Page 47 of Fierce-Jax

He was better at guiding and instructing. If he couldn’t change something, then he accepted it.

He couldn’t do that with his sister’s situation though.

“She had more than one person to think about,” she said. “Like me. Alec and I moved in together. We were renting an apartment. We had childcare set up. I returned to work when Gianna was four weeks old.”

“Your choice or you had to?” he asked.

“I felt any more time off would put me behind in my residency. I was only in my second year when I had her. I knew I could still stay on track if I put the work in.”

“Stubborn,” he said, lifting an eyebrow.

“Very much so. You should know that,” she said, smirking.

“I already figured it out and don’t have a problem with it,” he said.

She nodded her head. “Things were hard with Alec and me. I think they are hard for any set of new parents. Then factor in our careers. But I thought we were making it work. I wasn’t even back one week when the police knocked on my door.”

His stomach sank into his socks.

“What happened?”

“Alec was shot and killed. Here I am this strong independent woman who can handle just about anything. Not much ruffles my feathers, works me up, or makes me squeamish and the words were said and everything went black. I just crumpled to the ground.”

“I imagine most would have reacted the same way. I’m so sorry, Dillion.” He reached over to lay his hand on hers.

“Thank you,” she said. “I don’t talk about this much, but I wanted you to know. It’s not like there is an ex in the picture or any drama like that. I think that is why I’m telling you.”

“Everyone has drama and even demons. You’ve been going through grief for years. A sudden loss is oftentimes worse than one that has been accumulating to an ending and it’s trying to find the time to cut your losses.”

“I think you’re right,” she said. “There is always more to every story, but for now, I wanted you to know that much.”

“Thank you for sharing it,” he said. “It had to be even harder for you to do this on your own being away from home.”

“I didn’t want to transfer or take much more time off,” she said. “I know that sounds horrible, but work kept me busy.”

“It helped you get through,” he said. “There is nothing wrong with survival mode.”

“It did. My parents were great. My mother moved to Charlotte and stayed with me until the end of my residency. She watched and cared for Gianna and me. I guess I needed someone to look out for me then too. Then I was lucky enough to get my fellowship at Duke. I lived with them for that year. I started to work shortly after and when my boss said he was retiring, I offered to buy the practice. I didn’t buy the building it was in and then it brings us to now.”

“The condensed version of it,” he said. “That’s wonderfully supportive of your mother to move a few hours away with you. And that your father was just as supportive of it. I’m assuming your mother didn’t work.”

She laughed. “You don’t know who I am, do you?”

“Dr. Dillion Patrick,” he said. “Who are you supposed to be?”

“That’s who I am. I guess my father is who I’m talking about. Ever heard of Patrick Auto Group?”

He looked at the grin on her face. “Shit,” he said. “Dylan Patrick is your father?”

“He is,” she said. “Kind of full of himself naming his kid after him. If I were a boy, I’d be Dylan Jr. My mother at least talked him into spelling mine differently.”

“His is one of the biggest auto groups in North Carolina.”

“The biggest,” she said, laughing. “Just so you know. When you meet him, he’ll make sure you’re aware.”

That told him things were going well enough for him to get that far.

He smiled. “Good to know. Will he bust my balls about not driving one of the makes he sells?”