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Della nodded. “It was super hot. Especially when he picked you up like it was nothing. Even when you were screaming the song at him.”
“I’m never going to recover from this,” I said, burying my face in my hands.
Della’s voice was coy as she asked, “How are you going to recover from hot sex with the doctor?”
Thankfully, no one heard, because my cheeks were flaming even more. “It was so freaking good. He did things, said things, no man has ever done or said.”
“Hot,” Hen said with a smile.
We paused conversation while Agatha brought us our drinks and took our orders, then got back to talking.
“He’s been so sweet, asking me on a date, going all in on our relationship. There’s just one thing. I don’t know if it’s really a problem but...” I ripped my straw wrapper in half and then in half again.
Hen’s voice was full of concern as she asked, “What is it?”
“Yeah,” Della said, “do we need to beat him up?”
“He doesn’t want to get married again. He said he’s committed to me and wants to be with only me, but a wedding is off the table.”
Hen frowned, but Della seemed more curious. “I think that’s normal nowadays,” Della said. “Especially for someone who’s been married before.”
Hen said, “I don’t understand though. If he wants to be with you forever, isn’t that what a marriage is?”
I shook my head. “I think being divorced did a number on him. His parents were so committed to each other, and his dad’s never remarried...”
Della tilted her head, drinking from her Diet Coke. “It’s still really soon to be talking about marriage.”
“I agree,” I said. “I love him so much already and we have so much fun together, both him and me, and us with Maya. I don’t want to ruin it...”
Della nodded. “As long as he’s showing you that he’s all in, that’s what matters.”
We both paused, waiting for Henrietta to chime in. But her smile seemed forced when she said, “If you’re happy, I’m happy.”
50
Fletcher
By Wednesday, my accountant, lawyer, and banker had signed off on my purchase of the practice. And when I drove toward Herbert Law Office on Thursday morning, I couldn’t believe what I was doing.
I was just a kid who grew up in a modest country home, with four younger brothers who always wore my hand-me-downs. Now I was a doctor with letters after my name. I had a house bigger than I’d ever dreamed of. A daughter who’d never have to worry about student loans like I did. And soon, I’d have a practice in the town that raised me and welcomed me back with open arms.
I parked and walked down the sidewalk to go inside, but waiting by the door... were my dad and my brothers. Even Bryce, who must have taken time out of college to be in town.
“What are you all doing here?” I asked them incredulously.
Dad said, “Hayes told us when the sale was going down, and we wanted to be here for you.”
We Madigan men... we didn’t talk much about our feelings, but ever since we lost Mom, we were always there for each other. For the time Ford signed on to his professional football team, when Knox graduated the police academy, when Hayes had a ribbon cutting ceremony for his new shop but used caution tape instead and even when Bryce made the honor roll at college.
“Thanks for coming,” I said, “but I’m afraid it’s going to be boring. I’m just signing a few papers.”
“Don’t matter,” Hayes said.
Knox nodded in agreement. “This is big, Fletch.”
Ford said, “You’re changing this town’s history.” Which was crazy since he was the first professional football player to ever come from Cottonwood Falls.
And then Bryce who was probably the most distant of all of us said, “You’re showing us what’s possible.”