Page 14 of Draft Pick
Without warning, Addie’s arms fly around Dr. Wilde’s neck, and you can tell the hug startled her, but not enough to let go. Her eyes cut to me from behind Addie’s head as if searching for consent.
I nod, and she returns the gesture. “Oh, thank you, Dr. Wilde,” Addie screeches before letting go and directing her attention to me. “You were right, Daddy. I am smart. Those tests are stupid.”
My eyes shoot up, and I instantly regret making direct eye contact. Dr. Wilde’s round, green eyes stare me down without any attempt at wavering. The dusting of freckles across her pale cheeks only makes them appear brighter. I avert my eyes and glance at the hand-painted mural on the wall behind her, pretending to be fascinated with the painter’s gift for underwater themes. “Sea turtles. Niceeee.”
Both girls giggle at my sudden demise, and I know my face has to be bright red. Dr. Wilde laughs lightly before pulling out a pen from her scrub pocket and popping the cap into place. “All of our patient rooms have different themes. You just so happen to be in my most favorite one.”
She taps Addie’s nose playfully before continuing, “So, it seems like now would be a good time to introduce myself. My name is Dr. Wilde, and I can almost guarantee that every time you see me, I’ll look a little wild.” She peeks down at her bright blue scrubs with green and pink sea turtles all over them. “I’ve got closets full of these babies.”
Addie’s brows rise in excitement. “Even Princess Fiona ones?”
“We’re currently in ourShrekobsession era,” I tell her.
“Era?” Dr. Wilde questions with a quirk of her lips before answering my daughter. “You bet. They even have Donkey and the Gingerbread Man on them, too.”
I know what’s coming before she even starts. Addie shoots up from her chair and transforms her voice into Donkey with very little effort. “Tomorrow, I’m makin’ waffles!”
I’m not sure what I expected from meeting Addie’s new pediatrician, but it definitely wasn’t someone as easygoing and fun as Dr. Wilde. Her raspy laugh bounces off the walls, mine joining shortly after. “You are too cute.”
“Daddy tells me every day.” She smiles, and Dr. Wilde faces me.
“As he should. Seems you have a pretty great daddy then, huh?”
“Oh, yes. He even eats mac n’ cheese with me for breakfast and takes me to baseball games. Do you go to baseball games? You should come. It’s so fun. The slushies are my favorite! Go, Strikers!”
“I can’t say I’ve ever been.” Dr. Wilde smiles. “I just moved to town.”
“Please come, Dr. Wilde! You can meet all my uncles!”
This girl never knows a stranger.
“Well, when is the next game?” Dr. Wilde asks, and Addie looks at me.
I roll my eyes and laugh. “A week from Friday. Home game at Makers Park.”
Dr. Wilde smiles. “Well, then. I might just have to make an appearance.”
“Yay! Yay! Yay!” Addie cheers. “I’ll look for you! You can probably find me wherever Lenny the Lightning Bolt is. We’re best friends!”
“Lenny the Lightning Bolt. Got it.”
I listen, waiting for a free moment to redirect our conversation to the topic at hand. Clearing my throat, I ask, “So, Dr. Wolk retired?”
Dr. Wilde nods, spinning in her chair and opening the yellow folder. “Indeed, he did.”
“And now you run this place? The whole office, I mean.” I’m not trying to pry, but I do have concerns. Especially when we’re at such a pivotal point with Addie’sundiagnoseddiagnosis.
A sharp hum escapes Dr. Wilde, and for once, Addie doesn’t make a peep, listening to our interaction play out. I expected the new doc to immediately defend her qualifications and tell me all about how great a doctor she is, not put me in my place before I have a chance to question any further. Because trust me, I was gonna. “Mr. Briggs, my goal in running Wilde Pediatrics is to make all who enter feel welcomed and comfortable to share. That applies to parents as well. So, by all means, if you have any more important questions or concerns, the floor is yours.”
Words.What are words?
“Daddy,” a tiny voice whispers harshly beside me, my confident exterior crumbling. “The pretty doctor is talking to you.”
I blink, regaining my self-control and respond, “Right. Sorry. I don’t mean to be overprotective. I just learned about you taking over for Dr. Wolk last week, and I’m mostly looking for reassurance that I’ll get the same quality of care.” Realizing that came out wrong, I rush, “Not me. No. Not care for me. For Addie, I mean. Jesus. Not that I assume you won’t provide good care. I’m sure you’re excellent at…caring…” My stammeris foolish, and I dig my hole deeper. “I just…we’re here for something very important.”
Adeline’s giggle cuts through the space between us cheerfully, and for once in my time as a parent, I’m grateful to have a chatty kid. “Awkwardddd,” she giggles.
Dr. Wilde seems to find me just as comical, joining Addie herself. I officially regret raising a daughter who speaks her mind. Not really, but at this moment, I sure as hell do. “I’m here to be whatever Addie needs, Mr. Briggs. Some may say I teeter on a fine line in my career, but I don’t know how to be anything other than compassionate. With that being said, I see that you’re here to”—she pulls out a pair of green and black reading glasses and places them over her eyes, scanning a stapled stack of papers—“discuss Adeline—I’m sorry, Queen Adeline’s—academic progress, along with focus in the classroom.”
