Amelia
“Carol, if you’d like to come with me, I’ll get you set up in one of the treatment rooms,” Charlotte said, taking the file folder from the pile I’d just placed on the desk.
The lady smiled at me as she passed the desk and followed Charlotte down the hall.
It was Friday. It had been five days since I’d been at Dalton’s house, and he’d barely even spoken to me. I went back to the file I was working on when Dalton came around the corner and dropped a file folder down in front of me without so much as a word, and then went to go back down the hall when he stopped.
“, call Mrs. Johnson and share with her the results of her tests,” he grunted.
I stopped what I was doing and looked up at Dalton. I’d seen Mrs. Johnson’s test results this morning, and it wasn’t good news. I knew she’d have questions, as would anyone with a cancer diagnosis. I also knew I shouldn’t be answering them.
“Wait,” I said, loud enough to get the attention of some patients in the waiting area.
“What?” Dalton barked and rolled his eyes.
Charlotte stepped out of the treatment room she’d just put Carol into and looked at the pair of us, wondering what was going on.
“Can I speak with you in private, please?” I questioned, looking up at him.
I could see the annoyance in his eyes as I continued down the hall and entered his office, waiting for him.
I was looking out the window when I heard his door click shut.
“What is it? If you pulled me in here to tell me you don’t want to call Mrs. Johnson, that is too bad. I have asked you to do it, and I’m not taking no for an answer,” he sternly replied.
Dalton had been in a terrible mood for most of the week. He’d worked late every night, well past his usual time. I’d have thought that after he’d shared things about his wife with me, he’d have been different, but I’d been wrong about that too.
“What is wrong?” I questioned, cutting right to the chase instead of dancing around it.
“Nothing.”
“Oh no, Dalton, it’s not nothing. You have been horrendous lately. Worse than usual. Poor Charlotte has been afraid to do anything, and in case you didn’t notice, no one even looked your way today while you were in the cafeteria. People are avoiding you more than ever.”
“Good, I’m glad they are avoiding me. They at least know what is good for them, unlike you.”
I crossed my arms and glared at him. This was Dalton at work. This wasn’t the man I’d shared dinner with less than a week ago.
“Dalton, just stop. Now, something is wrong, because the man I shared dinner with—”
“Whoa, you shared dinner with me and my family, and that will be the end of that talk. I don’t need rumours spreading around the hospital about me fraternizing with one of my staff,” he barked.
“There isn’t a non-fraternization policy here, Dalton. Besides, just because two people share dinner together does not mean they are in a relationship of any kind aside from a friendship,” I said. “So what gives?”
Dalton looked at me and then turned around. I saw his shoulders rise and fall in a deep sigh.
“Today is…”
His voice was barely audible, and I strained to hear what he was going to say next. I waited, only he said nothing.
“Today is what?” I questioned.
He was quiet, his shoulders rising and falling. “Today is the anniversary of my wife’s death,” he finally answered.
Heat flooded my body as his words hit me. What on earth was he doing here? He should be at home, spending time with the kids, learning how to deal or cope with whatever was running through his head.
“Why are you here? You should be at home with Claire and Tommy,” I cried, realizing that those kids were alone.
“I can’t,” he quietly murmured.
“You can’t? Why not?” I questioned. “Your children need you. They need to be with you, not be alone, or with their nanny.”
“You don’t understand.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. He was right; I didn’t understand, but I knew those children needed their father probably more today than ever, and it was bloody selfish of him to be here with his patients than to be at home allowing those kids to cope.
“What I understand is that you are being an ass,” I bit out.
Dalton whipped around and looked at me. The look in his eyes almost ripped my heart out.
“I can’t be there for my kids, because I do not know how to even handle how I feel, never mind how they feel.”
I saw the vulnerability in his eyes and immediately wanted to hug him. Once again, I wanted to take away his pain because it was more than obvious to me he was definitely in pain, only I didn’t dare. Who knew how he’d react?
“If you will excuse me, I have patients I need to see,” he said and turned and stepped out of the office, leaving me there alone.
I’d just hung up the phone when Dalton dropped another patient file on my desk and left the office . He took off across the hall and stood at the elevator, pressing the button.
I turned to Charlotte. “I’ll be back in a few minutes, just going to grab a coffee.”
“Sure.”
I grabbed my purse and took off out of the clinic and over to the elevator where Dalton stood. I was about to say something when the elevator door opened. We both stepped inside and waited for the door to close.
“What time is your shift over?” I questioned.
“Why?”
“Well, I’ve been thinking. If it’s the same time mine ends, how about I go with you home?”
I stood there, my stomach in knots, waiting for his answer. He was quiet for so long, I figured I’d hear about this later today before I left the office. He probably thought I was trying to come on to him or something and would probably ask me to clean out my desk and not to return.
“Why would you offer to do that?” he asked. “We aren’t friends.”
I thought for a moment, unsure how to answer him. He needed someone, that much I knew. I knew I could be that someone for him, if he’d let me. He’d opened up once before.
“Dalton, we don’t have to be friends for me to help you and your family, but I’d like us to be.”
The elevator stopped, and the door opened. Dalton looked at me, then took off without another word. I would not chase him. In fact, I wouldn’t say another word about this ever again. It was the only time I was offering. I pressed the button for the eighth floor and took off back to the office.
I just filed the last of the medical files away and grabbed my coat from the hook, then bent down and pulled my purse from the bottom drawer of the desk.
I’d been on edge ever since I’d returned from talking with Dalton in the elevator. He hadn’t said a word to me when he returned. We just went about our day as if nothing had happened.
I let out a sigh and went to shut the light off when my hand collided with another hand, causing me to jump.
“Sorry I didn’t see you there,” I heard a deep voice say and looked up to see Dalton standing there in his coat, his laptop bag flung over his shoulder.
“It’s okay,” I said, swallowing hard. “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.” I gave him a small smile.
He didn’t move, so I stepped out from behind the desk and made my way to the clinic door and was about to push it open when I heard him clear his throat behind me.
“?”
I glanced over my shoulder at him, not saying a word, just waiting for him to speak.
“I just wanted to let you know that I’m sorry about this afternoon.”
I nodded. “Of course.”
“It’s just that your offer took me by surprise, and I didn’t really know what to say. If your offer is still on the table, I’d like it if you would join us for dinner tonight.”
I could tell from the look on his face that it took a lot for him to apologize and to ask me to join them.
“I don’t know how to be with my kids today,” he whispered.
I stood in Dalton’s kitchen ripping up lettuce for the Caesar salad while he stirred the pot that contained the pasta before moving to the one that held the sauce.
“Do you have any croutons?” I questioned.
“Yep, in the pantry,” he said. “Second or third shelf.”
We’d been here almost an hour, had said goodbye to Mrs. Jenkins, and hadn’t seen the kids once. The house was eerily quiet, almost unsettling.
“Would you like a little music?” I questioned, looking at the small radio on the counter.
Dalton looked at me, then at the radio, and swallowed hard, but said nothing.
It was almost like the man was allergic to anyone having a good time.
“If not, that’s okay,” I said, grabbing the bag of croutons from the pantry. “Just thought it would add a little magic in the air. After all, Christmas is coming. Might make the kids come out of their rooms and join us.”
“Go ahead,” he said.
I smiled and turned the radio on. Christmas music flooded the kitchen with one of my favourite songs. I made my way back over to where I was working on the salad and finished ripping up the lettuce and was about to dump the croutons in when I heard a voice behind me.
“?”
I turned to see Claire standing there with her brother. She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes, and Tommy hid behind her, not smiling either.
“Hey, Claire!” I said, trying to sound upbeat for them. “Hi, Tommy.”
“You’re listening to the radio? Dad never—”
“Claire!” Dalton yelled in that familiar stern voice he usually used at the office, causing me to jump and dump half the box of croutons into the salad.
I glanced over at Claire to see tears fill her eyes, and then looked over at Dalton and shook my head.
“Guys, go get ready for dinner,” Dalton barked, draining the pot of pasta into a strainer.
I looked over at Claire, her eyes filled with tears, and watched as she took Tommy and headed down the hall to the washroom.
“What was that?” I questioned.
“Is the garlic bread ready for the oven?” he asked, ignoring my question completely.
This time I ignored him and grabbed the tray with the garlic bread and shoved it into the oven.
It was unbearably quiet at dinner. When Claire and Tommy both returned to the dining room, neither of them even looked my way. They sat there, eyes down, and ate. Dalton sat looking out the window, ignoring everyone. It was the most uncomfortable dinner I’d ever sat through, and wondered if this was what homelife for these kids had been like since their mother died.
The moment plates were empty, Dalton gathered them and carried them into the kitchen without a word to anyone. I looked at both the kids, my heart hurting for them.
“You both doing okay?” I asked quietly. “Your dad told me what today is.”
Tommy looked up at me with red eyes. He’d been crying at some point. Probably before they came into dinner, and when Claire looked up at me, she had tears in her eyes.
“Did you guys want to talk about your mom?” I questioned, glancing at the doorway to the dining room.
Dalton was more than likely making coffee and cutting the cake I’d stopped to pick up on my way here. I didn’t care if he overheard; he needed to overhear. He needed to be here for his kids. He should be the one asking these questions, not me, some stranger.
Claire looked at me. “I can sometimes still smell her perfume,” she said, her voice barely audible. “It was my favourite. I still have a bit in a bottle she used to use. I don’t use it, just smell it when I’m missing her.”
“I did the same thing with a bottle of my father’s cologne.” I softly smiled. I wanted her to know there was nothing wrong with what she was doing, because there was no doubt in my mind that if Dalton had caught her, he’d have yelled.
“What about you, Tommy?”
He shrugged. “I don’t remember much. I was so little. I sometimes get this song stuck in my head. Claire told me Mom used to sing it to me.”
“Can you hum it for me?”
When he began humming it, I instantly recognized it. That was when Dalton walked in. He stood there, watching Tommy sitting there with his eyes closed, humming. He surprised me as he then looked at me and started saying the words.
“ Baby mine, don't you cry. Baby mine, dry your eyes.”
He placed the two mugs of coffee that were on the tray he carried in front of me and himself, then placed two glasses of milk in front of both the kids, all while continuing to say the words while Tommy hummed.
Claire looked at me with tears in her eyes. When Tommy stopped humming, he too looked up with tears in his eyes. I was almost certain I even saw Dalton’s eyes water a little as he finished.
My throat was tight as I sat there witnessing something I’d never thought I would. Dalton bent down and placed a kiss on the top of both kids’ heads, gave them a hug, and whispered something into each of their ears before he sat down and took a sip of his coffee, and probably for the first time he actually started talking to his kids about their mother.
After we’d finished dessert and Dalton shared some stories about his wife with the kids, it was time for them to get ready for bed. While he went up and tucked them in, I quickly cleaned up the kitchen and started the dishwasher, then poured us two fresh cups of coffee and made my way into the living room, where I sat down just as Dalton joined me.
“I poured you a fresh coffee,” I said as he sat down beside me.
“Thank you,” he said, grabbing the mug and taking a sip.
“No problem.” I smiled.
“No, I mean for today. If it wasn’t for you, well, I don’t think I would have gotten through tonight.”
“It wasn’t a problem. Glad to help, but honestly, it was by sharing those stories with the kids that got you through it.”
“Well, it meant a lot to me you were here,” he whispered, his eyes washing over my face. “No one has ever cared enough…”
“That’s because you don’t let anyone in, Dalton. For people to care, they have to be allowed to get close to you.”
“I’m afraid to let anyone in…”
His eyes studied mine, then they fell to my lips. I felt like we were getting closer, and I fought the urge to lean forward and place a kiss on his lips. It would be wrong.
I tore my eyes from his and looked down at the mug in my hands. I was about to say something when I felt his fingers under my chin. I slowly lifted my head and was surprised when he leaned forward. The room fell away as he placed his lips on mine and my fingers gently played with the hair on the back of his head. I could have easily allowed myself to get lost in him if he hadn’t pulled away.
The room was silent. I could hear my heart beating and panic flooded me.
“I’ve got to get going,” I said, jumping to my feet.
I had to get out of there. The second his lips touched mine, I wanted more. The emptiness I felt when he’d pulled away was almost unbearable.
“, wait…” Dalton said, standing as well. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have…”
“Don’t be silly. It’s fine,” I said, grabbing my purse and slipping my feet into my shoes, not sure if I was going to panic or kiss the man again.
I was about to pull the door open when I felt his hands on my upper arms. I froze, not able to move.
“…” he breathed.
“Dalton…”
“Yes?” he answered.
“It’s been a long and emotional day. I think it’s best if we both say good night.”
I didn’t wait; I opened the door and stepped out onto the porch, feeling Dalton’s hands slip from my arms.
“Good night, Dalton. I’ll see you on Monday.”
I didn’t look back; I rushed to my car, climbed in, and backed out of the driveway.