick
Caretaking will take you far.
Maybe my time at the diner this morning was exactly what I needed.
Realizing I’ve been admiring for much too long, I turn to face Gabriella, except it’s not just Gabriella, but the rest of the staff as well.
“Welcome to Atlanta, Dr. Wilde,” they say in unison. “We’re here to support you every step of the way. This change will be good. We can feel it.”
Can’t say I expected to have a staff this supportive right off the bat, but I’m a smart enough woman to appreciate it.
My hands meet my hips, and I absentmindedly reach in my pocket for the butterfly trinket I keep in my scrub pants, spinning it between my fingers. It’s my personal form of good luck. Manifesting safe patient care. All the things, and I truly believe it to be what’s gotten me this far.
“I think so, too, ladies. Let’s do this.”
5
CREW
“Dr. Wilde will beright in to see you,” the nurse tells us before sliding the pocket door carefully.
“Oh! I learned about the solar system last week, Daddy! We should get a telescope so we can see the stars!”
I guide Addie to the two metal chairs stationed catty-corner to where, I’m assuming, the new doctor will sit. “I think we can make that happen.” I pull Addie into my side and kiss the top of her head. She immediately spots puzzles in the corner of the room, leaping out of her seat and sliding across the tiled floor to get to them.
“I will never understand how your knees bend like that, Doodle,” I say, inwardly cringing. Her legs are bent with all of her body weight resting back against her heels. Shit looks like it hurts.
“It’s cuz I’m a dancer. Ms. Calypso taught me all about stretching and bending before we dance.”
Stretching and bending? Should I be worried? I’m already not thrilled about her taking hip-hop dance lessons. Lord knows the last thing Addie needs to learn is how to pop, lock, and drop it. “Oh, my apologies, Doodle. I didn’t realize you were learning so much already.”
Addie tilts her head and sends me a sharp look. “Dad. Remember? That’s not my name.”The sass on this one.“You have to call me by my new name.” She bats her long eyelashes, and in this case, it gets her everywhere.
I’m a fucking sucker.
To make my understanding clear, I stand and place one hand across my stomach and the other against my lower back, bowing in her mere presence. “Again, my apologies, Adeline Briggs, Queen of Emerald City.”
I have yet to figure out what Emerald City is. All she ever says is that it’s her “favorite place in the entire world.”
And as if the universe were out to get me, before Addie has a chance to respond, the pocket door to the room opens, revealing me mid-bow to the new doctor. “Well, hello there. It appears we have a princess in the building today,” the young doctor greets us, and I shoot up quickly.
Cute bow there, Crew.
She must notice the colorful and adorably over-the-top outfit Addie picked for today.I adjust myself, securing my backward hat on my head as if it were about to fly away. It’s not; we’re inside with zero wind direction. I just needed something to do with my hands to clear out the awkwardness she walked into.
“This is Adeline,” I introduce Addie, but clearly she’s got everything under control.
Addie starts, pinching the ends of her tutu skirt and giving the doctor a formal bow. “Actually, it’sQueenAdeline Briggs of Emerald City. Pleasure to meet you, Dr. Wilde.”
Why am I even here?
The doctor turns toward me with a look of surprise across her face. “You mean to tell me thisqueenis six?”
I smirk. “Going on thirty, but who’s counting?”
Addie takes her seat next to me while Dr. Wilde finds hers, the bright yellow folder in her hands meeting the countertopbeside her. “Well, Queen Adeline Briggs of Emerald City,” she coos, leaning down to face Addie with a smile. “Can I tell you a secret?”
Addie bounces in place. “Yes!”
Dr. Wilde’s voice takes on a whisper, just loud enough for me to hear as she says, “You might just be the smartest six-year-old I’ve ever met.”
